The Paonia newspaper., 1911-03-17

are what you are by the grace of God.
and want you for my wife"
From the other side of the fireplace
Miss Travers regarded him gloomily.
Women who act" she said, what
never domestic, and you are used to do
mestic women. Your mother is home
keeper. You have always dwelt in
well-ordered establishment You have
nothing in common with Bohemianism;
and l, why my life swings from the
prosperity Of table d'hote at a French
! restaurant to the meagerness of my
morning bacon cooked over the gas
Jet"
Arnold frowned. Don't talk of that"
he said hastily. That will be over
when you are my wife"
"Will it?" she asked. What II my
genius should insist upon finding ex-
pression?"
Il am not asking you to settle down."
Arnold told her almost with irritation.
Il love your art love you as you are
tonight In that gray gown. and the
freight bringing out the red in your
hair. I'm not sure that l should enjoy
you half as much In a conventional
shirtwaist or an apron"
Il should like to think" she said
wistfully. that you should like me
love me-in anything"
why analyze?" he asked lightly.
ITO me you are altogether lovely
She bent toward him. IF decide
tonight" she said, If say yes to-
night. are you sure you won't regret?"
Very sure" he said gravely.
Suddenly she surrendered and whis-
pered. IF It will make you happy"
He went home radiant His mothers
door was half open as he passed II, so
he went in and found her propped up
4 on pillows. her Bible on the table be-
side her. the latest magazine In her
hand.
Il came to tell you OF my happiness. :"
he said.
A shadow fell on her fine old face.
but she said quietly. Then It is Alicia
Travers,"
Yes" he said. We are going to
be married as soon IS her season is
over. next month
''she is lovely" his mother said. yet
I'm half afraid. dear boy
Please" be pleaded. don't be afraid.
She is sure that she won't come up to
the standard OF family domesticity, but
! want wife. not q housekeeper.
mother"
His mother shook her head. Little
blind boy" she said. Every man needs
a caretaker; not a housekeeper. not a
cook. but the guardian OF his home:
one who makes II a secure place. a ref
uge from the world. With a wife Ike
the one you have chosen there will be
no fixed abode. VIII you ever be hap
py in a will-o-the-wisp life?''
''Of course" he said stoutly. but his
heart misgave him. All of his boyish
dreams had tended toward the fine old
estate which his father had left him.
He had seen himself playing the host
with his wife by his side. Yet he had
fallen in love with a woman who lived
half her time in hotels. and the rest OF
II in chair cars or sleepers.
Yet when he saw her the next night.
an appealing figure in the little play
which suited her. her red-gold hair
falling unbound 10 her knees. her SHIN
mering satin robe giving her a bride
like beauty. he felt no doubts. She was
perfect. and she would soon be his.
In the spring they were married. He
had planned n honeymoon at his cot
tage in the pine woods. but fate inter
vened. There was great part in a
great play, and II was necessary that
his wife should so to Paris to see the
author. so he went with her.
Arnold gave himself up to life that
contributed TO his wife's success. He
spent money on her freely. lavished
upon her every luxury. and was
amused and Interested by the novelty
of II all. Yet he felt that he did not
make her happy. Now and then she
would look at him wistfully and say:
TT is going to end: you won't like this
always"
Then he would comfort her. Some
day we'll settle down"
But can settle DOWN." was her In
sistent question.
"Of course you can." he said. Yet
there were times when her genius
seemed to separate her from him, and
he felt forlorn and alone
He never felt 1t SO much as on the
last night of the season when she
bowed her farewell to a clamoring au-
dience. She seemed to belong to the
Il 60, I'm,