Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-06-26

nuu not considered the man in the case
unworthy of her. She entered upon a
hypothetical defense Of him.
Il can understand mans momen-
tarily yielding to a temptation, and vet
love his wife truly she said. Then,
pausing, she seemed moved by sud
den resolution and continued in tone
that indicated deep feeling: Margaret,
l am going TO makeN a confession to
you. And yet it is not a confession, for
that indicates an injury, "a wrong. and
there was no wrong on my part nor
on the part Of the one who was I'm
plicated with ME in what / am about
to relate
You remember that John and were
both OF artistic temperament. We were
fond of the fine arts, music, sculpture,
painting, literature. He was the only
real poet | ever knew personally. His
appreciation for music was of the keen
est. Do you remember that period
when your mother was taken Ill, you
were called away to attend her, and
she finally died? You left John In my
charge, and l recall your exact words
when you did so. John and / have
not been long married. you said, but
long enough to have come upon that
period when newly married pair be-
gins to suffer from their incongruities
Leaving him at such time is danger
Gus, for he is liable to seek solace with
another woman. Help him to stand
by his better instincts, SO that when /
return nothing shall have occurred to
make a breach between him and me-
This is all yon said, but it was
enough l knew you meant that in
case | should see your husband about
to fall under bad influence to have
care of him and draw him away from
temptation. I was sure that so great
was your confidence In me that you
would not ask anything of me on
matter between him and me.
81 kept John with me during near
~ all his idle time in the period that
you were absent. We visited what gal
leries there were, went where we could
the works of our favorite poets. One
evening he took me to the opera.
Faust was given and given beautiful
ly. John sat entranced by the music
and seemed also under the spell of that
legend which contains In condensed
form the story of humanity. After the
opera we rode to my home and during
the ride John did not speak word to
me. i invited him to come in and led
him to the drawing room. Suddenly
he began to talk strangely.
81 feel he said that | am Faust
and that inephistophcles is dragging
me to he'll
"'And by the same passion he
secured Iaust's soul?' ! asked
Yes
"'And who asked, is Marguerite?
was trembling and spoke the words
so low as only to be heard by one in
tent on hearing.
Ills hand was near mine, and he
took it In his l arose and stood apart
from him
John | said, stand firm. This is
q passing madness occasioned by that
weird drama acting upon an jmpressi-
bic nature. Your wife will return soon,
and by her presence Danish what is
but an eyanescent emotion.
"He stood looking at me as one in a
dream for time, then said:
Helen. from the bottom of my
heart | thank you for having saved
my self respect And, turning, he left
me Your mother died that same even
ing and within another week you were
ut home
.'You know the rest so far as John is |
concerned that he was saved from a
momentary temptation, and that yours
and his happiness were not married by
the incident What have to confess
is this: From that moment l was a
changed woman. The word of love
that had Eeen spoken entered into my /
being and | could not eradicate it. But
no more than this. Margaret did |
wrong. you. John never sought me,
and that | might not meet him | left
him and you for another place of resi-
dence. | never saw him again"
The woman who listened to this con-
fession gave no other evidence of its
effect upon her than to reach for the |
hand and press 1t. Helen
continued:
"From that moment ! took on life /
long suffering. But not from your |
dispfeasure, for l am sure even now
since you know my secret that you are
too strong. too just, too generous to
blame me fof what | could not help"
Margaret, who had retained the hand I
she held, bent forward and kissed her
friend Then she said:
Il do not blame you now. nor have
] ever blamed you. for l have known
of this from the moment of my return,
when l heard it from John, though a
different version He told me that he
loved you and would always love
you"
Helen's head dropped on her friends
breast. There was a long silence,
which was broken by Margaret.
stYou would hear2' she said "Why