New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-16
BY GEORGE GIBBS

Normandy, entirely by chance. | was doing the COIN
try afoot, my custom in summer. Her machine was
DESTROYED in accident. She was alone. | asked her
TO 90 with me- She accepted my invitation Ii was
mad of me to ask her. mad of her accept but She did
accept We were together more than week travelling
afoot by day. sleeping in the open when the weather
was fine and indoors when could find a room for her
had moments of inquetude at my responsibility; for
| had done wrong in letting her go with me. She was
a child and trusted me. | began by being amused I
ended by Good God! Mrs Hammond, | loved-T
worshiped her! | couldn't have harmed her-she was
sacred to me-and is now. You must understand
that
His hostess expression, which had grown grave during
this recital relaxed little. 81 think understand Mr.
Markham. am keenly interested Where does Olga
TCherny come n!'
Her question bothered him. He thought for mo.
ment, and then went on, deliberately postponing
reply.
OUR relations were clearly established from the first
~ We had met before you know earlier in the sum.
ner and had visited at Westport. She liked and TN.
derstood me- and was sensible enough % tell me 50;
and I-she attracted me curiously. had always lived
solitary sort Of existence. She simply ignored nv
rreiudices and OVERRIDE them. She invaded my life
and took it by storm. She was like the sudden ca
byiccoso after the largo in a symphony She was Youth
and 10y, and she got into my blood ike elixir. |
loved her for all the things she was that not but
| did not tell her so-not then. hid my secret; for
knew that if she guessed it would make difference to
us both
He raised his head and went on more rapidly. I'VE
Joined a company of strolling mountebanks-oh, that
was true enough-and went with them far as Allen.
con. Hermia-Miss ChalOner-waS a Dame Orchestra
and lightning artist. We made our living in that
way 1t was quite wonderful how she played wonder.
full how she forgot what she was, how she became what
| wanted her TO be, earthlng among carthlings
With them she lived in poverty and discomfort learned
the meaning OF WEAKNESS and felt the pinch OF hunger
He smiled. Il suppose you wonder why m .eing YOU
all this. Mrs Hammond. | wanted YOU to understand
lust what the pilgrimage was how little il had CON-
mon with-with what you have heard these people
SAYING
81 know Mr. Markham | understand, she said
gently Her eyes softencd and she looked past him as
though back through a vista Of the years 1T was
Romance-the true Romance she murmurei. "She
borrowed week from Immortaity-that for once she
might be herself She was free from this thra-dom-
free
"She worked hard" he went on after a moment, and
she earned what money she made And so did l. But
| was bothered My sins were pursuing me. One day
we saw on the road a man Miss Chaoner had met and
at Acncon-'
"Olga Tcherny?" asked Mrs. Hammond keenly
Markham paused, looked beyond her AM vent on
And at Aencon, when we were giving performance,
someone knew appeared and recognized ne. Need |
mention names?'
Not il you prefer TO be silent. And tie hunting
lodge"
we fed from Aencon that night and took refuge
from the rain in a house in the forest. Mis- Chaone
was dead tired. We had been up since sunrise. So We
stayed there thinking ourselves safe. But IN Tie morn
ing He paused.
Mrs Hammond had risen and was ingcrns the flow.
ers on the tea table In the morning, s.. finished
dryy, Olga Tchcrny found you there. ! under.
stand"
H., -,., nd f4,ad Ia- ,ncC-,1-,-,fprfrr', Mrs