Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-01-20
TWO HEARTS
BEAT AS ONE

Suddenly Bertrand realized that he
had fallen in love. 1t came as q
shock.
The circumstances were unusual
Bertrand was socially irreproachable
He was rich. He was therefore mex
perienced in primitive emotions. He
had made love to many women. But
Of love itself he knew nothing-until
that fatal moment.
Their eyes met once more. He
realized his doom.
"Wiu you come into the conserva'
tory?" he asked II wish to say some
thing to you"
She adjusted her frock and follow.
ed. She had always led before, but
there was about her now new con-
triton. She also was experiencing a
feeling hitherto impossible. He d..
vined her thought.
There was a silence. But at last
he spoke.
How do you account for it?" he
asked, his voice trembling.
Her head dropped. He felt that he
could not be mistaken. And yet, with
the timidity Of the genuine lover, ne
wished to be assured.
Am l not right" he stammered.
Do-you-not-love - me - dear
est?"
YES"
How did 1t happen?"
She was plainly embarrassed. She
pressed in her delicate hand the
fringe of her frock-in Paris an AFFAIR
Of 1000 francs.
II do not know" she said. 1T is
all so strange. l feel-suddenly-
that l can go with you, anywhere. |
want you. l wish that we might wan
der away, alone, In some simple nat
ural way, and-and-"
II understand" he whispered. I'VE
have suddenly found each other, dear
est. We, who have been blinded by
false standards, have dropped them
all in the twinkling of an eye, and
love each other as men and women
have loved since the world began"
Then he arose, his face ashen. A
great crisis had arisen in their lives.
These two, standing there in the dim
light, realized that the inevitable had
happened. Instinctively they both
turned from each other. The utter
hopelessness Of their situation forced
itself upon them simultaneously.
There seemed indeed no hope.
He gazed at her at last, his face
dull with despair. Then he exclaim-
ed passionately:
ooh, why did we ever marry?"
I'VE cannot help it now!" she whis-
pered, brokenly. 1--WE are married.
All the papers had it. Everybody
knows it. To be in love with each
other now-to be seen together, hold
ing hands, at Newport, at the race
track, at Tuxedo, at polo games on
Fifth avenue, maybe, at the opera
oh, it is too much! 1t would be a
lasting disgrace. No one would speak
to us. We would be ostracized. Our
life would be hell on earth"
II know that" he replied bitterly.
"Have you nothing to suggest?"
Nothing
Then her face frightened.
1--WE might secure divorce" she
said.
What good would that do? It
would still be just as far form for us
to love each other"
But it would at least give us an
excuse to be together. No one would
suspect-then. 1t would at least be
better than-this."
He snatched at the straw.
True" he said. "Come, let US
hurry. Let US secure our divorce at
once, SO that l may have the right
to kiss you in public without attract
ing attention. At least that. AS for
the future, who knows? Something
else may occur"
He rang for his car. They dashed
to the station. In five hours more they
had secured their divorce.
AS he bent over and kissed her
good night he said:
Darling, this is something gained.
Think! Think! Maybe yet we may
have the fullest opportunity to love
each other"
Come tomorrow night" she said,
holding up her lips, land ! may have
some news for you"
The next evening he Gale. -. the
appointed time. It seemed hours be-
fore she came down. AS she entered
the room he knew that she had solved
the problem.
How is it," he asked breathlessly.
She placed herself in his arms.
I'VE have won," she said. Now,
dear. we can love each other without
fear of social ostracism. We can now
be happy all the rest of our days"
He kissed her tenderly.
II knew that you would find the
way" he whispered Tell me, dear
est, what have you done?"
And she smiled simply as her head
fell on his shoulder:
II have married another man.