Gilpin observer., 1915-05-20

1eralu Iempie, bitterly.
Because she is ten years older than
yourself, my boy" answered the older
man who, knowing of his infatuation,
had taken upon himself the thankless
role of adviser.
She is only year or two older
than l. And where love exists years
do not count"
Because she is a married woman,
them" persistA the other
Yes, married to a drunkard, from
whom she will soon be freed! I tell
you Stella and I love each other, and
/ intend to ask her to be my wife,"
And you will live out your life in
repentance" thought the other; but he
only turned away with a shrug of the
shoulders. He could do no more, and
what little he had done had been for
the sake of Gerald's mother.
Stella, the dancer and her partner,
Leo Marcel, were the rage in the the
atrical world. Many young men were
infatuated with Stella but none ex-
cept Gerald had proposed to marry
her. Leo Marcel who had at first
smiled and welcomed his beautiful
partners wooers, began to take Ger
aid seriously. This was no matter
from which advertising could be OBJ
tained. Stella had half promised to
marry him when she got her divorce
from the worthless wretch who was
her husband still. But it was evident
that Stella, worldly as she was. re-
ciprocated the young mans passion.
Gerald had thought it all over, and
he knew that he could not live with
out the woman who had possessed
herself of his heart. In his presence
her worldly manner changed to that
Of a timid girl. Strangely, against
her will, Stella, world-worn as she
was. loved Gerald.
So. on the night following Gerald's
conversation with his friend, she
awaited his arrival in her apartment.
1t was Sunday, her one free night,
and she had half promised Leo to go
out with him. She had found some
trivial excuse to avoid the engage
ment Gerald had telephoned that he
would arrive at nine. She knew what
he was going to ask her.
Was she fit to be his wife? She had
never consciously done wrong, even as
the world judges 1t: but none knew
better than she the mocking sneers
that follow a woman of the stage who
is known to be living apart from her
husband. She knew the depth that
divided them, in age, in social life.
She knew that she would wrong Ger
aid to marry him; and there was one
secret that she had never dared to
tell him. What should she do?
Worst of all. she knew that she
would have no strength to resist him
when he asked her to be his wife.
She loved him, with remorse and sor-
row. But she loved him, and love is
not only blind but selfish.
A knock at the door. She rose,
trembling. But 1t was only a messen-
ger. Fearfully she tore open Gerald's
letter. He could not come, he said;
he had been summoned to the bedside
of his mother. who was dying.
Even in her disappointment relief
came to the dancer. The decision
was postponed, then. There would
be time to reconsider, time to try to
fight down her love, and his.
A month later she received another
letter from Gerald in distant city. It
was the first she had had since his
communication that evening. When
she opened the envelope she found
inside an announcement of his wed.
ding to Myrtle Vernon.
u.
Gerald had given his promise to the
dying woman that she might pass
away in peace. Myrtle was his foster
sister. Seventeen years before
! babe, deserted and abandoned by its
mother, had been found upon the door.
step Of the Temples house. They had
adopted the little girl. and she and
Gerald had always been as brother
and sister.
You must marry her, Gerald" whis-
pered the dying woman. who alone OF
Gerald's family knew nothing OF his
infatuation. 1T is the one wish of
my life, as 1t was always your IA
theirs. Make her your wife: can't
you see that she loves you, and has
o"ayb ioNeu you TToHllSe me.
Gerald turned his face away He
could not answer.
Promise me, Gerald" repeated the
dying woman with feverish energy.
Gerald looked down into the wasted
face. Il promise" he answered. And
he saw her sink back into the pillows
in the final stupor which preceded
death But she was smiling happily:
and on the dead face the ghost of the
smile still fingered.
So Myrtle and Gerald we're married,
and at first. in the joy Of their honey.
moon, Stella was forgotten. The little
bride. proud in her husbands love,
never dreamed that the fugitive Image
OF another woman passed sometimes
through his mind. The honeymoon
ended, and again Stella and Gerald
were In the same town He saw her
In 20 nnpn tha hfIlg. gha ana