The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-02-27

p saw that he would rather leave that
to me, considering himself as having no
part In 1t, and had no desire to make
him part Of it. He was absorbed In
his literary work, and II ever told
him even where l had lived he soon
forgot it.
Then he was called to America on
a matter Of some property that need
ed his attention. 1t was agreed be-
tween US that he should leave me and
our children In Lucerne, where we
were then living. He expected to be
absent not more than two months, but
soon after his arrival in America he
was induced to write for a publisher
a work necessitating his presence in
America. He suggested my coming
home with the children, but left me
to consult my own feelings in the mat
ter.
had never intended to return to the
United States, dreading lest 1t should
reawaken me to my lost world. But
with a husband and children that
world had receded further and further
from me till the consciousness Of It
had grown very dim. I wrote my bus
band that would go back to the
western hemisphere and remain there.
was tired of moving about from one
place to another, and the children were
coming to that age when they should
have steady instruction at school. Our
boys preferred to bring up In Amer
lea. / therefore suggested to my hus-
band that he buy place in which we
might settle. He replied that he agreed
with me and would carry out my sug-
gestions. Later ne wrote me that he
had bought place In the suburbs Of
the city wherein it would be necessary
for him to do his work.
We arrived after dark. was de-
lighted at our reunion, as were the
father and the children. I did not ask
where our home was to be. I intend
ed to be satisfied with it, pleased with
1t, wherever it was. We took train
and In less than an hour alighted at
q station, where carriage was wait
ing for US. 1t was very dark when we
reached our home. and saw nothing
Of it till / stood In the hall. Then /
caught at banister to prevent my
falling.
! was in the house / had left more
than ten years before with a blighted
heart.
my dearP' exclaimed my husband.
starting toward me.
But In twinkling had recovered
myself. And what had enabled me to
do SO? The sudden appearance Of an
object. All, those objects that come to
us! How much more valuable often
times than realization! l must at least
for the present spare my good man
the inexpressible pain Of knowing
what he had brought upon me.
Nothing" replied. "a little giddi-
ness at having been SO long rolling at
sea-"
Nothing you don't like, Is there?'
he asked anxiously
"On the contrary, am very well
pleased Let US see the rest of it."
He took me into every room in the
house, house that had been sold
twice since had parted with it and
both times with the furniture includ-
ed. Not for the world would / have
betrayed that these rooms, closets, cor
ners, with every bed, table, bureau,
had been familiar to me from child
hood. But when it was over passed
the night alone In room opening into
one occupied by the children.
No tongue or pen can describe what
that night was to me-
When morning came found that If
could endure the first shock I could
endure more. l deferred from day to
day telling what had happened. MY
husband was delighted with his pur-
chase, and before / had gained heart
to tell him my secret he had become
a fixture in it. Months passed, then
years. My husband Is now an old
man and my children are grown. None
of them know that their mother has
been living in her second earthly
world.
And yet, after all. this coincidence
has not brought me unhappiness.
have been living two existences, both
of which are dear to me, the one near
by, the other in the far past and fu-
ture; the one Of flesh and blood, the
other Of spiritual form. In time it Will
be a spiritual mingling Of the two.