The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-06-14

not give all that real Life needs. They
are Of the same order as the people Of
India, who believe that the wife should
die on the funeral pyre of her husband.
l may be weaker than some women
or may be stronger. Possibly may
have less depth Of feeling, though that
will not admit. saw only in nursing
my grief a dreadful life before me- l
recognized the principle that no two
absorbing ideas can occupy the brain
at one time. l did all that I could to
interest myself in what was about me-
True, I did not at first succeed and
when did only partially so. l dread
ed the word forget, and yet realized
that to avoid suffering l must tempo
rarily forget. forced myself to feel
that after a time would be reunited
with my loved ones and that mean
while must, except occasionally. put
them out of my mind.
made my home abroad. Three
years after my bereavement married
again. l did so partly because I was
lonely, partly because wished for a
man to rely upon, as Is natural to any
woman, partly because the man mar
ried assured me that could give him
an interest In life and, lastly, because
I became attached to him. He was an
American. like myself. and, being
wealthy. gave himself up to study.
He lived abroad that he might write
books which required his presence
~, x.,hf h,>
For five years after our marriage we
continued our residence abroad. Dur
ing this period children were born to
u.s. There was a tacit mutual agree
ment between us that should not talk
about the world In which l had lived.
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 If l ever told
him even where l had lived he soon
forgot it.
Then he was called to America on
q 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 publisher
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.
l had never intended to return to the
United States. dreading lest 1t should
reawaken me to my lost world. But
with husband and children that
world had receded further and further
from me till the consciousness Of II
had grown very dim. | wrote my his
band that l would 60 back to the
western hemisphere and remain there
l 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 l preferred to bring up in Amer
lea. therefore suggested to my hus
( Uauu thdl hc puy pidSc Ill WhiCu VIZ
might settle. He replied that he agreed
with me and would carry out my sug
gestions. Later he wrote me that he
had bought place In the suburbs OF
the city wherein 1t would be necessary
for him to do his work.
We arrived after dark. l was dc
Lighted Mt our reunion, as were the
father and the children. l did not ask
where our home was to be. l intend
ed to be satisfied with 1t, pleased will
it, wherever it was. We took traiI
and in less than an hour alighted a
a station, where, a carriage was wait
ing for us. 1t was very dark when W,
reached our home, and ] saw nothing
J Of it till l stood In the hall. Then
!, caught at banister to prevent my
falling
was in the house l had left NOR,
than ten years before with a blightes
| heart.
"My dear" exclaimed my husband
| starting toward me.
But In a twinkling | had recovered
myself. And what had enabled me t,
do SO? The sudden appearance of al
object. All, those objects that come t,
US! How much more valuable often
times than realizationl must at leas
for the present spare my good maj
the inexpressible pain of knowing
what he had brought upon me.
, Nothing" replied. "A little giddi
ness at having been SO long rolling a
sea-"
Nothing you don't like, is there?
7 he asked anxiously.
, ION the contrary, l am very we
! pleased. Let US see the rest of It"
n He took me into every room In tn
house, a house that had been sol
Twice since had parted with it an
both times with the furniture includ
ed. Not for the world would hav
betrayed that these rooms, closets, col
y ners, with every bed. table, bureau
had been familiar to me from chile
hood. But when it was over passe
the night alone in room opening int
- - the children.