Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-15

WISDOM ana Keep me Calm-calm.
had imstinetiv .hs called called w sentie ad
'vanced into the center of the room.
Mechanically, Ermentrude rose to
meet her, and thus stepped into bet,
ter light. Tragedy came with her.
not to feel. But tho warning which
her aspect gave passed as she spoke
and said in tones little tremulous.
perhaps, but with an air Of perfect
courtesy:
u ha (: hoped to see Mrs. Roberts
The smile with which this was
greeted, the flush of pride and the
joy of possession which lit the others
pleasing features as sha replied II
am Mrs. Roberts," should have car
ried the truth to Ermcntrude.
But they did not. She looked sur
prised-baffled. and after the briefest
hesitation. observed:
II am a stranger in this city and
have doubtless made some mistake.
see--and I was told she lived here
is the mother of gentleman of the
name Of"
She could not speak 1t.
But the other could.
"Carleton" she asked; and at Err
mentrude's agitated nod, added with
friendly interest: "This is her home,
but she has left 1t for q while to
us. am Mr.. Carleton Roberts WIFE,"
There are blows which PROSTATE;
there are others which scar, but leave
the body intact-feet. still support
ing it-eyes still gazing ahead, un-
moved-lips moving with mechanical
exactness and sometimes still re-
which gave life to all of this is, dead.
The image is there. but the spirit Is
gone; and If sufficiently preoccupied,
the one who struck the blow sees
no change. So was it with Ermen-
trude and Lucie.
1--WE are looking for mother to re-
turn next week." added the latter as
Ermentrude stood stark and silent
before her. Would YOU like to leave
message for herr"
sweetness of a rich and sympathetic
nature, the soul returned to Ermen-
trude's body. With a long and earnest
look, which took in the full measure
of the others personality, radiant
with happiness and the consciousness
of an assured wifedom, she answered
softly:
mo, I will leave no message" and
turned as If to go.
.v Nor any name" aueried Lneie
lines of a figure with whose per-
feet proportions her own could never
hope to compete.
Nor any name" came back in in
describable accents from tho door
way.
Lucie paused, and gazing in vague
trouble after her rapidly disappearing
visitor, murmured to herself: who
is she?"
But the one who could have answer
ed her was gone.
Carleton, you seldom see such a
woman. Younger than I, she had the
poise Of woman of thirty. Who could
she have been?"
Describe her."
81 WISH could; I hardly saw her
face; it was her figure, her voice, her
way OF moving and holding herself. I
felt as small and quiet as little mouse
beside her. Only was happy and she
was not. That much feel now that
I recall her look in leaving"
WAS she American or-or foreign?"
great fear had seized him.
"She had an English accent which
added very much to her charm"
Forget her" For moment his
laughed the matter off, assuring this
bride of mouth that she made him
cross with neutrality-suspicious., that
there was no one Of finer mien and
manner than herself, the chosen of his
heart upon whom he always looked
with pride. Which subtle tribute to
what was her greatest charm accom-
plished its end; she did forget the
stranger.
But he did not; he knew what was
before him and prepared himself for
the inevitable meeting which would
be followed by-what?
Not by what he had every right to
expect and evidently did. Ermcntrude
had learned all she would both OF
this marriage and of the woman who
had supplanted her, and had made her
resolve. This he saw as they came
together in the isolation Of a quiet
corner of the park, and so was not
greatly surprised, though little
moved, as after the first few words,
and with an earnest look, she said:
II am your wife, l, Ermentrude Rob-
erts, married to you in the sight OF
God and man. l cannot prove 1T, but
as you once said, our hearts know 1t
and will continue to know It as long
as either of us lives. But I am not
going to obtrude my claims upon you,
Carleton, or stand like a specter IN
your path. Had this woman you have
deceived been weak or foolish or un-
loving, or indeed anything but what
she is, I might have held to my rights
and insisted upon a recognition which
would have profted you in the end.
But 1 cannot shame that woman
can neither shame her nor bring her
to grief. You have broken one heart.
but you shall be saved the remorse or
breaking two. 1 had rather suffer
myself. / am alone IN the world.
useful and face rood men and women