The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-10-02
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union had been informed that my legal serration
from my first husband had not left me altoeel Zee
He was Spanish subject and in marrying him ao had
become Spanish subject in the eyes Of French law and
Spain granted no divorce.
The proper course for me a Spanish subject was 70
apply TO the Vatican for annulment Of marriage h
could have been easily obtained 40 our marriage had
been contaminated and the facts had been legally
proved But both agreed that this was Unnecessary
We sat down heart to heart in the twilight In his old
Flemish home and like two young innocents planned an
ideally romantic honeymoon Ali in what an ecstasy Of
anticipation and delight passed those daysi With the
greatest difficulty obtained three days leave Of absences
from the OPERA for Maurice had agreed unhestatngy
with my plan that should continue my work with the
ambition and ardor ever, and that must mot
endanger my engagements.
Maurice took away to q beautiful island in the
River Schedt in Dutch teritoryhe Isle Of Walcheren
was place Of enchantment quite out Of the common
world and known only the local country people and
very few seekers after the beautiful like himself
Enchanted Home on a Lonely lIe
We stayed in a little old farmhouse Arm in arm we
wandered among the ruins by daylight and by moonlight
Maurice peoped the island with the creatures Of his mag
nation The spirits Of sad little preesses and pensivs
knights glided among the gray stone pillars and lived
their romances again.
they that time then that attained the
summit Of human happiness To reach such heights is
great peril but did not think Of that the moment
In Maeterlinck' wisdom and Destiny you win find
echo Of the marvellous hours spent in the Island Of
Wafcheren. He records in one passage words which
wrote him in letter after our return:
''Do you remember the day when we sat together by
the window that looked to the and watched the
meek procession Of whte-saied ships they followed
each other into harbori Do You remember that ship
had sail that nearly black and that she the last
to inf And do you remember too that the hour Of
separation upon and that the arrival Of the last
boat of all to be signal for departuref We might
perhaps have found for sadness in the gloomy sail
had life ,nS W. onv sms snss
recognized the kinship OF our thoughts"
I cannot say more Of what happened In those three
days The tears fill my eyes as turn my thoughts back
During the twenty years Of our united life some Of my
books were published under the Leblanc
Maeterinck or Madame Maurice Maeterlinck' in
America and England with the unquestioning approval
Of the poet but in France wrote under the eorg
cite Leblanc not wishing to profit by the great reputa
ton OF my companion Foreign publications such ~
Who's Who" in England definitely announced mar
rage although entirely without my consent and foreign
newspapers frequently referred to the event. To every.
body who inquired of stated the truth plainly Il
seems trivial to speak Of such details in connection with
We did not at first find possible to create home for
We both decided chat work and be our first
consideration Maeternck continued to live for time
with his family at Client and went with my operate
career at Brussels Then most attractive engagement
forced to make tour Of foreign countries Ts caused
me cruel suffering and hcsrtache, but believed il was
necessary
"LoOe 10 a-Tyann;cal God"
would never for a moment think Of giving up my
because knew het my fullest. artistic develop
ment essential to NJ ideal Of sweetheart and an in
spring companion.
Perhaps, dear readers viii say Since you loved
deeply how could you possibly remain attached to e.
that parted you from your beloved Why did not
love uproot one Of you or imprison the otheri',
Whyf Whyf Because we thought it over deeply and
decided II was wisest to act thus Because did not
want to fall into the fatal which had turned the
love OF many Of artistic friends to misery and
tragedy we did that the instinct Of domination
or or Jealousy should enter into lives We believed
another. We truly believed that in this wsy we could