The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-09-14

and strange she had been when he
first met her, how much she respected
her parents wishes. and now see. II
wish to God" he suddenly exclaimed,
"that hadn't been in such hurry to
change her. She was all right then,
If had only known II. She wasn't in.
terested In these id new-fangled
things, and wasn't satisfied until she
was. And now seel She leaves me
and says I'm narrow ana trying to
hold her back intellectually"
shook my head. OF what value
was advice in the face Of such a stu
alton as this, especially from one who
was satisfied that the mysteries OF
temperament were not to be unrav-
eled or adjusted save by nsturef
Nevertheless, being appealed to. ven.
tured silly suggestion, borrowed
from another. He had said that II he
could only win her back he would be
willing to modify the pointless opposl-
ton and contention that had driven
her away. She might go her intellec-
tual way as she chose, IL she would
only come back. Seeing him
so tractsble and so very wishful.
suggested thing another had done
in related situation. He was to win
her back by offering her such terms as
she would accept and then, In order
to bind her to him, he was to induce
her to have a child. That would cap.
ture her sympathy and at the same
time insinuate an image of himself
into her affectionate consideration.
Those who had children rarely sepa.
rated-or SO ! said
The thought interested him at once.
1t satisfied his practical and clerkly
soul. He left me hopefully and saw
nothing more Of him for several
months. when he came to report that
all was well with him once more. In
order to seal the new pact he had
taken larger apartment In a more
engaging part OF the city. Bessie was
going on with her club life, and he
was not opposing her. And then with
in the year came a child, and for the
next two years all those simple,
honey and seemingly binding and re-
straining things which go with the
rearing and protection Of young life
But, as l was soon to learn, even
during that period all ~was not as
smooth as might be. One day In
Wray's absence Bessie remarked that,
delightful ms II was to have a child Of
her own, she could see herself as little
more than milk-cow with calf, bound
to Its service until Il should be able
to look after itself. She spoke OF
what a chain and weight child
was to one who had ambitions beyond
those OF motherhood. But Wrsy,
clerkly soul that he was. was all but
lost In rapture. There was a small
park nearby, and here he was to be
some baby carriage whenever his du-
ties would permit He liked 10 specu-
late on the charm and inAocence OF
babyhood and was amused by hun.
bred things he had never noticed in
the children OF others Already he
WAS planning for little Marie's future.
II WAS hard for children to be cooped
up in the city. II he could win Bes-
sic to the idea, they would move TO
some suburban town.
They were prospecting now and
could engage nursemsid, 80 Mrs.
Wray resumed her intellectual pur-
suits. II was easy to see that, re-
spect Wray as she might as an affec-
tionate and methodlcal man, she could
not love him, and that because OF the
gap that lies between those who think
or dream a little and those who aspire
and dream much. They were two diff
fering rates OF motion. flowing side by
side for the time being only, he the
slower, she the quicker, Observing
them together one could see how
proud he was of her and his relation
ship to her, how he felt that he had
captured a prize regardless OF the
conditions by which IL was retained,
while she held him rather lightly in
her thoughts or her moods. Having
won her back he now sought to bind
her to him In any way that he might,
while she wished only TO be free. For
surcease she plunged into those old ac-
tivitles which had so troubled him,
and now in addition 10 himself the
child was being neglected, or so he
thought The arrival Of Marie had
not Influenced her In that respect
And what was more and worse, she
had now taken TO reading Freud and
Kraft-Ebbng and allied thinkers and
authorities, men and works he CON
sldered shameful even though scarce
~ grssped by him Once he said to
me: "Do you know OF writer Of
the name Of Pierre Lotl?'
Yes" replied. IL know bis works.
What about III"
what do you think of him1'
"Why, ! respect him very much.
What about hlm7"
ooh, know, from an intellectual
point Of view. as fine writer, maybe.
But what do You think Of his views Of
lfe--of his books as books to be read
by the mother of little girl7"
"Wray," | said. 81 can't enter upon
a discussion OF any mans works upon
purely moral grounds. He might be
EanH lot some iuotHfFa anu evil TOT
others. That is as YOU will. Those
who are to be injured by a picture OF
life must be Injured, and those who
are to he benefited will be benefited.
| can't discuss either hooks or life In
that way. I see books as truthful
representations of life in some form,
nothing more. And It would he I'M
fair to anyone who stood In intel
lectual need to be restrained from
that which might prove of advantage
to him. | speak only for myself, how
ever"
1t was not long after that, six
months or less, that heard there had
been new quarrel which resulted in
Bessies leaving him once more and
with her. which perhaps was Illegal
or unfair, she had taken the child Of