Year: 1876




was in my own estimation and that of
many of my friends, a ruined man. l
had money, talent and culture, yet ter
rible sorrow which came to me FIVE years
before, and whose memory had never de-
parted, had made of me nerveless, pur-
poseless misanthrope. Yielding TO the
solicitation of friends, who thought fit
companion might restore me to the world,
l solicited the hand of Eunice Morgan,
who had known me from early childhood
and she gave me not only herself, but
restored to me my own self, purified, ele-
waited and strengthened. With the tact
affection and character of the ideal wo-
man in whom we all believe, she made
| lite sweeter to me than the lost one had
bemoaned and the sacrifice of her noble
self which she had made for me seemed
10 fill her own existence with constant
joy.


A few years before, while I was return
ing from the Continental tour that fol-
lowed my graduation, l met and wor-
shipped Anita Lozatos, beautiful Cub
an. My position in society was unex-
ceptionable. l was rich, and l pressed
my suit with all the ardor of warm
young heart and fluent tongue. SO /
was speedily accepted by Anita and her
parents, and we were soon married. In
one Of the charming villages near New
York | built for my bride an exquisite
villa in noble grove Of old chestnut trees
and furnished with everything which her
desires and caprices suggested. | was
still student, and an ardent one, but
there were few hours in the day in which
| did not for a few moments drop my
books to seek and adore my beautiful, my
glorious wife.


Slowly learned the sad fact that An
ita's fondness for me was only passion
ate, titful outburst, instead of constant
affection. | had never in the cooler mo-
ments of my courtship expected her to
sympathize with my studicus tastes but
when | comprehended that even my com
panionship was distasteful to her, and
that L received her smiles only in ex-
change for such pleasures as l purchased
for her, became very unhappy man.
Trying to gain her affections, if she were
capable of bestowing such sentiment, /
abandoned my studies entirely. | devot-
ed my entire time to the task Of pleasing
my wife. / spent without stint the mon
ey which had been left me by rich fa-
ther | filed the house with company ;
| purchased city house, in which we
passed the winter, and did all that de-
voted and anxious heart could do to win
the love of the woman held so dear.


And | imagined, poor fool that L was
succeeding. The painstaking and anxi-
ETY. Of several days devoted to procuring
her some new pleasure were fully repaid
by the parting of her ripe lips, the light
darting into her glorious eyes and the
claspings Of her beautiful arms, which al
ways Indicated my success. The tire
someness to me Of a large party of peo-
pie who could only dance, and drink and
eat, was always relieved when, after the
last guest had departed, Anita would
draw me down to her and kiss me a doz-
en- times and tell me that | was her dear,
delightful old boy. d.


AT the close Of one of the most brilliant
entertainments | had evergiven, stroll
ed restlessly through the drawing
the verandahs and the conservatory, look
ing for my darling. She had been unus-
ually beautiful throughout the evening,
ard when | had caught her eye it had
been so full Of feeling and tenderness
that | had longed for the moment to ar
rive when we might be alone, and |
might for the thousandth time renew the
declaration of my affection. She had
| gone suddenly to her rooms the servants
said, and had left word that she would
return in a moment,


continued my aimless strolling when,
entering my library, found on the open
volume | had last been reading, n slip of
paper bearing a line in Anita's delicate
nanuWilJlHB. IL Tcau


81 cannot love you, for you are too
great for poor little me. ! have found
one | can love. God forgive me and bless
YOU"


l fell, and knew no more for days aft
erward, when | emerged from the deliri-
uIn of a fever. Against my will recov
cred, but my spirits, my high aims and
purposes, it seemed had gone forever. l
attempted to recommence the long course
of reading and study | had determined
upon when left college, but found my
self devoid Of aim and energy.


For several years led desolate life,
never hearing Of Anita, but holding her
constantly and tenderly in my heart, in
spite of her faithlessness. One day there
appeared at my villa a rough looking for
eigner, who said he was a sailor, and had
been handsomely paid to bring me It'd
ings Of the death Of my wife, who had
been washed overheard from the deck Of
a vessel in the Mediterranean. He could
tell me nothing more about her, except
that she was travelling alone at the time
of the accident, and had left among her
papers a large bank note to pay for intel
ligence being sent me in the event of her
sudden death at any time.


| informed two or three faithful friends
of the sad fate of my wife, ard they, who
had been unwearied in their endeavors
to rally me, insisted that should marry
again. At first | utterly refused to listen
to the suggestion but so skilful and un-
firing were they, that they finally pre-
vailed upon me to re-enter society. Then,
with an apology, offered to EUnce the