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Show ILOVE and MARRIED LIFEl Imj. ihe noted author 1 Xdah MGlone (sibson Wtf AT KARL WROTE. "I cannot resist the impulse, my dear Katherino," the letter began, "of writing writ-ing to you on the cvo of my departure for France, "I have been offered a consular post in that country and for many reasons, some of them, perhaps, known to you, I have decided to take it, least for awhile. "I am going to try and fashion my OAvn life on a little different lines ii.r.n I have been living. Perhaps Avhon I return, my doar friend, I may bring with me a French wife, for I have come' to the conclusion that there is nothing1 in this Avorld 30 useless and out of date as an unmarried man of my ag'' Surely, I thought, as I read this, the sight of Karl's friends who arc married mar-ried has not given him an Impression of any beatific conditon that man enjoys en-joys In marriage. And than I eagerly scrutinized the letter to find Just why he had written mo that particular piece of news. Period of Transition. "If I were a woman, Katherlne," the le-tter continued, "I do not think that l over Avould. marry, at least not until the status of wives had changed a llt-thc llt-thc bit. Just now that status is in a period of transition and from what I can sec the women are getting tho! worst of it. But it must be very nice for a man to have a pretty, clover woman wo-man that he can call his, whose every thought is for him. whose every act ; takes him into consideration and' Avhose whole duty lies in his wish. , "And do you know, Katherlne that most of the wives I have seen among ray friends have been Avomen of this type. If a man is half Avay decent to a woman sho will do her part. Most of them, poor things, are brave enough' to try and make the best of their lives1 with no help from their husbands. I "I haven't any illusions r.bout my-1 self, my dear Katherinc, but I do hon-j estly believe that I could mane a woman wo-man happier than most of my married on friends soe to have done, md I: know that I shall trv to descne hap-' plness myself before I ask for it. "There arc some things that a decent man may not say to a married avo-man. avo-man. what over his Inclina'ion. ' "Ho can not tell her thai he is sorry) for her; he cannot toll her that he thinks she is the bravest little wo- man in the world; he cannot tell her that his sympathy is always and ever with her and more than all, he cannot tell her that every day he rails against the fate that did not bring him to know her sooner. Queer Old World. "I believe Katherlne my dear, that many men feel this way in regard to many women, because I know that a' man Is not always attractod to a wo- man that might be his for the asking. It's a queer old Avorld, fully mixed up! at times, and that is the reason why I am going away. And that is the rca-' Son why I am going to try and find I some Avoman that I can care forj enough, respect enough and reverence' enough to wish to make her the moth-j ev of my children. "I cannot tell Avhother I shall write' you again. I cannot hope for the Joy! of a Avord from you It is best that I drop out of your life. j "I don't for a moment think that i what I do, or say, or care would influ-; ence you in any Avay, but I do know that what you say or do, or care, would have the greatest Influence on my HfQ.: "Oh, I shall go on In Lho same old Avay, but I want you to know just what! I am writing you. I think you havo; knoAvn it long ago. but some way I do not feel right to go away without making mak-ing some declaration of my feelings toward you. Might Think Letter Wrong "There are people who might think that this letter was very wrong I, have cared for John very much; avc have been friends all through our boy-; hood, and I swear It to you, Kathorlno if John had been anything more to you tban the selfish, masculine animal that' ho is, I Avould not havo Avritten this1 letter, but a man cannot see a Avoman in such despair as I saw you that night' Avhen I caught you back from death, and feel perfectly indifferent to her. Some one. Something Is greatly to blame for all this, and I hope that'somo' day you may. at least, bo happy agaln.' This letter I tore into tiny bits and; calling in the nurse, I asked her to put; it into the Avastc basket. I was fright-' ened at my feelings. I did not dare ; ask myself Avhat I would answer if. Karl Sheppard had given mo his ad-! dress. (To Be Continued). Copyright by National Newspaper Service) |
