A REKINDLED LOVE

North Otago Times, 17 December 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

A REKINDLED LOVE

"Yes, I have always said the dear women could get the host of us every time," he continued, "unless—"

"Unless what?" "Unless they fall in love in real earnest." "Thou what?"

"Then wo mom win tho game. A woman iu lovo is never a very wise woman. You know there aro two kinds of women who fall desperately in love. Tho cold, calculating, unscrupulous woman, who stops at nothing to secure her wish, she is usuaJly discovered in sonio of her un/Jcrhand schemes and foiled, Then there is the quiet, unselfish woman who loves deeply, truly, sincerely but silently, often sccrelily, because she bolievcs she is in this way furthering the happiness of the ono she loves. The world judges superficially;" "Why, doctor, one would think you tad studied the human heart exclusively. I thought you wore decidedly not a ladies' man. But, pandoit mo, I—l bclicvo you too have some sort of love history, haven't you?" "Oh, yes; most men do." "Was she—do men usually lose their hearts to the beauties?"

"Yep and no. r Tho young men of a certain type are often carried away by a pretty .face, Seomg you are convalescent, I'll toll you a bit of my own experience if you caro to listen." "Oh, yes, doctor, please do. That will bo pleasantor to tako than- your medicine, a ?d may do as muoii good." "I feol like talking of tho past to

(ji::*™ ut i iromd iu-iy iicr irom her work long, urn! I foil a pity Unaf one SO frail sllOUtll iiuvo to b:>*-tJo with tliu world alone." c£ "Am!' pity's a!:in to love." . . "Now, don't interrupt my story. P callc'il tho next liny iiii'.l found licr much improved, but plainer in looks than tlio pvoi'iuus evening. I was culled lo tlio liou.se several t.r.it'H, pri/'essioiiaHy, and "I grow to like hor quiet ways and to hear licr talk. ]iut as far as being seriously affected, t'liat never entered n\>head. I felt perfectly safe._ Ah, '■ ■there's where men mako mistakes. They will laugh and enjoy themselves in the company of the popular beauty or tlio fa-cinaling coquette, but they are always on the watch, so to speak, and leave it to some young, inexperienced fool io got .singe! 1 , be.eauso ho doesn't know flie world well enough to keep at a respectable distance from the alluring flame: The man of the world will pass through the galaxy of ivil aiifl beauty without a scar only to fall in iuvo with some insigiiiliciint person who can-1 not boast of gnod looks or wit. It's her way, her Manner, and she becomes a very part of his life cro he is half aware al it. He does not realiso to •what extent ho is enslaved until he attempts to break the. chain. But sheusually breaks it for lib. Duly is stronger than love with such women." "Oh, doctor, you are moralising again. What about your bscr 1 " "WeW, I called there unprofcssionally afterwards. She neve;' seemed lo realise I liked or was interested in her. We were seldom alone, but one night, oh, ye goes! how,well I remember it .all. She was looking so sweet, but fragile and tired. Weil, I just couldn't keep still any longer. So 1 told her nip ■life, told lie.r all, and asked her to lot mo love .and lake care of her during the rest of my life." ''And what did slit answer?" "I'halo to think of it, even now, but she said: 'Your former wife may stili love you. If so. and you now sue for a divorce, think what pain, what suffering *or her. No, no, I cannot win my happiness through Ihe suffering of another. 1 1 argued, pleaded with her. Told her the Wioory was all wrong. She supposed love where love was (lead, "Ah, I know women's hearts belter than men do, even though they be doctors,' she ofiitl. 'Separation does not always cause imlill'ercncc.' "Slio remained firm. 'But supposo,' I pleaded as a last resort, 'supposo she, my former wife, first asks for this legjsl separation? What I'lien?' "'Well, time will tell. But promise mo you will make no first move, but remain absolutely passive in this matter. You wit! promise ?' "I promised, of course; woulfl have promised to go to Africa and become a cannibal, 1 suppose, had she asked it. And then-" _ "And then you married hor, after a divorce from ycur first wife?'' "Just the contrary. My first wife appealed to mo In live with her Again. Declared she had discovered that dim loved me, an/1 that she had committed a terrible sin in leaving me, which it would take a lifetime to atone. I must eonless 1 had to agree with her, and now I'm the happy father of three children—two boys ami a girl."