"THE PURGATORIAL TRIPLETS."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10289, 21 February 1895, Page 6

"THE PURGATORIAL TRIPLETS."

("The Idler.") "The Purgatorial Triplets," by Sarah Earcell* Aster, marks a new stride forward oa the part cf the Now Woman. The author presents no with » portrait of the very newest New Woman, and, whether we like the portrait or not, there can be little doubt that itis a truthful one Hysteria Beauch&mp, tho horoine of "Tba Purgatorial Triplets," is a profound student of all philosophies and religions, and the also ban a thorough knowledge of roulette which she thinks to be far more spiritual than Christianity. Purity and Atheism are tha "caunes" to which she devotes her life. In tho interests cf the former she is an implacable foe of marriage, end it is owing to her conviction that chance ia the roler of the nniverae that «feo preaches the holiness of roulette. Yonng, beautiful, rich, and well-born, she has the world aft her feet, bob oneday nhe awakes to the consciousness that she is in love. There are three men with whom she bus become somewhat intimately associated. These are—An earnest and enthusiastic gambler; a bold and athletic burgUr; and an Advanced curate. She loves not one alone but all three, and ia thaw circumstances the path of duby becomes thorny and obscure. The gentle spiritual nature of the gambler draws her towards him; tha ragged masculinity of tbo burglar charms hsr ; and tho brilliant audacity of the curate seems to her to bo nearly irresistible. This curate is unquestionably the true hero of the book. Although he believes in nothing—not even in roulette it is generally understood that he is a man witli a. past. New Women whisper behind their fans that at one time the ourate believed in religion and openly approved of the Christian code of morals. Indeed, it was notorious that in hiß youth he bad repeatedly insulted tha purest impulses of womanhood by performing the degrading ceremony of marriage. True, he had repented and reformod, but the evil reputation of his youth still clung to him and the New Women dared not trust him, although ia their hearts they universally admired him.

The scene in which Hysterl* Is brought to a sudden knowledge of the dangerous character of the curate is vividly painted.

"Hysteria was sitting on her dining room table, gracefully swinging her feet, and repeating dreamily a verse from the 'Shastas.' Wilkins (the curate) stood before her, with his hands plunged deep in his pockets, and a frown on his stern d&rk face.

" 'And so,' he exclaimed, 'you confes3 that you love all three of ns ?' She bowed her head, but tier lips did not move, ' What are you going to do about it ?' he asked, with a bitter excavated laagh. ' Do yon suppose that I am goiog to share your love with those Johnnies? I'll see you and them in '."

" ' Hush ! Oh, hush!' she cried. • Can it be that you have not yet rooted.out your Christian selfishness ! Are you deaf to' the voice-of altruism ? Can you ?'

" 'Enough of this,'cried Wilkins, hoarsely. 1 1 detest your altruism. You are weak enough to believe in it, but I believe in absolutely nothing. Religion, roulette, altruism, gravi. tation, the binomial theorem—l reject them all. Choose between me, wbo st&nd naked of aIZ Bhreds ol belief, and those two cowardly conventional believers, one of whom respects policemen, while the other reverences roulette. They both reverence yon ; deny it if you can. As for me I scorn to reverence or respect your alleged soul, your hypothetical brain, or your much too thin body. Accept my love, and with me yon will rise to undreamed-of heights of disbelief. Choose either of those fellows, and you will sink surely and steadily into an abyes of belief. Deoide quickly, for I shall not give yon another chance.'

"She raised her tearful eyes to his. This man's eyes burned into hers like tha rays o£ an electric searchlight. She felt herself flattering like a moth into his soul's deep parabolic reflector. 'Micah Wilkins,' she faltered, 'I can resist no longer!' And she threw herself from the table into his strong alpaca arms. "' We will ba married at once/ said Wilkins.

" With a wild cry the- unhappy- girl tore herself loose. For a moment the universe seemed to crash into ruins around her. The moon and stare, the paraffin lamps, and the curate's metaphorical searchlight, went oat. Then Hysteria's native strength asserted itself once more. She seized a knife from, the table. ' Go, wretch !' she cried. 'Go from the woman whose purity you have insulted with your infamous suggestion of marriage. Away! before I plunge this knife into your false and foul waistcoat!'

■ "The baffled ourate alank from the outraged woman whom he had thought but a moment before to make his victim. He went out of the room without another word. Shame and anger had made such t, temporary French Republic in his brain that he totally forgot to help himself to the best umbrella in the umbrella-stand. An hour later ha wag striving to forget his disgrace.in the wild excitement of croquet."

There may be persoiA incapable of seeing tbe power and pathos oi the foregoing>scene, but it will appeal with irresistibla force to every " New Woman." The author excites, in an equal degree, our indignation at tha wretch who dared to speak of marriage to the woman he professed to Jove, and our pity for the woman before whom this abyss of treachery and shame so suddenly opensd. It would be unfair to tell the remainder of the story. It may, however, be said that it ends in lurid gloom and brilliant sadness. Hysteria finds the world too strong for her, and she finally escapes from it by the gate of suicide.