Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/521

 me into the dark night of my remaining days on earth No, wait—let me finish.—And yet I hate to offer you that triumph.

Erna.—For the love of God, what are you driving at? I never even dreamed

Lena.—Yes, I loved Burris.

Erna.—Lord, Lena, what are you talking about?

Lena.—From the very beginning, from as long back as I can remember, when we played together as children. But that it might be really love I never suspected until about the time you came to live with us at Harshaw, and he came home from the University.

Erna.—Lena, listen

Lena.—And when I saw how he responded to your flirtation, and flamed up under your pretenses

Erna.—For me? At that time? I swear that you are telling me absolute news. I never had the slightest presentiment even.

Lena.—Of course not. How could you see a poor overseer’s son just at the time when you were developing such a promising affair with Count Blowitz. How could you have then permitted that a poor farmer volunteer should presume to lift his eyes to a real lady? Even in the way of the most respectful devotion. And he kept his love a secret from you as I have mine a secret from him.

Erna.—Surely I am the only woman on earth whose rival confesses to her that she loves her husband.

Lena (With more than her wonted vehemence).—Rival, Erna? We never were rivals for one minute, and we are not so now. Please, always remember that! (More calmly.) I never allowed myself the luxury of one word, when I could truthfully say that you were married under the blessing of these hands of mine. My own pillow, into which I shed so many silent tears, never heard my lips breathe his name. Never a look of mine betrayed to any one least of all to him

Erna.—Do you want me to tell him? Is that why you are confessing to me?

Lena.—No, not for that. I have already told you why. Your sneering attitude made me your behavior towards me  I felt that you must know that I loved Burris with every particle of my soul. He was my first and only, because he was the only man on earth for me. And he never knew it. But you got him, not that you loved him, but because he burst upon