The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-11-05
Selett Story.
My Husbands Second Wife.


My husband came tenderly to my
side.
"Are you going out this evening my
lover" Is
"Of course I am"
I looked down complacently at my
dress of pink Grape, dew, dropped over
with chrystal, and the trails of pink
azaleas, that caught up its folds here
and there. A diamond bracelet encir-
cled one round white arm and a little
cross blazed ftfully at my throat, l
had never looked better, and / felt a
sort Of girlish pride as my eye met the
fairy reflection in the mirror.
"Come, Gerald, make haste Why
you haven't begun to dress yet" 81
Where were my wifely instincts, that
l did not see the haggard, down look
in his features-the teyered light in his
eye? jail e
Il can't go tonight, Madeline-I am
not well enough"
"You are never well enough, Ger
aid, to oblige me. l am tired of being
put off with such excuses" 13ta
He made no answer, but dropped his
head in his hands, on the table before
him.
ooh, come, Gerald urged, petu-
lantly; sit is SO awkward for me to go
alone alaoaysP' 5sn IS
He shook his head listlessly.
4" thought, perhaps, you would be
willing to remain at home with me,
Madeline M t eada
"Men are selfish" Isaid plaintively;
"and I am all dressed. Claudia took
half an hour for my hair. I dare say
you'll be great deal quieter without
me-that is, if you are determined not
to CO." a Ii7 1E
No answer again.
SWELL if you choose to be sullen [
cant help it" I said, lightly, as turn
ed and went out of the room, adjusting
my bouquet-holder, the tube-roses and
heliotropes seeming to distil incense at
every motion. VsE
Was I heartless and cruel Had i
ceased to love my husband? From the
bottom of my heart | believe that |
loved him as truly aud tenderly as ever
wife did; but / had been so spoiled and
petted all my brief, selfish life, that the
better instincts were, SO to speak, en-
tombed alive. ~ afiiS 9tt3
| went to the party and had my fill
of adulation and homage, as usual
The hours seemed to glide away, shod
with roses, and winged with music and
perfume aud it was not until, wearled
with dancing, | sought a momentary
refuge in the half lighted tea-room, that
l heard words awakening me, sitwere
from dream. ,4s il SIS 7a9a
"Gerald Glen !"
could not well be mistaken in the
name-it was scarcely commonplace
enough for that. They were talking
two or three business like looking gem
tlemen, in the hall without--and could
catch now and then a fugitive word or
phrase. :,
Fine, enterprising young fellow
-"Great pity!" Totally ruined, 50
Bees & McMorken sayp-" Reckless
extravaganza of his wife," -
All these vague fragments l'heard !;
and then some one said, "And wEat is
he going to do now y
.What can he do? Poor fellow l
am sorry; but he should have counted
his income and his expenses better.
s,Or his wife should. Oh, these wo-
men. they are at the bottom of all mans
troubles ~ e s. !,
And they laughed. Oh, how could
they? I had yet to learn how easy it
is, in this world, to bear other people s
troubles. aH l!gg
i rose hurriedly up, my heart beat
ing tumultuously beneath the pink
| azaleas. and went back to the lighted
saloon. Mr.. Albany Moore was wait
| ing to claim my hand for the next dance.
care you i'll, Mrs. Glen? How pale
you lookp
aI-I am not very well. wish you
would have my carriage Called Mr
Moore" fa
For I now felt that home was the
proper place far me.
Hurried by some unaccountable I'M
pulse, I sprang out the moment the car
rage wheels touched the curbstone, ane
rushed up to my husband room. Th'
door was locked; but I could see ligh
shining family under the threshold.
Knocked wildly and persissently. !.
.sGerald, dear Gerald. for heaven