Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-10-21

breast-its mate lay on the marble
hearth, under the mantel-and flung 1t
out the window.
Gerald ! would you have left me?"
at would have escapedl" he cried,
still half. delirious to- all appearances.
"Debt-disgrace nisery-her reproach-
es! I would have escaped them all
His head fell, like that of weary
child, on my shoulder. i drew him
gently to sofa, and soothed' him with
a thousand murmurede words-a thou
llsand mute caresses For had it not
been all my fault? .~a a+
And through all the long weeks OF
fear that followed, 1, nursed him with
unwavering care and devotion I had
but onethought- desire--to redeem
myself in his estimation; to prove to
him that I was something more and
higher than the mere butterfly OF fash
ion L had hitherto shown myself!
Well, the March winds had howled
themselves away into their mountain
Businesses the brilliant April rain
drops were dried on bough and spray !;
and now the apple blossoms were toss
ling their fragrant pillows Of. pinky
bloom in the deep blue air of latter
May.
= Where were we now?
r., 1t was a, picturesque lite villa, not
Ear out 81 II Of New Orleans, furnished very
like magnificent playhouse. Gerald
sat inca cushioned easy chair Int the
garden, just where he could glance
through the open windowat mef work
ing bnsily with my needle. rl'..-a
What an industrious fairy. it Is! J.
he said, smiling sadly. -..' s,.'.
: IA Well, YOU see, I like itlr lisa
great deal better than those sonatas on
the pianot'h
:" Who would ever have thought you
would make eenotable:a housekeeper?''
laughed gleefully-I's had all a
-chlld's delight in being praised -
"Are you.not gong to~Miss Delan-
cey's croquet party ?" he pursued. a
mo; what dol careforcroquet par
ties2 I'm going to finish -yoursshirts,
and you'll read aloud to me7!' - =
} Madeline, Want YOU to answer
me one question. ~" 60 - -. =.
"5Wbat is It r, p :. ~ s..,,s -ss -. ''.'
r What have, you done with your
diamonds r. =. = -, J. sa,s -, 9
Il sold them long ago; they paid
several heavy bills5g besides settling half
a years rent here. 81 : - =
BIT, Madeline, you were so proud
.of your diamonds -, - rsss.
ID l was once; noaQ they. would be the
'bitterest reproach,my eyes could meet.
Oh, Gerald, had l beene1ess vain, and
thought1ess, eand4eytravagant-" -
g I checked myself and ayobin, sing
ing IN II IN : the psffumed depths Of apple
blossoms, took up the dropped current
:. = That's That's right, .little.reedbreast,", said
my husband, half jokingly. stalk her
down! She hasforgotten that our past
is, dead and ;gone,5 and that i've have,
turned over new page in the book OF
existence Madeline, do YOU know
hov; l feel, sometimes, when | sit and
lock at you 2? o.r s.,ls ~ ~.
+ No !"z.sap -.eiyG eeo Z
Well, Efeel like a widowerSwho has
married again." =
My heart gave gave q little superstitio2gr9s sg9
Like a widower. who has married
again Gerald + se =
"Yes; Ican remember my first wife
"a brilliant thoughtless child, without
any idea beyond the qualification Of
present whims-a spoiled plaything P!
well, that little Madeline has vanished
away into the past somewhere she has
gone away, to return to me no more,
and, in her stead, 5I-behold my second
wife, thoughtful 'tenderwoman, whose
watchful love surround s me like an at
mosphere, whose character grows more
noble, and develops itself into new
depth and beauty every day!' -.
was kneelng at his side now. with
my cheek upon his arm, and my eyes
looking into his
"And which do you love best, Ser
ald-the first or second wife p
81 think the trials and vicissitudes
through which we have passed are vel
come indeed, since they have, brought
me, as their harvest fruits, the priceless
treasure of my second wife i
That was what Gerald answered me
the sweetest words that ever felleupon
my earl