The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-11-05

Something fell on the marble hearth.
stone within, making metallic click,
and my husband opened the door lit
tie way. / had never seen him look so
pale before, or SO rigid, yet SO deter
mined
"Who are you?" he demanded wild
ly. "Why cannot you leave me in
peace?" l'
1t is I, Gerald-your Madeline
your own little wife," ,4i~
And / caught from his hand the pis-
tol he was. trying to conceal in his
breast its mate lay on the marble
hearth, under the mantel-and flung it
out of the window. d
Gerald, would you have left me ?'
II would have escaped" he cried,
still half delirious to all appearances
"Debt-disgrace-misery-her reproach-
es! Iwould have escaped them all!'
His head fell, like that.of weary
child on my shoulder. | drew him
gently to a sofa, and soothed him with
thousand murmured words-a thou
sand mute carresses. For had it not
been all my fault?
And through all the long weeks Of
fear that followed, | nursed him with
unwavering care and devotion. | had
but one thought-one desire-,to redeem
myself in his estimation; to prove to him
that | was something more and higher
than the mere butterfly of fashion had
hitherto shown myself!
Well, the March winds had howled
themselves away into their mountain
fastnesses; the brilliant April rain drops
were dried ON bough and spray; and
now the apple blossoms were tossing
their fragrant billows of pinky bloom in
the deep blue air of latter May.
Where are we now?
1t was a picturesque little villa, not
far out of Pittsburg, furnished very like
a magnificent baby house Gerald sat
in cushioned easy chair in the garden,
just where he could glance through the
window at me, working busily with my
needle.
"What an industrious fairy it is !"
he said smiling sadly.
"Well, you see, l like it! It's a
great deal better than those sonatas on
the piano" af
"Who would ever have thought you
would make SO notable housckeeper?"
[ laughed gleefully-I had all a
ehild's delight in being praised.
"Are you going to Miss Delancy's
oroouat p,rtu 2D ba purcuad
No; what do l care for croquet
parties? I'm going to finish your shirts
and you II read aloud to me-" ha'
madeline I want you to answer me
one question. afj.,g4.s. .altrsg aa
'sWhat is. it ?"
"What have you done with your dia
monds z" ,Fa'tat 9'is '' q.
II sold them long ago; they paid
several heavy bills, besides settling hal
) years rent here.". oiaa NJ
9 But, Madeline, you were so prouc
, of your diamonds"
"I was once noW they would be the
bitterest reproach my eyes could meet
O! Gerald, had / been less vain, and
thoughtless, and extravagant-" sis.
I checked myself, and robin, sing.
ing in the perfumed blossoms ofan apple
tree took up the dropped current Of
sound! aab9a ae Etsaslf u
sThat's right, little redbreast,' said
my husband, half jokingly, stalk her
down. She has forgotten that our past
is dead and gone, and that we have
turned over new page in the book OF
existence! Madeline, do you know how
| feel sometimes when | sit and look at
you?" isaoiaa3 h3}sta
"Nor
"Well, 1 feel like widower who has
married again ~ is' sa
My heart gave a little superstitious
jump. I9t aa5 Il ~ =
Like widower who has married
again, Gerald!'' aioa
Eyes; I can remember my first wife
brilliant, thoughtless child, without
any idea beyond the qualification of
present whims a spoiled plaything =
Well, that little Madeline has vanished
away into the past somewhere; she has
gone away to return to me no more,
a. d, in her stead, I behold my second
wife, a thoughtful tender woman, whose
watchful love surrounds me likesan at
mospherc, and whose character grows
more noble, and develops itself into
new depths of beauty every day"
/ was kneeling at his side now, with
my cheek upon his arm, and my eyes
looking into his.
sand which do you love best, Ger
aid the first or the second wife {!
81 think the trials and yicisitudes
thro' which we have passed are welcome
indeed, since they have brought me as
, their harvest fruits, the priceless trea'
sure of my second wifew W "
That was what Gerald answered me
the sweetest words that ever fell mp
on my ear.
/ e N