Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-15
Nuiten Iof 9 q I'FescolI JOURNAL
aThE DIVORCE.
Bf MINNIE GEAr.

a. III OiV NhitS-HNhNcu hllisiSbSI
NJ bad said the last words had
LsS pronounced the last blessing Oh
the bowed head Of the fair young bride;
the last kiss and congratulation had been
given by the ''dear five hundred" and
ELSIE HAsTtSes vas borne TO The Gle
CANT home which was henceiorth 10 be
her own.
Stay one moment, kind reader. Take
ono look at her as she stands there. A
tallslend e. form, as 1.-THE and graceful as
willow; complexion pure and trans
parent, with delicate rose color shoot
inc over the fair cheeks; luxuriant brown,
wavy masses of hair floating over the
white shoulders; large, dreamy, brown
eyes; crimson hued lips with a regal
curve in them; bright orange and creamy
tinted apple blossoms are woven among
the bridal veil and the dark, rich hair
The beautiful sheeny folds of white silk
fall gracefully and bccOmingly about
the slender form.
All! beautiful, indeed, is Elsie Has
tings, and well might handsome Arthur
Hastings gaze at her with such a wor
shipping love light in his eyes, as he
folded her passiOnately to his heart.
"Oh. Elsie, darling,m my bride, my wife,
did ever mortal man have such reason TO
believe that there can be no greater
earthly happiness than holding to his
bosom fair young wife. Oh! what
name so sacred TO me. Wife. Mother
What man is there who does not breathe
God bless them : when he hears those
sweet aud holy names"
God grant that you nav always
think thus, my husband" said Elsie, the
beautiful eyes full of tears, as they were
turned upward, wistfully, and half mourn
fully 10 i'm.
1.-The time will Rever come that | will
think differently, my littlo WIFE" he said
with deep feeling.
But we will take our leave, my reader,
for possibly we are intruding, and posi-
Ry we might get tired of watching Them,
and not at all participating in what seems
to them, nOaO, such heavenly enjoyment.
VIII they always think thus!
Five years have passed, and many,
many changes have come, and sad
changes too. OBJ those five wears
have brought grief and despair to many
waiting hearts. But how is it with
beautiful Elsie Hastings and her noble
husband? God grant their hearts may
be as closely bound together with the
golden chain of love as when we last
saw them five years ago.
But what is this? The elegant home
looks verv dreary with tie blinds MI
closed aud the Crimson Flag" floating
mournfully over it. -s
Brown, the butler, says Hastings Is
to get a divOrce from his wife," remarks
one bystander to another, gazing idly at
tie house.
But the cause of this! Surely that
pure young face had no guile or Deceit
hidden underneath! No, never win VIC
believe it.
Thread this narrow passage with me.
Hero we are. Step on tiptoe, SO we will
not disturb this silent group. We have
found those we seek. There by the win
dow sits Elsie, not the Elsie Of five years
ago, IN all the bloom of her seventeen
!, summers; but Elsie Hastings of to-day.
pale sad woman of twenty-five. OH!
that look Of suppressed agony an
despair; the still, white face looking as
though cut in marble. Will that set
lock never leave tho facet VIII she never
make motion but sit and gaze so fixedly
at the dismal rows of brick walls? And
he, her husband, is sitting near the door
watching her with a dumb grief in bis
face. Perhaps she was moi so much 10
blame as he thought. But no it could
not be, and a sterner look come, TO
his white face. George Markham
loved Der and she loved him. Oh! God.
I was itnot proved TO me! Il must be so |;
it has wrung the last drop Of blood from
my heart. She has disgraced both her.
self and me, STOPPING 10 receive tho visits
Of another man. Would TO God | had
died before l had seen her who has made
my heart so desolate. She, whom
once loved TO call my wife, my wife no
longer. ! am alone, alone" Just then
from the little back room Of poor blind
singer, came voice sad, low and wall
'ng, singing that mournful song, "Beau-
Iiful snow"
Long lac listened TO the sweet SINGER.
sounding strangely through that row of
lawyers Offices, aud then dropped his
head on his hands. Lostl Yes, lost 70
him forever! and only the voice of tho
beautiful singer, and the incessaut scratch,
scratch of the stern, rigid faced lawyers
pen was heard.
At last the pen Is laid by the side of
the paper, and-"Mrs. Hastings, will
you aifix your name!" Elsie starts, and
then walks 20 the table aud signs her
nHme. II seeming, meanwhile, to her as If
she were writing in her hearts blood,
and now her life is blolted out. and she
arises from that table pale. stern
woman. He signs bis name in trem-