The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-06-26

stone within, making n metallic clink.
aud my husband opened the door little
way. l had never seen him look SO pale
before, or so rigid, yet so determined.
= Who arc you 7" he demanded, wild.
Iy. why can not you leave me in
peace 7"
ats |, Gcrald--your Madeline--your
own little wife"
And l caught from bis hand the pistol
he was striving TO conceal in his breast-its
mate lay on the marble hearth, under the
mantcl and flung il out of the window.
Gerald, would you have left me
81 would have escaped" he cried,
still half delirious, to oil appearances.
" Debt-disgracc-misery-h her reproach.
cs | would have escaped them all y
His head fell like that of a weary child
on my shoulder. drew him gently to Il
sofa, aud soothed him with thousand
murmurcd words, thousand mute caress.
cs For had it not been my fault
And through all the long weeks Of fear
that followed. | nursed him with unwaver.
ing care aud devotion. had but one
thought, one dcsire-to redeem myself 10 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 iuto their mountain tastne<s ;
the brilliant April rain-drops were dried
on The bough and spray-and now the
apple. blossoms were tossing their fra.
groat billows Of piuky bloom ia the deep
blue mir Of latter May.
Where werc We now
Il was picturesque little cottage just
out of the city. furnished very like a
magni6ed playhouse. Gerald sat in a
cushioned easy chair on the piazza, just
where he could glance through the open
window at me, working a batch of bis.
cults. with my sleeves rolled up above my
elbows, and the golden thread" hair
neatly confined in a silkcn net.
What au industrious fairy il is :" he
said. smiling sadly.
Well. you see like il {! It's a grca,
deal better than those souatas on the
piano"
Who would have ever thought you
would make 50 notable housekceper 2"
laughed glcciully-I had all child 4
delight in being praised.
Are you not going 70 Miss Delaney i
croqu"t party ?" he pursued.
3" No-what do care for croquct par.
ties lam going to finish your shirts, and
you'll read aloud TO me ="
Madeline, want you 10 answer me
one question"
"What is il ?"
had safely deposited my pan of bis.
cults in the oven by this time, and was
dustius the -four of my hands.
" What have you done with your dia-
monds ?"
sold them long ago they paid sew.
eral heavy bills, besides settling halt a
years rent here -
But, Madeline, you were so proud OF
your diamonds -
was oncc-noT they would be the
bittercst reproach my eyes could meet
o. Gerald had been less vain, aud
Ithoughtless. and cxtravagant-"
| checked myself, and robin. singing
in the periumed depths of apple blossoms
above the piazza, took up the dropped
current of sound
That's right, little Rcd-breast." said
my husband, half jokinglY, {" talk her
down /? She has forgotten that our past il
dead aud gone. and that we have turned
over a new page in the book of existence
Madeline, do you know how | feel some.
times, when sit aud look at you 2"
Nop
"Well, l feel like widower who wa:
married again %
My heart gave little superstitious
jump.
Like widower who was married
again. Gerald"
Yes, can remember my first wife
"a brilliant, thoughtless child, without
an idea beyond the qualification of present
whims-a spoiled pla, thing! Well, that
little Madeline has vanished away into
the past somewhere; she has gone away
to return no more, aud in her stead be.
hold my second wife, 4 thoughtful, tender
woman, whose watchful love surrounds
me like an atmosphere, 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, Ger.
aid I? the first or the second wife }?
"I think the trials and vicissitudcs
through which we have passed are wei.
come indeed, since they have brought
me, as their harvest fruits. the priceless
treasure of my second wife !"
That was what Gerald answered me
tho sweetest words that ever fell upon
my ear
ADVANTAGES OF ASSOCIATION BE.