St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-01-01
My Husbands Second Wife.

Are you gong out this evening, love
''Of course, | am"
| looked down complacently at my
dress of pink Grape, dew-dropped over
with crystal. and the trails of pink aza-
leas that caught up its folds here and
there. A diamond bracelet encircled
one round white arm, and little cross
blazed titfully at my throat. bad never
looked better, and | felt sort of girIlsh
pride as my eye met the fairy reflection
i'll the mirror.
Come, Gerald, make haste, Why,
you haven't begun to dress YETI
Where were my wiiely instincts that
did not see the haggard, downc;.et look
in his features-the fcvered light in his
eye,
Il can't 90 tonight, Madeline, | am
not well enough
"You are never well enough, Gerald,
to oblige me. Am Iirel by being put
off with such excuses"
lie made no answer, but dropped his
head i'll his hands on the table before
him.
"Oh, come, Gerald" | urged, petu-
lantly; it is So awkard for me To 20
alone always"
lie shook his head, lstlesSlv.
Il thought, perhaps, you would be
willing 10 remain Il! home with ne,
Madeline -
Men are selfish" said plainliveIy
land am all dressed. Claudia tooh
halt an hour for my hair dare say
you'll be a great deaf quielcr without nrr
that Is, il YOU are determined not 10
go"
No answer again.
"Well, if YOU choose 20 be sullen, |
can't help IT,, l said lightly, as | turned
and Went out ut the room, adjusting my
bouquet holder, the tube roses and hell
otropes seeming TO distil incense at every
motion.
Was | heartl,ss and cruel Had !
ceased to love my husband From the
hot,om of my heart believe that | loved
him as truly and tenderly as ever wIlr
loved husband; but Ind been -
petted and spoiled all my brlrt selfish
life. that the better instincts were, - 10
speak, cntombrd alive.
| went 10 the party and had my fill at
adulatIJn AM homage, as usulL Iue
hours seemed to 9liIe away, shod with
roses, and WINGED with music u"d pr"-
fumc: and, II was uui until wrarIcd
with dancing, | Sought Il mumrntary ret
ugc in the the half lighted rca-roOm that
| heard .hc words awakening, M, At
We're, from dream.
'lierald Glcn."
cou!d not we'll DE mistaken in the
name; 1t was scarcely commonplace
enough ior that. They were ra'king-
TWO or three business like looking zen
tlcmen, in the hall without; and | could
catch, now and then, a fugitive word OF
phrase.
Zine, cnterpri-ng young fellow -
'Circat pity, ''IOtaliv ruincd--o
Bees and Mem ,rhcn say ." "R-ck.e-,
extravagaucc OF hi, vile,
All these vague fragments | heard
and then some one asked: And what
Is he goin. 10 do nov -
"What can he do, poor fellow -
am sorry but hc >holli have COUNTED
his income and his expense. better"
''Or his wife should. Oh, these wo-
men, they are at the bottom OF all 4
mans troubles"
And they laughed. Oh, how could
they had yet to learn how easy ii l.
in this world, 10 bear other peoples
troubles.
| rose hnrriedIy, my heart hoaiiu2
tumultuou>Iy beneath the pink az drr,,
and went back to the lighted saloon.
Mr.. \. Moore was waiting To claim my
hand for the next dance.
care you ill, Mrs. Glen! low pale
You look ~
II am not very well. wish You
would have my carriage called for me,
Mr.. Moore"
For now | felt that home was the
place for me
Hurried by scmc unaccnuntable i'm
pulse, sprang out the minute the car
riagc wheels touched the curbslone, AMI
rushed up to my husbands ;oom. Tnc
door WAS locked, but | could see a liglr
shining family under the threshold. l
knocked wildly and persistentIy
Gerald. dear Gerald, for heavens
sake let me in,'
Something fell upon the marble
hearih,Ioue within, making metallic
click, and my husband opened the door
IL little way. | had never seen him look
50 pale before, or SO rigid, yet 50 deter
mined.
.'Who are you he demanded wildly.
.'Why cannot you leave me- IN peace 3
"It is |, Gcrald-your Madellne-
ycur own little wife"
And caught from his hand the pistol
he was trying TO conceal in his bre;t,t-
It's mate lay on the hearth under the
maniel-and flung it out OF the win.low.
'Gerald, would you have left me -
Il would have escaped p he crie,l,
still halt dcIirious, TO all appearances.
debt, disgrace, mi-ery-her roproarh-
es, Twould have escaped them all ~
His head fell, like that OF weary
chilli, on my shoulder, drew HIM
gently to a sjf,, and soothed him with i,
thousand mute caresses; for had it not
been all my fault!
Aud through all the long weeks OF
fever that followed, | nur>ed Inn with
unwavering care and devotion. | had
but one thought-one desire-lo redeem
myself in his estimatlon-to prove 10
him that | was something more and
higher than the mere butterfly Of fashion
| had hitherto shown myself
We'll, the March winds had howled
themselves away into their mountain