Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-12-09
RGIIL42THURsDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1859.
For had it not been all

mute caresSes- TUT hau IL noc been all
- And through all the long weeks of fear
.h.t followea, Il nursed him with unwavs
- devotion. had but one thought,
enc desire, to redeem myself in his esti
nation to prove to him that | was some
thing more and higher than the mere butt
tertiy offashion had hitherto shown my
self.
x X
Well, the March winds had howled
themselves away into the mountain fast
ness; the brilliant April raindrops sere
dried on bough mad spray, aud now the
apple blossoms were tossing their fragrant
pillows Of pinky bloom 10 the deep blue
air of latter May. fea
w here were we now /? vi -s5y l
1t was picturesque little villa, not far
out OF 'Pittsburg. furnished very much
like magnificent baby house. Gerald
sat in a cushioned easy chair in the gar
den, where he could glance through the
open window at me working busily with
my needle.
What an industrious fairy it u.s. he
said smiling.sadlu
We'll you see, ike IT. It's a great
deal better than those sonatas on the
piano.
Who would have thought that you
would make s, notable ouse-keeper !?
laughed gieefulIy. | had all a child's
delight In being praised.
Are you not going to Miss Delanoey's
croquet party?' he pursued. 4l y.
No, what do care for croquet par
ties Fun going to finish your shirts, and
you will read aloud to me-
Madeline, want you to answer me Que
question ~
what is it?' ya
! 'What have you done with your dia-
monds 2 s.ai
| L sold them long ago they paid sew
eral heavy bills, besides settling half a
| years rent here.
But Madeline, you were so proud Of
your diamonds. ~
1 was once now they would be the
bitterest reproa:h my eyes could meet
Oh, Gerald. had L been less vain and
thoughtless, aad extravagaut.'
| checked myself, and a robin singin g
in the perfumed depths of apple blossoms.
took up the dropped current OF. sound.
That's right little redbreast,' said my
husband, half jokingly, talk her down.
She has forgotten t4at our past is dead
and gone, and that We have turned over a
new leaf in the book Of existence Mad
cline, do you know how | feel sometimes,
when sit and look at you?
| MOI 1 ..-.,s
Well, | feel like widower who has
married again =
My heart gave little superstitious
jump.
Like widower who has married again,
Gerald
Yes | can remember my first wife,
brillian 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 no more, and in her stead, [ be
hold my second wife, a thoughtful, tender
womaf, whose watchful love. surrounds
me like an atmosphere, whose character
grows more noble, and develops itself
lnto new depth and beauty every day.
| | was knee!ing at his side now. with
my cheek upon his arm, and my eyes
looking into his
! Aud which do you love best, Gerald
| the first or the second wife ?
i think the trials and vioisisfudes
through which we have passed are vel
come indeed, since they have brought me
as their harvest fruits, the priceless treas
ure of my second wife.
That was what Gerald answered me
the sweetest words that ever fell upon my
ear.