Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-07-22

MY. lhusband fcameStehoerly 10 my
side.
"Are you going out this evening
love?'
/ looked, down ~complacently at my
dress Of pink Grape, dew-dropped 'ovel
with crystal, and the trails OF pink aza
leas that caught up its folds here and
there. A. diamond bracelet encircleC
one round white arm, and a little eros:
blazed fitfulIy at my throat. 1 had never
looked better, and felt sort of girlisf
pride as my eye met the fairy reflection
in the mirror, ~ .lross.
"Come, Gerald, make haste!-why
you haven't begun to dress yetm
Where were my wifely instincts thai
1 did not see the haggard,, drawn loOE
in his features-the fevered light in his
Il can't go to night, Madeliue-I an
not twell enoughnb .4s ssS
."You are never well enough tC
oblige me Gerald. I am tired OF being
put off with such excuses"
He made no answer, but dropped his
head in his hands, on the table before
him.
"Ohh coniey Geraid,s'I I urged, petu:
lantly.! sgt Is SO awkward, for me TO go
alone dtaUdysW
He shook nishead listlessly. -
"I thought perhaps you would be will
ing to remain at home with me Mad
HMen ate 80 sselfsh?'' + said, plant
lively; hard [ am all dressed. Claudia
took half an hour for my hair. I dare
say you'll be<a great deal quieter with
out me-that is, if you are determined
not.tosgo.p .pFssfh1sh s1fssigal
No answer again.
"Well. if YOU choose to be sullen, I
can't help it, said, lightly, as turn
ed and went out of the room, adjusting
my silver boquet-holder, the tuberoses
and heliotropes seeming to distill in
cense at every motion.
Was II cheartlessi and cruel? Had /
ceased to love my husband? From the
bottom of my heart I believe that l lov-
ed him as truly and tenderly as ever
wife did, but I had been. so spoiled and
petted all my brief, selfish life, that the
better instincts were, so to speak, en-
tombed alive. .s'sEsE. - saFs AszFt
Iwent-to the party, and had my fill
of adulation and homage as usual. The
hours seemed to glide away, shod with
roses and winged with music and per-
fume; and it was not until, wearied with
dancing, sought momentary refuge
in the half-lighted tea-room that heard
words wakening me, as it were, from a
dream.
.'Gerald Clen! +"
could not well be mistaken in the
name--it was scarcely commonplace
enough for that. They were talking
two or three stout, business-like looking
gentlemen--in the hall without, and l
-
word or phrase. o5
-ssgreat tpityI''-.'tOtally, ruined, so
Bees and McAlorken say.u-reckless ex-
travaaance Of his,wife.n ~
All these vague fragments I heard;
and then some one said:
'Andswhat is he going to do now?n q
"What can he do? Poor fellow! L am
sorry; but he should have calculated his
income and his expenses better"
''0r his toife should. Deuce take these
women-they are at the bottom of all a
mans troubles!'
And they laughed. Oil how could
they? had yet to learn how easy it is,
in this world, to bear other peoples
troubies.u o. % -
1 arose sburriedIy up, with my heart
beats tumultuously beneath the pink
azaleas, and went back to the lighted
corridors. Albany Moore was waiting
to claim nay hand for the next redowa.
Are you'll, Mrs. Glen? How pale you
look!p s5iTni .ss5 9u-
ell, am not very well. I wish you
would have my Garage called Mr..
Moore.n
For I felt now thai. home was the
place for me. CTf'I 81 10 LCEJEf lE5-1
n. H. Ii
pulse, / sprang out the moment the car
riage wheels touched the curbstene and
rushed up to my husbands room. The
door was locked, but could see a light
shining family under the Threshold. l
knocked wildly and persistently.
"Gerald! Gerald! for Heavens sake let
me imp
Something fell on the marble hearth
stone within, making q metallic clink
and my husband opened the door little
way. 1 had never seen him look so pale
before, or so rigid, yet so determined.
"Who are you? u he demanded, wild
ly. "Why cannot you leave me in
peace?n 5lte - ls
Its I, Gerald-your Madeline-your
own little wife. - -.e. s,sI + -
And caught from his hand the pis-
tol he was striving to conceal in his
breast-its mate lay on the marble
hearth, under the mantle-and flung it
out of the window.
"Gerald, would You have lett nlee"
"I weuld have escaped ~ he cried,
still half delirious, to all appearances =
"Debt-disgrace- reproach-
esl I would have escaped them allt'
His head fell like that of weary
child on my shoulder. drew him gent
ly to sofa, and soothed him with a
thousand murmured words, a thousand
mute caresses! For had it not been n1y
fault2sT esl7p5sef .1i
Ard through all the long weeks OF
fearthat followed, I nursed him with
unwayering care and devotion. L 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 fash
ion I had hitherto shown myself.
Well, the March winds had now led
themselves into their mountain fast
nesses; the brilliant April raindrops
were dried on the bough and spray-and
now the apple-blossoms were tossing
their fragrant pillows of pinky bloom in
the deep blue air of latter May.
Where were we now? ar9
It was picturesque little cottage just