The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-05-20

ICuutu stt liANA ohtNluE lHluAl uu-
der the threshold. ! knocked wildly
aud persistcntly.
"Gorald Gerald ! for Heavens
sake let me iu T.
Something fell on the marble
hearth-stone within, making metal.
lie clink, aud my husband opened
the door little way. | had no, CT
seen him look so pale LefO.e, or Sc
rigid. yet so determined.
"Who are you2 p he demanded
wildly. "Why can not you leave me
in peace p
"Itis l, Gerald-your Madeline
your own little wife"
And l caught from his hand the
pistol he was striving to conceal in
his brcast--its mate lay on ,he marble
hearth, under the mautel--and flung
it out out of the window.
"Gerald, would you have left me p
"I would have escaped I" he cried,
still half delicious, to all appoaran
ces. Debt-disgrace-mi misery-her
reproaches ! l would have escaped
them ali ~
His head fell like that of weary
child on my shoulder. l drew him
gently to sofa, and soothed him
with a thousand murmured words. a
thousand mute caresses For had it
not all been my fault?
And through all the long weeks of
fear that followed, I nursed him with
unwavering care and devotion. /
had but one thought, one desire-to
redeem myself 10 his estimation to
prove to him that was something
more and higher than the mere but>
tcrHy of fashion had hitherto shown
myself
Well, the March winds had howled
themselves into their mountain FAST
ness the brilliant April rain>drops
were dried on the bough and spray
and now the opple-bossoms were
tossing their fragrant billows Of
pinky bloom in the deep blue air Of
latter May.
Where were we now
1t was a picturesque little cottage
just out of the city, furnished very
like a magnified playhouse. Ger,
aid sat in cushioned easy chair on
the piazza, just where he could glance
through the open window at me,
working a batch of biscuits, with my
sleeves rolled up above my elbows,
and the "gold,thread hair neatly
confined iD a silken net.
"What an industrious fairy it is |"
he said, smiling sadly.
"Well, you see Like it! It's
great deal better than those sonatas
on tho piano r.
"Who would ever have thought
you would make so notable a house.
keeper p
| laughed glecfully-I had all a
child's delight in being praised.
"Are you going to Miss Delancy's
croquct party?' he pursued.
"No-what do l care for croquet
parties? ? I'm going to finish your
shirts. and you'll read aloud to me !"
"Madeliue, l want you to answer
me one question"
"What is it2'
had safely deposited my pan of
biscuits in the oven by this time, and
was dusting the -four off my hands.
What have you done with your
diamonds ?"
"I sold them long ogo; they paid
several heavy bills, besides settling
half years rent here |"
"But Madeline, you we're so proud
of your diamonds r.
II was once-Rov they would be
the bitterest reproach my eyes could
meet. o, Gerald had l been less
vain and thoughtless and extravagant
-
checked myself, and robin, sing.
ing in the perfumed depths of apple
blossoms. above the piazza, took up
the dropped current of sound
"That's right, little Red-breast,'
said my husband, half jokingly, "talk
her DOWN. She has forgotten that
our past is dead and gone, and that
we have turned over a new page in
the book of existence. Madeline, do
you know how l feel, sometimes, when
| sit and look at you?"
"Now
"Well, I feel like a widower who
was married again !"
My heart gave little superstitious
jump.
"Like a widowor who was married
again, Gerald r.
"Yes, | can remember my first
wife-a brilliant, thoughtless child,
without an idea beyond the grat,fca-
ton Of present whims--a spoiled
plaything Well, that little Made
line has vanished away into the past.
somewhere she has gone away to re
turn no more, and in her stead | be-
hold my second wife, thoughtful,
tender woman, whose watchful love
surrounds me like an atmosphere,
whose character grows more noble,
and develops itself into new depth
aud beauty every day
| was kneeling at his side now,
with my cheek upon his arm, aud my
eyes looking into his
"And which do you love best, Ger.
aid ? the frst or the second wife 2"
Il think the trials aud vicissitudes
through which we lave passed are
welcome indeed, since they have
brought me, as their harvest fruits.
the priceless treasure of my second
wife IL
That was what Gerald answered
me the sweetest words that ever fell
upon my ear
The late Rev. Daniel Isaac was
both a great wag aud great smoker