Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-04-14
LOVE AND DIAMONDS.
My husband came tenderly to my side.

pink Grape, dew dropped over with crysta
and the trails of pink azaleas that caught ur
its folds here and there. A diamond brace
let encircled one round white arm, ,and lit
tie cross blazoned itfully at my throat. /
never looked better, and felt sort of girl
ish pride as my eyes met the fairy reflection
in the mirror
Come, Gerald, make haste. Why, you
haven begun to dress yet.
Where were my wiiely instincts that did
not see the haggard, down cast look in his
features-the fevered light in his eyes.
Il can't go to night, Madeline-I am not
well enough"
''You are never well enough to oblige me,
Gerald | am tired of being put off with
such excuses"
He made no answer, bat dropped his head
in his hands on the table before him.
"Oh, come, Gerald urged petuently
1T is so awkward for me to go alone al
ways"
He shook his head listlessly
Il thought, perhaps, you would be willing
to remain at home with me, Madeline.
Men are selfish - l said plaintively
'and | am all dressed. Claudia took halt
an hour to my hair. L dare say you'll be a
great deal queter without me-that is, if
you are determined not TO CO."
No answer again.
well, if you choose to be SO sullen,
don't care | said lightly as turned and
went out of the room. adjusting my hoquot
holder, the tub be and heIiotripes seeming to
distil inc ense at every motion.
Was heartless and cruel? Had [ ceased
to love my husband? From he bottom of
my heart, believe that loved him as truly
and tenderly as ever a wife did but had
| been so poiled and petted all my brief selfish
life, that the better instincts were, so to speak
entombed alive.
! | went to the party, and had my Gil of
adulation and homage, as usual. The hours
seemed to glide away, shod with roses and
| winged with music and perfume, and it was
not until, wearied with dancing. sought
momentary refuge in the half-lighted tea
room, that heard words waking me, as it
were, from dream.
''Gerald Glenn ~
| could not well be mistaken in the name
it was scarcely commonplace enough for
that. They were talkiug-two or three bu-
siness-ike looking gentlemen-in the hall
without and l could catch now and then a
fugitive word or phrase.
Fine, ,enterprising young fellow Great
pity" Totally ruined, so Bees & NJ Nor
ton sayp Reckless extravaganza of his
wife p
All these vague fragments heard; and
then some one said, ''aud what is he going
TO do now p
"What can he Poor fellow! l am sorry,
but he should have calculated his income and
expenses better.
"Or his wife should Oh, these women;
they are at the bottom of all man S troubles -
And they laughed. Oh, how could they?
1 had yet to learn how easy it is in this world
to bear other peoples troubles.
rose up hurriedly, will my heart beating
tumultuously beneath the azalias, and went
back to the lighted saloon. Mr.. Albano
Moore was waiting to claim my hand for the
next dance.
"Are you i'll, Mrs Glenn? How pale you
look
I'll sm not very well. | wish you would
have my carriage called, Mr.. Moore
For now | felt that home was the proper
place for me.
Hurried by some unaccountable impulse,
[ sprang out the moment the carriage
wheels touched the curbstone. and rushed
up to my husband room. The door was
locked. but could see light shining faint
" under the threshold [ knocked wildly
and persistently.
Gerald, dear Gerald For heavens sake
let me in ~
Something fell on the marble hearth-stone
within, making a metallic click, and my hus-
band opened the door little way. | had
never seen him look so pale before, or so
rigid, and yet so determined.
Who are you?' he demanded, wildly. |
"Why cannot you leave me in peace?"
1T is l. Gerald-your Madeline-your
own little wife ~
And caught from his hand the pistol he
was trying to conceal in his breast-its mate |
lay on the marble hearth under the mlntle
and flung it out ofthe window.
"Gerald, would you have left me p
'I would have escaped = he cried, still |
half delirious, to all appearances. Debt
Disgrace -misery-her reproaches l would |
have escaped them all. y
His head fell like that of weary child, |
on my shoulder. l drew him gently on a |
sofa, and soothed him with a thousand muir
INJURED words-a thousand mute caresses, !
for had it not been all my fault?
And through all the long weeks of fear
that followed, nursed him with urwaver-
ing care and devotion. had but one thot, |
one desire to redeem myself in his estima.
ton, to prove to him that was something
more and higher than the mere butterfly of
fashion 1 had hitherto shown myself to him. |
Well, the March winds had howled them
selves away into their mountain Businesses.
The brilliant April rain drops were dried on
bow and spray, and now the apple blossoms
were tossing their fragrant pillows of pinky