Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-02-03
Selettc0 sHisrrllnnu.
LOVE AND DIAMONDS.
A story of Woman,s Devotion.

tai and the trails ofpink azaleas that caught
ND its folds here and there. diamond
bracelet encircled one round white arm, and
a little cross blazoned fitfully at my throat,
l never looked better, and felt sort OF
girlsh pride as my eyes met the fairy re-
Election in the mirror.
Come, Gerald, make haste Why, you
havn't begun to dress yet.
Where were my wifely instincts that
did not see the haggard, down look in his
features-tho fevered light in his eyes?
II can't go tonight, Madeline-I am not
we'll enough"
You are never well enough to oblige
me, Gerald. 1 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
"Oh, come, Gerald, urged petulantly
'it is so awkward for me to go slone al;
lCdySi"
He shook his head listlessly,
81 thought, perhaps, you would be viii
ling to remain at home with me, Made
line"
''Men are selfsh!' l said plaintively
''and am all dressed. Claudia took half
an hour for my hair. dare say you'll bea
great deal quieter without me-that is, if
you are determined not to CO."
No answer again.
''Well, if you choose to be sullen, l
can't help il" said lightly, as / turned
and went out of the room, adjusting my
bouquet holder, the tube roses and hello
tropes seeming to instil incense at every
motion.
Was heartless and cruel2 Had ceased
l.. H. l. II
my heart, believe that loved him as
truly and tenderly as ever wife did; but
had been so spoiled and petted all my brief,
selfish ife, that the better instincts were,
so to speak, entombed alive.
Iwent to the party and had my fill o.
adulation and homage, as usual The
hours seemed to glide away shod with roses
and winged with music and perfume, and il
was not until, wearied with dancing,
sought n momentary refuge in the half
lighted tea-room, that heard words wax,
ening me, as it were, from-a dream.
"Gerald Glennl'
could not well be mistaken in the name
it was scarcely commonplace enough for
that. They were talking two or three
business like looking gentlemen-in the
hall without and | could catch now and
then fugitive word and phrase.
Fine enterprising young felloww-
"Great PITY" Totally ruined, so Bees &
McMorken say!'-"Reckless extravaganza
of his wifey'
All these vague fragments heard; and
then some one said "And what is he 60
ing to do nOw?"
What can he? Poor fellow lam sorry;
but he should have calculated his income
and expenses better"
Cor his wife should Oh, these women
they are at the bottom of all mans trou-
blesr'
And they laughed. Oh, how could they?
had yet to learn how easy it is in this
world to bear other peoples troublesl
rose hurriedly up with my heart beat
ing tumuluously beneath the azaleas, and
went back to the lighted saloon. Mr.. Al
bany Moore was waiting to claim my hand
for the next dance
'Are you i'll, Mrs. Glenn? How pale you
look"
'I-I am not very well. / wish you would
have my carriage called, Mr. Moore"
For now felt that home was the proper
place ior me.
Hurried by some unaccountable impulse
sprang out the momentthe carriage wheels
touched the curbstone, and rushed up to
my husbands room. The door was lock-
ed, but could see light shining family
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 metallic click, and nv hus-
n = 7 h.
never seen him looked so pale before, or so
rigid yet so determined.
WHO are you" he demanded wildly.
"Why can not you leave me in peace?"
at is 1, 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
mantel-and flung it out of the window.
''Gerald, would you have left meY
81 would have escaped he cried, still
half delirious, to all appearances ''Debt
--disgrace-m misery-her reproaches
would have escaped them all"
His head fell, like that Of weary child,
on my shoulder. l drew him gently to q
sofa, and soothed him with thousand mur-
INJURED words-a thousand mute caresses
For had it not been all my fault2
And through all the long weeks of fever
that followed, nursed him with unwaver-
ing care and devotion I had but one
thought, one desire, TO redeem myself in
his estimation, 10 prove TO him that was
something more and higher than the mere
butterfly of fashion had hithe shown
myself.
Well the March winds had howled them
selves away into their mountain iasteness:
the brilliant April raindrops we're dried on
bough and spray, and now the apple BIOS
SONS were tossing their fragrant pillows of
pinky bloom in the deep blue air of latter
May.
Where were we now?
IL was n picturesque little villa, not far
out of Pittsburgh, furnished very like q
magnificent baby house. Gerald sat in a
cushioned easy chair in the garden, where
he could glance through the open window
OF me, working busily with my needle.
"What an industrious fairy II is, he said,
smiling sadly. f
"Well, you see, like II. It's great deal
better than those sonatas on the piano"
"Who would ever have thought you
would make 80 notable housekeeper2"
laughed gleefnlly;I had ALA child 8 de-
light in being praised 1tl1
'Are you not going 10 Miss Delancey's
croquet party2" he pursued.
NO; what do care for croquet parties2 |
I'm going TO finish your shirts, and you'll |
read aloud TO me-