North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-02-10

My husband came tenderly to my side.
"Are you going out this evening, lover
''Of course am.''
l looked down complacently at my dress
of pink Grape, dew dropped over with
crystal and the trails Of pink azaleas that
caught up its folds here and there. A dia.
mond bracelet encircled one round white
arm, and a little cross blazoned 6tfully at
my throat. I never looked better, and
felt o sort of girlish pride as my eyes met
the fairy reflection in the mirror.
"Come, Gerald, make haste. Why, you
havn't begun to dress yet"
Where were my wifely instincts that I
did not see the haggard, down look in his
features-the fevered light in his eyes?
~ can't 90 tonight, Madeline-I am
not well enough"
"You are never well enough to oblige
me, Gerald. l am tired of being put of
with such excuses"
He made no answer, but dropped his
head in his hands on the table before him.
'Oh, come, Gerald" I urged petulantly
ut is so awkward for me to 60 alone al
,cays!'
He shook his head listlessly.
81 thought, perhaps, you would be will
ling to remain at home with me, Made
line"
"Men are selfish !" I said plaintively
"and am all dressed. Claudia took hall
an hour for my hair. dcre say you'll be
a great deal quieter without me-that is,
if you are determined net to CO."
No answer again.
swell, if you choose to be sullen, I
can't help it," ! said lightly, as turned
and went out of the room, adjusting my
boquet holder, the tube roses and hello
tropes seeming to instil incense at every
motion.
Was l heartless and cruel? Had ceas.
ed to love my husband? From the bot
tom OF my heart, / believe that I loved
him as truly and tenderly as ever wife
did; but had been SO spoiled and petted
all my brief, selfish life, that the better
instincts were, so to speak, entombed
alive.
Invent to the party and had my fill of
adulation and homage, as usual. The
hours seemed to glide away shod with 70.
ses and winged with music and perfume,
and it was not until, wearied with dan
cling, sought monetary refuge in the
halflighted tea-room, that heard words
wakening me, as it were, from-a dream.
"Gerald Glenn -
l could not be mistaken in the name-it
was scarcely common place enough for
that. They were talking-two or three
business like looking gentlemen-in the
hall without, and l could catch now and
then fugitive word and phrase.
IgE;ro uOnrn T>11ovySS
''Great pity!"-"Totally ruined, SO Bees
& McMorken say !'-'Reckless extrava-
gance of his wife!'
All these vague fragments I heard; and
then some one said; "And what is he go
ing to do now? ~
"What can he? Poor fellow I am sor-
ry; but he should have calculated his in
come and expenses better"
''Or his wife should. Oh, these women;
they are 1t the bottom of all mans trou.
bles !"
And they laughed. Oh, how could
they? had yet to learn how easy it is in
this world to bear other peoples troubles!
l rose hurriedly up with my heart beat
ing unanimously beneath the azaleas, and
went back to the lighted saloon. Mr.. AL
bany Moore was waiting to claim my hand
for the next dance
care you ill, Mrs. Glenn? How pale you
look ~
'-I am not very well, l wish you
would have my carriage called, Mr..
Moore"
For I now felt that home was the proper
place for me.
! Hurried by some unaccountable impulse.
I sprang out the moment the carriage
wheels touched the curbstone, and rushed
up to my husbands room. The door was
locked, but could see q light shining
family under the threshold. l knocked
wildly and presistently.
"Gerald, dear Gerald for heavens sake,
let me I'M
Something fell on the marble hearth
stone within, making q metallic click, and
my husband opened the door little way.
I had never seen him look so pale before,
or so rigid, yet so determined.
"Who are your he demanded wildly.
"Why can you not leave me in peace ?'
''It is /, 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 me?"
~ would have escaped I" He cried,
still half delirious, to all appearances.
"Debt-disgrace-misery-her reproaches!
l would have escaped them all ~
His head fell, like that of weary child,
on my shoulder. I drew him gently to a
sofa, and soothed him with thousand
murmured words-a thousand mute cares
ses. For had it not been all my fault?
And through all the long weeks of fever
that followed, nursed him with unwaver-
ing 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 fashion had hitherto shown
myself.
Well, the March winds had howled
themselves away into their mountain fast
eness; the brilliant April raindrops were
dried on bough and spray, and now the
apple blossoms were tossing their fragrant
pillows of pinky bloom in the deep blue
dir of latter May.
Where were we now?
1t was picturesque little villa, not tar
out of Pittsburgh, furnished very like a
magnificent baby house. Gerald sat in a
cushioned easy chair in the garden, where
he could glance through the the open win
dow at me, working busily with my nee
die.
"What an industrious fairy it u.s." he
said, smiling sadly.
swell you see, l like it. It's great
deal better than those sonatas on the pi-
ano."
"Who would ever have thought you
would make so noble housekeeper ?'
] laughed gleefully;I had all child's
delight in being praised.
"Are you not going to Miss Delaney :
croquet party ?" he pursued.
"No; what do l care for croquet parties?
I'm going to finish your shirts, and you'll