The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-19
MY HUSBANDS SECOND WIFE.

looked down complacently at my dress
Of pink Grape, dew dropped over with crys-
tai, and the trails Of pink azaleas that caught
up its folds here and there. A diamond
bracelet encircled the one white arm, and a
little cross blazed itfully on my thgoat. l
had never looked better, and / felt sort Of
girlish pride as NJ eyes met the fairy re-
Election in the mirft-
Come Gerald, make haste Why, you
haven't begun to 1-sss yet ~
Where we're my wifely instincts, that I
did not see the hsggard, drawn look in bis
teatures-the fevered light in bis eyes
e can't 60 tonight 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, but dropped his
head in his hands, on the table before him
"Oh, come, Gerald" l urged, ? stulantly;
" It is so awkward for me to go alone
dlI0dys.
He shook bis head listlessly,
thought, perhaps, you would be will
ing to remain at home with me Madeline .
Men are so selfish" l said plaintiveIy
and / am all dressed. Claudia took a
half an hour for my hair. | dare say you
are determined not to CO."
No answer again.
Well, if you choose to be sullen can't
help it." said, lightly, as | turned and
went out of the room, adjusting my bouquet
holder, the tube rose and helotropes seeming
to distil incense at every motion.
Was | heartless and cruel? Had ceas-
ed to love my husband From the bottom
Of my heart l believed that 1 lovsd him
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 80
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, weared with dancing, sought
a momentary refuge in the halfligbted tea
room, that | heard words awakening, as it
we're, from dream.
Gerald Glen Il
| 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 or phrase.
Fine, enterprising young fellow -
" Great pity - Totally ruined SO Bess
and McMorken says ~" Reckless and ex-
travagance of his wife -
y @pAA Aese vague fragments heard and
then some one said
+" And what is he going to do now"
What can be do? Poor fellow l am
sorry but he should have calculated bis in
come and expenses better.
"Or his wife should Oh, these women I!
they lie at the bottom Of all mans trouble !"
And they laughed. Oh, bow could they ?
| had yet to learn how easy it is, in this
world, to bear other peoples troubles.
| rose hurriedly up, with my heart beating
tumultously beneath the pink azaIeas, and
went back to the lighted saloon. Mr.. Al
bany Moore was waiting to claim my band
for the next dance. Are you i'll, Mrs
Glen ? How pale :"
"I-I am not very well l wish you
would have my carriage called, Mr. Moore
For now | thought 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 husbands room. The door was
locked, but l could see light shining faint
ly under the threshold. I knocked wildly
and persistenly.
Gerald, dear Gerald for heavens sake,
let me in"
Something fell on the marble hearthstone
within, making a metallic click, and nv
husband opened the door little way.
had never seen him look SO pale before Of
50 rigid, yet so determined
WHO are you 2" he demanded wildly
"Why can you not leave me in peace 2
It's l, GeraId-yOur Madeline-your
own little wife"
And | caught from bis hand the pistol he
was trying to conceal in bis breast-its mate
lay on the arble hearth, ueder the mantle
and flung it out Of the window.
Gerald, would you have left me 2"
half deliriOus, to all appearances. debt
--disgrace-misery-her reproacbes |
would have escaped them all -
His head fell, like weary child, on nv
shoulder. l drew nm gently to a sofa, and
smOthered him with a thousand murmured
words-a thousand mute caresses For.
had it not been all my fault I?
And through the long weeks of fever that
followed, | nursed him with unwavering
care and devotion. had but one thought.
one desire-to redeem myself in bis estima,
ton, to prove to him that | was something
more and higher than the mere butterfly of
fashion l had hitherto shown myself.
Well, the March winds had hOwled them
selves away in their mountain Businesses
the brilliant April raindrops we're dried on
bough and spray and the apple blossoms
we're tossing their fragrant pillows of pinky
bloom in their deep blue air of latter May.
Where are we know
Il is like picturesque little village not
far from New York, furnished very like a
magnificent playhouse. Gerald sat in a
cushioned easy chair in the garden, just
where be could glare through the open win
dow at me, working busily with my needle.
What an industrious fairy it is - lie
said, smiling sadly.
WeIl' you see I like IT, It's a great
oeai PEI peter than those sOnatas on the piano "
VINO would have thought you would
make 50 notable housekeeper ~
l laughed gleefully-I had a child's de-
light in being praised.
" Are you not going to Miss Deiancv,s
croqut party n he pursued.
" No what do | care for croouet partiss >
I'm going to finish your shirts, and you'u
read aloud TO me-"
Madeline. I want Won 70 ansuar mo