The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-02-01
Ny Husbands Second Wife.
Aw0MAN's REVELATION.


"Are you going out this evening
love-
"Of course l am"
looked down complaceatly at my
dress of pink grapes dew-dropped over
with crystal, and the trails Pink azaleas
that caught up its folds here and there.
A diamond bracelet encircled one round
white, arm, and little cross hlazed fit
fully and felt sort of girlish pride as
my eye met the fairy reflections in the
mirror.
..Come, Gerald, make haste why,
you haven't begun to dress YETI
Where were my wifely instincts that
did not see the haggard, drawn look in
his features-the fevered light in his
eyes?
81 can. go tonight, Madeline am
not well enough, "
"You are never well enough to oblige
me, Gerald. lam tired of being put off
with such excuses" ="
lie made no answer, but dropped his
head In his HANDS, on the table before
him.
"Oh come, ,Gerald," I urged petulant-
ly. 1T Is so awkward, fol me to go
alone always p
He shook his head listlesslv.
81 thought perhaps you would be will
ing to remain at home with me, Made
line"
.Men are so selfish'' / id,pla.ntive-
lv "and am all dressed. Claudia took
half an hour for my hair. l dare say
you'll be great deal quieter without me
that is if you are determined not to
60"
No answer again.
well, if you choose to be sullen,
can't help it, l said, lightly, as turn
ed and went out of the room, adjusting
my silver bouquet holder, the tuberoses
and heliotropes seeming to distill incen-
Sc at every motion.
Was l heartless and cruel? Had ]
ceased to love my husband? From the
bottom of my heart / believe that l low
ed him as truly and tenderly as ever wife
did, but had been so spoiled and petit
ed all my brief, selfish life, that the bet
ter instincts were, so to speak, entombcd
alive.
l went to the party, and had my fill oi
adulation and homage as usual. The
hours seemed to glide away, shod with
roses and winged with music and per
fume; and it was not until wearied with
dancing. sought momentary refuge
in the half lighted tea room that | heard
words Weakening me, as it were from a
dream.
sGerald Clen!"
could not well he mistaken in the
lname-it was scarcely common place
enough for that They were talking-
two or three stout business like looking
gentlemen-in the hall without, and ]
could catch, now and them a fugitive
word or phrase.
"Fiue, enterprising young fellow
"great pity totally, ruined, SO Bees
and McMorkcn say .s-"reckless extrav
agancc of wife,
All these vague fragments l heard ;and
| then some one said:
''And what is he going to do now y
"What can he tlol Poor fellow.
am sorry but he should have calculated
his income and his expenses better"
ssOr his wife should. Deucetake these
womcn-they arc the bottom Of all man
troubles
And they laughed. Oh! how could
they? / had yet to learn how easy it is
in this world, to bear other peoples
troubles
] rose hurriedly p,with my heart beat
ing tumultuously beneath the pink aza
i leas, and went back to the lighted cor
ridors. Albany Moore was waiting t.
claim my hand for the next redowa
Are you i'll, Mrs. Glen: How paie
you look"
III am not very well | wish you
would have my carriage called, Mr.
Meore"
For felt now that home was the place
for me-
Hurried by some maccountable i'm.
pulse, sprang out the moment the car
riagc wheels touched the curbstone, and
rushed up to my husbands room. The
door was locked, but could see light
shining family under the threshold.
knocked wildly and pcrsistently.
.Gerald. Gerald. for Heaven 5 SAX,
let me in =
Something fell ON tie marble hearth
stone within, making metallic clink, AN,
/ my husband opened the door little way
/ had never seen him SO pale before. .
lso rigid, yet so determined.