Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-12-20

toll, but leave my wife pure and un
: spotted from the world
AS for myself, | do not dread oui
altered circumstances, she said
bravely, but my heart aches for you
Chester These surroundings have
been yours from infancy they were
mine but for day In going back
to the yerty from which your love
so generously rescued me. / feel not
one regret for myself. Your love
shall be my incentive to unceasing
energy, and your faith in me my re-
demption. If the world has ever
SAID OF me that | have been careless
Of your welfare, it may recall! its YER
dict now henccforth my life shall be
devoted to you
The young couple had many long
conversations over their altered for
tunes, and laid many plans for the
future. AT last it was decided that
they should remove to the little iu-
land town which Myrtle had left
two years before a Joyous bride.
Chester had purchased small cot
tage, and thither they were to re-
move in few days.
eve will remain there at least un.
I'll my health is permanently estab-
lishcd, he said, and then | can re-
turn to the practice of my profession.
We will have sufliciency to sup
port US comfortably for year, and
surely by that time | will be com
pletoly restored
4 do not intend to be idle said
Myrtle. My musical proficiency
was SO well appreciated in D
that J can easily procure a class.
And # | was a good performer be-
fore | was married, 1 certainly am 4
better one now, or else the care that
has been bestowed upon that part of
my education in the last two years
has been sadly misplaced
Il DO not know whether | can
agree to your proposition or not, he
replied, sadly, but we will refer to
this again ut some future time
Mr.. Gardner, Chester's lawyer and
friend, passed in and out every day.
Myrtle had had no idea Of the extent
Of her husbands business until she
saw the heaps Of papers which were
INSTANTLY being brought into and
carried out Of the house. Ono morn
ing Chester entered her chamber and
found her in tears. She had borne
her reverses not stoically, but brave
ly hitherto, and now to see her
weeping almost unnamed him.
Are these the first tears you have
shed, Myrtle?
The very first she answered
truthfullv.
Then, my darling, what is the
cause Of this emotion Do you re-
greet your decision? Its not yet too
late; you have another day in which
to act. No earthly power can take
thisproperty from you without your.
consent. Do not act upon the i'm
pulse OF the moment, and then re-
greet it all Of your after life"
4 do not regret it., she said, cour-
ageousIy. Il have never regretted
it an instant since you stated the cir
cumstance TO me-
Then tell mo what has excited
You SOP
She wiped the tears from her eyes,
and folding her hands in her lap,
sand, in low voice: "A nameless
something for which | cannot ac-
count, melted me this morning to ar
range the house as would have
done had we been going away upon
a visit instead Of forever. | had
gone carefully through the cham bers
and parlors, leaving my own room
until the last, but when | arrived
here aud opened my jewel-case, my
spirits sank. Ny diamonds cleaned
within, but for them felt no regret
except for the pride aud vanity they
had engendered. | placed the tiara
upon my brow, womanlikc, she add
cd, as she saw his smile. but | really
thought it unbccoming now, ard laid
it inditl'erently aside. But, darling
when ! espied my wedding-ring, the
one YOU placed upon my finger with
in the moment that made me your
wife, the very happiest Of women, |
could not rcpress my tears. felt
unwilling to resign it; feel Sc yet,
Chester, although am ashamed 10
acknowledge it. 1t il not for tue
sake Of retaining q vestigo Of my
former glory, but because with It's
bestowal | realized that | was all 10
all TO you
And you shalt retain it, said
Chester, let it cost what it may.
You are a brave woman, Myrtle, and
HcaN en- grant that | may properly
appreciate and cherish you
Almost a year had passed away.
1t was New-Year's Eve, and within
the Startling cottage all was love and
happiness. A bright wood-fre burn
cd within the open fireplace of the
littlo parlor, throwing its raddy light
upon the few choice engravines
which adorned the walls, upon the
rows Of shelves which, filled with
books, occupied one entire side Of
bhO HpAt IhANhtr anu pun lAc EUoG-
wood cradle containing a chubby
baby of four months, the pride and
pet Of the household. Chester sat
near the blazing fire, enjoying him
solf in the winter twilight, if one
might be allowed to Judge from the
settled complacency Of his counto-
nance. As he sat thinking, his wife
noiselessly entered the room. ia her
dark dress and snowy collars and
cuits, the very personation of mod
el housewife and mother. She adj
vanced to the cradle, and drawing
the covering more closely about the
little form it contained, turned to her
husband
Tea IS waiting, Chester
And believe | am ready for IT,
he replied, following her into the
drawing-room. Ny ride to and
from the city to-day has sharpened
nv annette fpalv-