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

, accompany me.to the city tomorrow
: Myrtle, said Chester, when the mea
, was about half finished.
Tomorrow 2 exclaimed Myrtle.
, Why, have you forgotten that it i:
New Years Day Besides | have
an abundance of the good things Of
this life in preparation for dinner,
and have invited uncle's family to
dine with US.
Transfer the eatables to the care
OF your aunt, and recall the invita-
ton until a more convenient season.
must have you and Chester with
me tomorrow. We will 90 up on
the two o'clock train.
They returned to the parlor, and
lighted the lamp. Myrtle drew her
low chair to the side Of tho table and
untolded her work, little dress she
was embroidering for her babe. She
was never idle now there was al
ways some employment for the busy
hands or the busior brain, always
some knitting or sewing, or book
which her husband had requested her
to read. Chester noticed that she
sighed YEARLY as her trembling fin
gers almost refused to thread the
needle.
We will have holiday tonight.
my love- he said, taking the garment
from her lap and replacing it in her
basket. You are tired, | know let
me rest you
lie pillowod her head upon his
breast, and lifted her face to his.
The old year is ebbtng away, Myr-
tie; have we spont it proitably or
unproftably 2
'Proftably,' She replied, her cner-
gies reviving, and happily, too. How
has it been with you, Chester? Is
Tho retrospect pleasant, or is this
hour IL time for memory and tears p
No. Myrtle; l can honestly say
that since we have been living in
this cottage, | have known more
genuine happiness than | ever exper-
fenced in the whole OF my lifetime
before. | need not tell you that
when We removed here | feared the
effects of the change upon you.
installed you mistress of my house
when wealth seemed to flow in upon
Us from every side but before two
years passed, homo and wealth van
lshed a. if they had been the creations
Of dream. Myrtle, have you never
IN your secret heart reproached me
for the change 2
Never, never, Chester | have
! blamed myself rather than you. And
more-if tonight our lost fortune
could be restored to us, feel that
the strength and wisdom | have
gained in the passing year would
keep mo forever aloof from the folies
in which once INDUCED so reckless.
IS. | felt no regret tor their loss,
no desire for their re- possession, In
your restored health and continued
love, my sincerest prayers have been
answered and society, no matter
now fascinating, could never again
furnish an inducement for me to
leave your side. have learned that
woman's sphere is home, and that if
there IS a tie stronger than that
which binds her to it, she does not
desere the holy name OF wife
Chester drew her more closely to
him and pressed his lips to her brow.
This year Of comparative poverty
has been q greater trial TO me than
to you, Myrtle, he replied, in an un-
steady voice not because | have had
many OF it's privations to bear, but
because in seeing You bear them so
nobly, L have realized how utterly
weak my infrmities rendered me-
But that is all over now, Chester.
Our mlsfortunes were for our own
immediate good, though when they
came upon Us so suddenly, | could not
see it clearly, strong as thought
myself to wrestle with them. These
invigorating mountain breezes have
been your restoration TO health, aud
my separation from fashion and its
votarie5 has been my temporal sal.
vati0n. | tremble to think what /
would have been tonight had not
Providence so kindly interposod.-
That | was almost hopelessly vain
and careless year ago, you know
too well; but if in the past months
/ have in any degree atoned for it,
I anu grateful
As they stopped at the depot upon
their arrival in the city tho next
next evening, Myrtle recognized in
tho dusky twilight the carriage and
horses which had once been her own,
and even the driver who bad former
! Is been in her employ.
Come, my love, the carriage is
waiting said Chester, and too much
surprised TO speak, Myrtle suffered
herself to be placed within it.
Where are we going, Chester ?"
she asked as soon rs she could COM
mand her voice.
q am anxious for you to become
acquainted with the mistress Of our
former home, and her husbrnd desired
me 70 bring you directly there
You viii find her woman who has
but few equals, and no superiors; one
in whom her husbands heart doth
safely trust. You will love her for
my sake | am sure.
Myrtle did not reply, but after a
few moments drive they reached
the luxurious housein which they had
spent the first years Of their married
life Chester led her up the mar
bic steps, through the broad hall, into
the very chamber which had been
her own twelve month before
Everything was unchanged carpet,
furniture, curtains were the same,
even her very jeweI-box occupied It's
place upon the dressing-bureau.
What does it all mean 2 she asked
herself upon looking around and see
ing that Chester was absent.
She removed her wrappings me-
chanically, and laid them upon the
bed; took little Chester from the
arms Of his nurse. and laid him with
in the elegant cradle, the only addi-
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