Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-15

for him but the memory of a pleasan
dream, from which he had awakene,
strengthened aud calmly prepared t.
take his place in the battle of life one
more. He would return to his oil,
cheerless existence, that would be ren
dered brighter ard more endurable b.
the remembrance of Alice. She, too
would sometimes think kindly on him
perhaps, though they might never NEE
again in life. He was much older thai
his wife; in the ordinary course O
events he would die many years befor
her; then she would be free-free t,
choose for herself another husband
who would be to her all he had pas
sionately yearned to be, and half hoped
he might become.
The entrance of the doctor cut shor
poor Barton's melancholy thoughts a
this point. It is unnecessary to relate
in detail the conversation that tool
place between them. Marie made {
clean breast of it, and wound up by
urging Doctor Gray to lose not mo
ment He was now as eager as he had
been before bvt there was feverist
restlessness in his manner which show
ed how i'll at ease he was.
"I have telegraphed for Alice's
mother" said Barton "I thought il
best that some near and dear relative
should be with her at this trying time. )
every good" said the doctor; chen
mother will no doubt be very useful.
But you seem to forget that she will
have you also by her side"
II" said Maria, "I'm going away
tomorrow, if Mrs. Trescott arrives
then, as [ expect she will"
Going away?" echoed the doctor,
incredulously. "Going where"
ooh, not far, Gray, be sure of that, .
said Barton, mournfully; "not 50 fan
but what L can receive news hourly OF
my poor darling"
But why will you go away at all, at
this time 2" asked the doctor.
"Have you listened to what I told
you a few minutes since ~ said Marie,
iercely; OF must I repeat the confession
which / have just made? Do yon thinJ'
in the event of your attempt being sue
cessful, as [ now pray it may be, that
L would be the first object upon which
her eyes would open2 No, no, man
Let me hear that my wife is restored to
sight; let me have news of her every
hour in the day but in heavens name,
let me keep away from her.
''I understand you, Barton" said
DIR. Gray, gently, ''and [ understand,
too, the morbid sensitiveness which
dictates the resolve. However, let it
be so since you wish it. At least let me
know where you think of going"
10
then mentioned the name of village
a short distance up the river.
1t will do as well as any other" he
said. "And now dood-bye, Gray, till
tomorrow, [ would pass the remainder
of the day, alone with Alice"
Six weeks have elapsed. The doc
tors experiment has been successful,
and Alice has left the darkened room to
look forth upon the bright, happy
world, never brighter or happier than
to-day, though winter is scarcely yet
past. The sun is shining on the broad
bosom of the river, and lights it up
here and there until it no longer looks
like the black, muddy stream which
has been dealt SO foully by. The lime
trees in front of Marle's house rustled
and quivered as though they knew the
spring was not for off; and over all
spread the sky-not clothed in the deep
intense blue of the summer time, but
pale and tender in tone, and full of
promise.
Oh, the happiness of those first days of
sight to Alice Marie For her the mean
est accessories of daily life had signif-
icance AS our first parent may have
looked upon the world to which he was
newly created, so she-with all wom-
ans depth of thought, all child's
freshness of feeling-looked upon the
world to which the doctors skill had
awakened her. To-day-her first day
of real freedom-she has entered her
husbands painting-room. All about
her are evidences of his skill and gen
ius: the few finished pictures, the many
rough sketches, all enchain her; for
hours she stays looking and marveling.
ooh, that be were herel Why does
he keep away from ms9"
She had spoken to herself, thinking
she was alone, but DR.. Gray, entering
1T The 1ilothent, Answered tie Question,
Let me tell you, Mrs. Marie" he
said, "for the time has come when /
should speak, and no place SO fitting as
this for the statement [ have to make.
Pray, take a seat [ will be as brief as
possible. "
Mrs. Marie sat down at the doctors
side, wondering much what he had to
say. Then he told her Rarton's past
life, of the hope that had smiled upon
him when he married, of the despair
which had settled upon him when he
thought that his wife, too, might de
spise him for what he was outwardly.
SO my poor friend" he added, in
conclusion, "not daring to face the
realization of his worst fears, so fearful
of finding his whole lfe's happiness
wrecked, has gone away. Every day
he receives intelligence of you, Mrs.
Marie, and waits, resignedly, for the
verdict that will decide his fate. His
is a noble heart, Mrs. Marie, and it lies
at this moment in your hands,
Oh, take me to him =" cried Alice
take me to him, Mr.. Gray. He afraid
of me, whom he has loaded with bene-
fits of mel owe everything to him
My place is by his side, now and for
ever. Ii it were possible for me to love
him more than [ have done since [ be-
came his wife, [ should do SO, now that
have learned the sorrow that troubles
him. Let us go to him at once, if you
please, Mr.. Gray"
X r X
The sun has set, and the river flows
darkly between it's grassy banks, from
which the tall trees, with their bare
finely marked arms, tower up into the
calm, clear sky, where the young moon
glimmers family. [ see two figures
walking slowly along the path, linked
lovingly arm in arm, and know that
Barton Marie is now happy man.
Al American NegOtiatOr.