Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-08
pailp Argus.
The Story of n onaubisl Separation
and Reunlon,


have had a very perplexing affair in one
of our best circles, which has driven
the curious to the verge of distraction,
and am not sure but some have gone
quite beyond it in few cases, as lunscy
is not stranger to this particular set
There was beautiful woman among them
who was the wife ola handsome mas, land
the mother of two children. They were
well bred, even cultured, both of them
Society was fond of them, and they were
not averse to society, though not devotees
to it by any means. Financial disaster
came to him, but it did not make him
poor, as we understand poverty, but he
was anxious to relieve his losses, and 30,
leaving his wife and children in the great
house of his rich father-in law, he went
to California. The latter approved of his
spirit, and also of the method he took to
express it. The wife was distressed at
the separation, but believed it was best
for their future, and that OF the children,
and so with many tears, and much pain,
they separated. This was 10 or IA years
ago. Letters passed between them as of
ten as the slow processes of the mails
would allow them, in those days Tidings
of his being upon the edges of good for
tune came to his wife, and through her to
'inquiring friends" do you know that
linquiring friends are the torment of civil
lied society do) He did not seem,
from these reports to get beyond the bor-
ders of this enchanted land of riches, and
so he did not come back in the two years
he had given himselfas retrieving time
After four and five, and six years had come
and gone the most intensely inqusitive
ceased to ask the wife about her husbands
affairs. If they had, her replies
would have been intensely cold and neb-
ulous. Ifthey inquired of her father, they
got only q polite growl for their
trouble, and even If he had been ever so
amiable, and disposed to be comnunica
tive, he had the best of reasons for telling
them nothing, for it was just nothing that
he knew of his sos-in law. His daughters
face had grown like that of handsome
sphinx which he did not like to question
Even the children lost their habit of
making inqu ries about q father whose
face had grown dim in their memories
People came from that fsr-off land, and
brought them tidings from time to time
that he was well, and fighting fortune
with a steady and persistent hand, and
that he Was respected profoundly by all
who knew him for his upris htness and
for his steadfast determination to reach
success, even when manifold failures
woul haye betrayed we ker men into
dispair; but the wife told nothing of the
contents of her frequent letters About
four years ago the tickle goodies sfavored
him in his Pacific enterprises, and at the
same time, at if she was determined to be
. as kind as she had been cruel, she turned
the tide of improvement rushing ovel
some hitherto almost yaluless lands which
he possessed within the limits Of this CITY
and he became suddenly very rich, fal
richer than he ever had been, or evel
dreamed of becoming. Of course, b.
, came hoWe. He went TO a hotel, made
+ himself presentable, and proceeded to hel
Il residence, having appraised her of his ap
i proach an hour before his call was to b,
I made.
! This fact was CLEANED from that higl
4 official, a hotel messenger, and you know
= that, in domestic mysteries, any source o
n information is considered honorable-b,
some.
He went to his wife, he saw his wife
4 and he parted from his wife after al
hours visit Nobody listened at the lock
!. view. The father may have been inform
: ed of their domestic attitude, but he wa
II as silent as an owl at midday, and tn
only evidence that he even recognize
.; the condition of things between the tw
;, ;, was found in the rapid bleaching of hi
hair.
The wife, who had always dressed wit
elegance, and carried herself like hanC
r, some queen, appeared trife more dign
fed; but beyond this there was not th
least difference IN her manner or expires;
ion. The children visited their fathel
but stayed with their mother; we
taught in the accomplishments of wei
bred reticence, they told no tales, an
never referred to the relations of thei
parents.
. You car imagine into what wild vagal
f. les curiosity and fancy dived together, BIT
this pen is powerless 80 express thol
~ sandth part of the romance. Sometimes
4 was a very wicked, and sometimes a wier
g story, and always unsatisfactory. Not or
grain of fact could be gathered upo
which to build structure for scandal I
dwell in They lived apart, and yet di
not even refuse to bow when they met
n the street. This politeness to each otht
a. sss far more perplexing than real GU
Is ward antag 1nisms that tell the story of
quarrel Why, have seen some of tt
circle rub up their hair, and beat the
brows in despair at the impossibility {
finding out all about it.
The gentleman took q pew in churC
n near her own, and was regular sttent
y ant upon the service, after the strict hab
of his youth and earlier married life. Il
had been christened and married at tn
altar, and had presented his babes for Il
, drops Of sanctlfying water at the san
altar rail Now he sat alone, handsom
81. than ever, with his dark, quiet eye
and iron gray hair, and he was a tho
- sand fold more interesting b
cause of the story which tn
=, wrapped him in a delightful mystery
or Year in and year out the congregation 8
". most twisted its neck off to see him DO
,al politely and silently to his wife, shal
m, hands with the children, and walk
re- ward his hotel little way before her. I
30 never was known to turn to look at ht
I'h nor did the children ever hasten to wa
M beside him. Even curiosity loses its re
10 afser q time. 1t can't last forever, al
lily more than sympathy can, and so, exec
the handsome gentleman and his wife
70, a chance worshiper in that arist1cratic e
~ lfce, the interest died it's natural dea
tar after four years starvation, and '
IN would have supposed that there was
power to resurrect it again. That is, v
by would, if we did net know anything abo
$. human nature.
ma She labored in the Sunday School al
. he in the Mission School of the sar
church This troubled the elect, W
! thought the matter should be investig
ted, but the chief officer in the socie
was the stubborn and unapproachable o
father, and so they did not NEEDLE.
was sore spot in the hearts of some
/ the COMMITMENTS because they were ca
ed to sit at their dear Lords table wi
two fellow sinners who possessed sto
which they did not share with tn,
brethren hut even this tender sDot O