The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-11-15

wen on. lou never were, you KNOW,
you imprudent boy, and l think it
must be hard for you and your pret-
ty wife. But dear, you know Lam
twenty-five now, and my money is
all my own, and I have left all to
you and her-Why, VIII, what is
the matter? Are you very vexed?'
for his face changed suddenly as he
made a gesture to stop her.
"Vexed, ,Maziel But I thought you
knew"
'Knew what?''
"That-Mazie, I have no wife. I
lost her nearly ten months ago. She
died in her first confinement; and
though the boy lives and my sisters
take care Of him very kindly, "a moth
erless infant is a great care to a
man."
He spoke gravely, but not very
mournfully. Perhaps the loss had
not been very bitter, or ten months
had done something to soften it; but
Maize lay back with white hazy eyes,
and a face whittier than her pillows.
Willis wife dead! The woman who
had come in her way, whose very ex-
istence had destroyed hers, passed
away before her, and she had not
known it. That was the strange
part, that she should not have have
known; and yet Why strange, when
of late she had avoided the very
hearing of his name? For two years
she had loved this man silently and
faithfully, worshipped his memory
and condemned her harshness
to hin, Land all the while he'Was mar
ried to another girl, and she never
knew it. NoW-noW, that for shame
and misery Of that unconscious sin,
that stupendous folly, the endeavor
to crush out her misplaced love, the
passionate striving to forget him and
all belonging to him, had first ruined
her health and then sapped her very
life springs-now she learned that
the cruel task had been utterly need
less. The woman was dead, laid in
her grave ten months before and she
did not know it.
Oh! if in this world we could only
know, only see, not 'as through a
glass darkly, but face to face" how
happy we might be! And yet who
knows where real happiness is to be
found? 'Le bonheur nest qu'un
reVe; mais Ia douleur est reelle,' y
quoth Voltaire at the age of eighty;
and the dictum of the octogenarian
atheist is no less true than bitter.
'Don't mind me-" Maize said, in
answer to Willis evident alarm. sit
was only the shock. I never heard
it. I am very sorry for you; but
but" and then she suddenly broke
out crying like a child; and viii
knelt down and tried to comfort and
soothe her by every tender and
carressing word, saying again and
again:
'Mazie, Maize, don't cry.
oughtn't to have told you, and don't
fret for me, dear. Gertrude was s
good girl, and a pretty girl, but she
could never have made me happy, Ol
1 her. Learned that before we haC
been married a month, long before
saw your dear face, my darling, thai
day at Southsea, and felt all that ]
had lost through my cursed folly
1t was my fault. l sent you away
said Maize, softly. "Wil, kiss m'
now and forgive me, for I meant tC
do right, only 1 was too hard"
"You were only just, Maize.
never was worthy of you, and
oughtn't to have expected you tC
love me-"
"But 1 did love you, WILL" said
the girl gently, 'only I was too proud
to own it. I never meant to tell you
now, but-but it can't hurt any one
at present" ."
"Whatl all the time? Even after
was gone? Did you love me theni
Oh, Maize, you didn't"
always and always, Will, and
more than ever after you were gone
away. Then and now just the same.
Willis face had flushed deeply,
and his lips we're set like a wise.
"You loved me-" he said hoarsely,
sand 1 might have won you if-If l
had only waited and been true. Oh,
my God! how 1 am punished~ and
then his bowed head went down on
the bedclothes, and the very floor
shook with the strong mans pas
sionate sobbing. Poor Maziel she
was sinking fast, and her strength
was nearly gone, but she managed to
put her weak arms round his neck
and to stroke the bright chestnut
curls with her frail white fingers, as
she murmured words of fondling and
consolation, and begged him to be
calm. "It was all for the best, and
they had so little time now"
"And all through me" Will groan-
ed: but the tender hand was laid on
his lips andMazie answered steadily;
mo, Will, no. 1t was my fault at
the beginning, and how could you
know? Besides, women are different
from men, and there was no one like
you, Will"
'There never could be anyone like
you," he answered passionately.
"Oh, my darling, my darling, if you
would butlive little longer! 1 would
give my life for you to have you for
one day.
"And then leave me alone? All,
no, VIII, am 80 tired Of living
alone. I you'd rather have it so,
and you Rere with me at the end.
Will, dear, don't free. See how
bright it is. l can hear the car
riages in the Row, and that band play
ing 'M'appari.' VIII, do you re-
member the last time we heard that
at the opera? Lucca was playing
Martha and I let you steal flower
out of my hair when mamma Wasn't
looking. I thought it was dreadful
| ly improper of me at the time, but
you see, l didn't know then what ter
rible improper things sould do be-
fore the end"
"YOu do anything improper, my
own oneP'
''Yes; did not 1 send for you to
come and see me here in my room
and didn't 1 tell you to kiss me2 and
you did both. You've grown very
good and obedient, viii, darling"
'Oh, Maize, don't! You break my
heart"