Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-07-19
4" Then beO for n -

IDLY.
There was once saint named Fran
els de Sales" began to sermonize, "who
was won't TO say that one should never ask
for nor refuse anything"
| You are no saint, and it was / that
spoke to you. Will you not accept my
little gift? Say yes-if it be only to
please me-to make me still happier on
this day than already am.''
Don't be so childish, Pauline!''
8 Ii is childish, L know IL; but do me
this favor, George. 1t is SO little that
| ask, and yet it would make me so very
happy"
Il shall never decline what you offer
me. BuC be good enough not to disturb
me any longer"
Scarcely had these words escaped my
lips when the present-an eXquisitely or
namented bronze inkstand, in the shape
OF Cupid-lay at my feet. Pauline
turned away, exasperated and hurt. l
picked up the pieces.
..,'Ia How, you stoop to get himF" she
Upon my word, you are the most un-
reasonable creature in the world?' | ex-
claimed. Fortunately the little love-god
nay be mended."
"Yes, but wounds will leave scars. o
Georgie!" she continued reproachfully,
casting herself down before my chair,
''why do you tempt me thus? Do you
really, truly love me?'
"Pauline!" 1 said impatiently, 'do
stand up; this is getting tiresome."
She did so, but deathly pallOr mantled
in her face.
81 will go; yet one question before. Do
you love me, Georgie?
| <.,l
strong, that was all. Did she mean to
threaten me?
"Did you love me when we first ex-
ed anew.
''0f course. But"
"But you love me no longer ~
"Well, since you will have it So"
'Speak only speak,"
81 don't love you-exactly-in the way
you mean"
An ominous silence followed. She be-
came so white, galed at me with so strange,
| rigid a look, that forgot my impatience
and self-will, and said anxiously:
IL don't mean il so seriously. Good
ness, how pale you are! Why, l was only
jesting."
II can bear it, George. Oh, what cannot
a woman bear-this way or that J"
She went, looking mourniul it is true,
but apparently tranquil. dreamed not
that had killed her love for me.
From that time Pauline ceased to be
child. But the sunlight, too, had departed
from her. Silent and sedste, but rarely
mild and smiling, she carefully superin-
tended her affairs; she disturbed me no
more. But she grew paler and weaker,
so that the doctor earnestly coupseled a
trip to the salubrious South. My busi-
ness affairs did not allow of my travelling,
but near acquaintances were just about
making a journey to Florida and Cuba
My wife Joined the party.
At last she came back. One evening
received telegram from Hampton Roads,
where the steamer had made a stop, in
which Pauline informed me that she
W uld arrive at home tae following day.
How feverishly was excited by the It'd
ingsi Our estrangement ha lacerated
my heart so terribly, and saw now how
deeply had wronged her, that fervently
longed to win back her we at any price.
| went to receive her. l approached
her and embraced her. She returned II
all, but there was no life. no love in the
greeting. 1t was all mere form.
Holding her at some distance from me,
scrutinized her c,osely and inquired
"Pauline, are you not well?" Her eye
met mine openly, but missed the old,
tender sparkle.
Perfectly well, George" she replied
rather indifferently. sit is so long since
have seen you that you appear to me
somewhat altered"
For weeks 1 endured this wretched
dead existence. One morning, as | vainly
strove to become interested in the news
paper, felt more bitterly than ever the full
extent of my wrong, my joylessness, and
my isolation. l rose resolved, and wen
n her.
Are you busyq' 1 inquired, as she
ceased writing and turned her head.
mot too busy to speak with you," sh'
returned.
pauline, how long shall we continue
this mode Oflife?"
i "What mode of life, Georgep' sh'
asked, changing color.
..The life we are living. 1t is not tn,
unshadowed, happy life of yore. You dc
not belong to me as you once belonged t.
me-"
, 81 know that She sighed and looked
|, at me so sadly.
"Why should the old days not return
, again? If have made terribl- blunder
is it then impossible for you to forget 1t
thought it was foolish to love one an
other sO--at least to show it; but hav
; discovered now that love is the only tru
wisdom on earth.''
] She smiled in melancholy way.
: "Give me back that love which once
repelled. Give me back the. sunlight Il
my world"
arose and advanced toward her she
however, pushed back her chair and shool
her head.
; George, do not demand that of me-
, 81 will know how to value your Low
now. Pauline"
: "That may be; but, my poor George
have none to give"
, / Iclasped her in my arms. The passio
! glowing in my heart seemed to me gres
enough to inspire response even in
7 corpse. But she remained untouched. Sh
3 lay like a cold statue In my arms, an
| looked at me and said signing:
g "Too late, George, too late."
: "Shall you then never forgive me?'
: Forgive you? You do not beliey
] that l entertain the least unfriendl
= thought toward you? BY no means br
( have grown cold through and through
e NV love is dead and buried. The best "