Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-07-19
master at last. And how gladly l carry

master at last. And how gladly l carry
the chains of my master!"
She loved me. Every chord of her del
icately-strung heart vibrated at my merest
touch; nevertheless | was not satisfied.
l undertook to modify the tones; her
doting homage itself was the instrument.
True-now / see all clearly-this instru-
ment was sword, with which L cruelty
wounded her. A very sage idea entered
my head, and whispered to me that was
making child of Pauline with my iIdul
gence, and that with so much warm sun
light her full womanly power would never
be developed. | acted according to this
idea, altogether overlooking tte fact that
her mental and moral force had already
been entirely unfolded and matured, and
that, too, at time when Others just be-
| gin TO be aware that there are rocks and
storms, shoals and quicksands, in the
ocean of life. also forgot that, in spite
of her youthful gayety and exuberaAce
of spirits, the lessons of long, bitter,
gloomy past would never be lost upon
her their impress was merely hidden
from nv ewes beneath blithe exterior.
One day, as she raised her eyes to mine,
happened tNbe in a very unreasonable
frame of mimi; her rallying love-look
almost irritated me, and said shortly:
"You annoy me when you look at me
in that manner
Glad to get an opportunity to chat with
me, she dropped her pen, came to my
side, and bent over me.
"Why. my dear? The glance was for
him love-"
That was poor beginning for the pre-
cepts | wanted to enforce. L collected
myself and began to study my papers
profoundly.
cam 1 irksome to you" she asked, the
least bit sensitively.
"Not exactly"
Her soft hand toyed with my locks and
her warm breath caressed my cheek.
felt that my wisdom was rapidly expiring.
Again L collected my self and assumed an
air of coldness. .
lone kiss, only one, and will go!"
she begged.
Nonsense, Pauline! l have no time
for kissing"
She gazed into my face and asked "Do
| veX you?'
"Exceedingly."
A sigh scarcely audible escaped her
| lips, and she left the room.
! For this morning at least had destroy
ed her cheerfulness. 1t was the first cloud
in our matrimonial sky.
MY plan had succeeded excellently
well; she had learned to doubt my affec-
! ton for her. That was revealed to me oc-
casionally by her stealthy, wistful glances,
and the manner in which she began to
occupy herself with Fido-as if she now
relied alone upon his love and faithful
ness. But | was too proud to admit my
wrong, even. to myself, and daily widened
the breach.
Then the dog began to grow sickly he
had grown old and feeble. She abandoned
her work and devoted the time taken from
her labOrs to the dumb brute. When life
was extinct, she bent over him. bul st into
tears. kissed the white spot on his fore
head. and then closed the eyes which even
in death, seemedto regard her with affec-
ton.
Great as was her grief, she sought no
coincidence from me. She provided for
the burial of Fido, who was inferred by
the gardener close under the window OF
our study. She would fir quently ta,ry
by the little mound, at which times
gloomy reflections seemed to agitate her
soul. Now still, while sitting at her
desk, she often gazes pensively toward the
spot. She is true to him beyond the
grave, because-he had remained true to
her.
The year so auspiciously begun was ap-
preaching its end, when one morning
was amazed to hear Pauline singing mer-
rily; it was the first time since Fido's
death. Soon thereafter heard her CON-
ing toward my room, and at once affect
ed profound preoccupatiOn.
1t was a warm, beautiful morning, and
her entrance seemed to usher in happy
sunlight. Her face, too, beamed with
that serenity which it had in her girl.
hood.
.swhat is itg'' 1 asked, looking up from
my work.
She placed lovely little nosegay o.
violets, tied with blue ribbon, before me
AMI said "See, George, these are the
first violets of our garden. have some
thing else in petto, but of that here
AFTER"
And now she stopped over me, placed
her hand lightly upon my shoulder, anc
kissed me. 1t was the first exhibition o.
fondness she had voluntarily rendered me
these many days. l contemplated her In
surprise and said:
"l ou appear to be in an unusually hap
3 py humor to-ay, Pauline"
20 1t is somebody's birthday to-day
she rejoined, as she sat upon my knee an(
gazed into my eyes. MAY Heaven gran
CnlS SOME one many happy EcIuIHs vi tiit
day, and-and-' she paused for mo
ment, then continued in voice who's,
Quivering was not easily concealed-"i If
during the past six months all has no
been between us as 1t should have been
then let us forget it all from this day
FORTH"
Silently she encircled me with her arm
and sunk her head upon my bosom. How
would it have been possible to remain in
sensible thereat? Kissing her silken hair
said that would gladly forget all las !
had anything to forget but my own cul
|. pability y, whereupon she raised her eyes
smiling blissfully, and thought, in sobe
truth, that l was very magnanimous Il
her.
snow, George, we will begin anew to
day?"
"As you wish, my child" And at ono,
she proceeded in her old way to daily wit
me.
Shall meet with credence when sa.
that hardly had my wife been gone fiv
minutes, before began to fancy that
. had let her s. e too freely the inf1u+ nee sh
y1oscoooaI 0var mo For monfhs had praf