The Van Buren press., 1873-07-29

air OF coluness' -,
One kiss, only one, and | will g." F"
she begged.
"Nonsense, Pauline have no time
for kissing,
She gazed into my face and asked I;
- Do | vex your
Exceedingly.
A sigh scarcely audible escaped her
lips, and she left the room.
For this morning at least | had dc
strcyod her checrfulness. 1t was the
first cloud in our matrimonial sky.
Ny plan had succeeded exeellently
well she had learned to doubt my alice
ton for her That was revealed to me
occasionally by her stealthy, wistful
glances. and the manner in which 'he DC.
gan to occupy herself with Fido-as If
now relied alone upon his love and
faithfulness But was too proud to ad-
nit my wrong, even to myself, and daiiy
widened the breach.
Then the dog began to grow sickiy
he had grown old and feeble. She aban-
doned her work and devoted the time Ia
ken from her labors to the dumb brute
W hen life was extinct, she bent over him,
burst into tears, kissed the white spot on
his forehead, and then closed the eyes
which even in death, seemed to regard
her with affection.
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 tho window OF
our study. She would frequently tairy
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, bccause-he had remained true to
her.
The year so auspiciously begun was
approaching its end, when one morning
was amazed to hear Pauline singing
nerriIy; it was the first time since Fl
los death Soon thereafter | heard her
coming toward my room, and | at once
affected profound preoccupation.
1t was a warm, beautiful morning. and
ler entrance seemed to usher in happy
sunlight. Her face, too, bcamed with
hat serenity which it had in her girl
lood.
wWhat is it?" asked, looking up
rom my work.
She placed q lovely little nosegay of
riolets, tied with blue ribbon, before
ne, and said See, George, these are
he first violets Of our garden. ! have
else in pct!o, but Of that here
,fter -
And now she stopped over me, placed
ler hand lightly upon my shoulder ana
Kissed me. II was the first exhibition
Of fondness she had voluntarily extend
I'd me these many days contemplated
aer in surprise and said
"You appear to be in an unusually
happy humor to-day, Pauline.
"It is somebody's birthday to-day,
'he rejoined, as she sat upon my knee
md gazed into my eyes. May Heaven
grant this some one many happy returns
of the day, and and" she paused for
! moment, then continued ia voice
whose quivering was not easily conceal
i'd" if, during the past six months all
las not been between us as it should have
,cen, then let us forget it all from this
lay forth -
Silently she encircled me with her
.rms and sunk her head upon my bosom.
How would it have been possible to re
main insensible thoreat 7 kissing her
,ilken hair, said that would gladly
'orgct all Gas if had anything to forget
,ut my own culpability y, whereupon
ihe raised her eyes, smiling blissfally,
md thought, in sober truth, that | was
,ery magnanimous to her.
Now, George, We will begin anew
o day ?'
AS you wish, my child. " And at
,nce she proceeded in her old way to
lally with me-
Shall / meet with credoncs when ! say
hat hardly had my wife been gone i've
minutes, before began to fancy that !
,ad let her see too freely the influence
,he possessed over mef For months l
lad practiced the art Of appearing tran
luil and indifferent, yet the first smile or
tiss had proved sufficient to overpower
ne She had harrassed me insulierahly
he last six months--as / put il to my
,elf; therefore to grant her at once tu!
pardon seemed to me at least mater Tor
SO, when she returned,
,he found me absorbed in my documents
Zone moment, if you please" she
cried, taking the pen from my hand and
lolding il above my head 81 have
present for you-will you have it 2
"Why certainly, ifyon will give it to
ne. "
Then beg for it.
said nothing, and seized another pen.
That disconnected her.
"Dont you-want it," she asked tim
dly.
"There was once saint named Fran
,is de Sales, I began to scrmonize,
: who was wont to say that one should
never ask for nor refuse anything.
" You are no saint, and it was that
spoke to you viii you not accept my
title gift? Say yes-if it be only to
please me--to make mo still happier on
his day than already am "
"Don't be so childish, Pauline"
"Itis childish, know it but do me
his favsr, Gesrge. 1t is SO little Il a !
,sk, and yetit would make me so very
iappy "
II shall never decline what you offer
ne. But be good enough no. to disturb
ne any longer. y
Scarcely had these words escaped my
ms whnn the nreSent--nn exnniaitelY or