The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-04-24
4 True WIFE.

Il IHUE IRE.
Upon the terrace of the principal ho-
tel at Whiteclif,, two ladies' sat in con
versation, unheedipg, because unaware
OF, a listener behind the closed blinds of
a window heal them. Not an intention
al listener, for he was deeply absorbed
il the contents of 4 newly-arrived letter,
when the sound of his own name at
tracted his attention. One of the pretty
young matrons was speaking, and
said
81 can't imagine o such a spark
ling, brilliant as Mrs. Lancaster
ever came to marry that solemn pieceof
granite, Edward Lancaster"
"tSolemn pece of granite One of
our most profound scholars, Edith A
thorough gentleman, too, and very
wealthy
"Wealtby."repeatedth the frstspeeaker.
81 suppose that accounts for it. She
married him for his money, OF course"
"And spends it royalty. can't i'm
agine Edith Lancaster without the
surroundings of money. Her dresses,
her jewels, her carriages, seem a very
part Of her.
"But she would be beautiful in a print
dress and a straw hat"
Here sine comes now, in her new
yachting dress. Is she not lovely? ?"
The dark eyes behind the closed
blinds followed the same direction as
those Of the two ladies. Coming toward
the hotel was a merry party, who had
been on the water for several hours, and
prominent in a group of pretty women
was a tall, slender brunette, in a iaunty
dress of bluecashmere with gilt buttons,
and a broad hat, from underneath which
could be seen a face of exquisite beauty.
The perfect oval of shapc, the clear,
olive complexion and crimson cheeks,
the regular features and large, dark
eyes, were all in an oriental style; while
the masses of purple-black hair needed
10 artificial additions to wreath the
small, shapely head with heavy braids.
She was chatting merrily and laugh
ing as she talked, as if youth and hap
p!ness were personiied in her beautiful
face.
The man who watched her from the
closed blinds wastall, broad-shouldered
and strong-featured. His hair, thick
and curling, was iron gray, and piled
high above a massive forehead ; his
eyes were deep set, but very large and
full OF earnest expression. Not u hand
some man, but one whose air of distinc-
ton was undoubted-a man who
would be noticed in any assemblage of
men.
As he watched the radiant figure in
the sunlight coming toward him, the
shadow upon his brow grew deeper
every moment, till, with a groan, he
rose and went to his " room, closing
the door behind him.
There was little resemblance to gran
lite in his face, as he paced up and down
this room. 1t worked convulsively, and
the emotions that in a woman would
have been vented in passionate tears
found expression only in an occasional
sigh that was a groan.
He was living over the last three years
of his life, as he walked up and down.
Until that time he had been a scholar
only. With large wealth. inherited
from his father, he had devoted himself
to the acquisition of knowledge, living
in his library, except when he travelled,
always in pursuit of some new light
upon q favorite science or study. His
money matters were arranged by his
lawyer, and his household affairs by a
housekeeper, while his books were his
world.
From this scholarly seclusion, at the
age of forty-fve, he was wakened by a
call of friendship, being summoned by