Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-07-09
She smiled bewitchiu civ.

l ~SSN~ WV SCo4tAS W ~ ASAh hu' iSN
up from the refreshment room, both
aughing softly and merriy-Mr.
MARITIME and Miss Howard.
IL aciH SMILE" said Ruth to herself.
81 will be devoted to my partner"
thopsl At Charles.
Ready ?" he whispered, swoetly.
She looked into his eyes as she
had never looked into any ones be-
fore, with the look ar actress gives
her lover on the state.
"She's ready if | want her, said
he. "Well she is pretty girl, AMI
a lady"
II shall DO able to win him."
thoughtsh Hes prepossessng, too.
Anything is better than lapsing into
a disappointed old maid, and | will
nevor love again. Men are not worth
loving"
Neither knew the others thoughts,
but each had the same fixed purpose,
to be married before the pair of flirts
joined hands before the alberto
prove that their impromptu false
hoods wore truths. And so he said
to Der one day:
81 wonder whether there have
ever been any weddings here during
the season? Shall we let them see
one, Ruth p
Her eyes flashed, her cheeks flush
ed. She looked at her wooer slyly,
and let him keep her hand, and it
was settled. Ruth was an orphan,
and had no friends to consult And
so this desperate pair were bound to-
gether in the midst of fashionable
audience, by the most fashionable
minister of the day, and started the
very next week for Europe. They
left the sting of mortified vanity in
two hearts, but still sharper were the
stings within their own. On the
whole they were two very good peo-
pie and each felt that the other was
deeply wronged.
When they returned to New York
and settled down in their elegant
home, it would have been hard to
find two more miserable people. He
sought refuge at the club; she found
relief in calls and visiting, matinees
and promenades. She blamed herself
for all. He blamed himself for every
thing. Each pitied the other. They
did not quarrel; only they had never
loved, and they were yoked together.
Mr.. MARITIME and Miss Howard
were also married, and they met at
times. Each meeting re-opened the
bleeding wounds afresh.
One evening it was worse than
ever. Ruth had met Mr.. MARITIME at
a friends, and he had been remarka-
bly, attentive TO her. When she re-
turned home, Charles sat reading by
the CRATE fire.
"You have enjoyed yourself, |
hope" he said
Eyes, | suppose [ have; there was
soma pleasant people there"
"For instance2"
"WelI.-Mr. Hall, Mrs. Grey, Mr..
MARITIME"
"That puppy do you call him
pleasant p he asked. and he looked
furious
"Does he guess my secret ?" she
asked herself, and she looked at him
so strangely that be said to himself.
"Can she know?"
II think I'll step round to the
club" be said.
"And ! shall retire"
SO they parted for the night. Halt
an hour after, the door-bell rang furi
ousIy; g strange voice asked for Mrs.
Maldon The face that greeted her,
as che came down in her dressing
gown, told her that i'll news had come.
A few words explained sill. A drunk
en- ruffian had made an assault upon
Charles Maldon in the street, and he
was not only seriously hurt, but in
great danger CT death
Ruth burst into tears; her heart
melted to her husband as it never had
melted before.
In the days that followed, the long,
lingering days of illness, Ruth kept
her place beside her husbands pillow.
He was as helpless as a babe, and
ministering to him she learned to love
him as mothers do their infants
The great strong hand was weaker
far than hers; the handsome head
could not lift itself from the pillow;
and over him, as he lay there, the
shadow of the death angels wings fell
heavily. Remembering his kindness
and care, and believing that he had
loved her when she did not care for
him, poor Ruth grew bitterly remorse-
tul.
"Spare him, dear Heaven!' she
prayed, land will be all that wife
should be, her eafter"
So, as he grew better, and knew of
all her tenderness, he said to himself:
"What a true wife she is! How
base | have been! | love her and
she shall know it.
And one evening, as he sat in a
great chair before a moonlit window,
with her face as fair as an angels, in
that mellow radiance, he suddenly fell
in love with her.
envy darling!' he cried, and clasped
her to his heart.
And she whispered:
"Oh, my love!'
And their lips met as they had new
er met before.
But suddenly she drew herself from
his arms.
"Oh, Charles, must tell you!" she
said. 81 must confess. I don't de-
serve such love, though | will try to,
for | love you now. What will yon
think of me when tell you that, when
| accepted you, | did not love you OF
all. / engaged myself out Of spite
l had been Tilted. | was so wicked!
Can forgive myself? Can you for
give me, dear?'
He looked at her earnestly, and saw
that she was telling the truth and had
no undermeaninp in her words.