Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-01-16
MY HUSBANDS SECOND WIFE.
My husband came tenderly to my sids

care you going out this evening, my
love ?''
| "Of course [ am"
1 looked complacently at my dress Of
pink Grape, dew dropped over with pink
crystals and trail of pink azaleas that
caught up it's folds here and there. A dia-
mond bracelet encircled white arm and
little cross blazed fitfully at my throat.
had never looked better and | felt a sort
of girlish pride as my eyes met the fair re-
| Election in the mirror.
'sCome, Gerald, make haste why, you
haven't begun to dress yet"
| Where were my wifely instincts that ]
did not see the haggard downcast look in
his features, the fevered light in his eye !
II can't go tonight, Madaline am
not we'll enough
| FsYou are never we'll enough to oblige
| me. I am tired of being put off with such
excuses
He made no answer, but dropped his
| head in his hands on the table before him.
ooh, come Gerald,' urged prudently
cit is so awkward for me to go alone, al
ways"
He shook his head listlessly.
II thought, perhaps, you would be will
ling to remain at home with me, NADIA
line"
s'Men are selfish, 4 said plaintively; "and
[ am dressed Claudia took half an hour
with my hair. dare say you will be a
great deal quieter without me-that is if
you are determined not to go.''
"Well, if you choose to be sullen, can't
help it, said lightly, as I turned and
went out Of the room, adjusting my boquet-
holder, the tube roses and heliotropes seem
ed to distil incense at every motion.
Was I heartless and cruel? Had ceased
to love my husband ! From the bottom
Of my heart I believe loved him as truly
and tenderly as wife ever loved a hus-
band; but I had been so petted and spoiled
all my brief, selfish life, that the better in
stincts Of my life, as it were, seemed en-
| tombed alive.
went to the party and had my fill of
adulation and homage as usual The hours
seemed to glide away, shod with roses, and
| winged with roses and perfume, and it was
not until weary with dancing that I sought
amomentary refugein the half-lighted tea
room, when [ heard words waking me, as
I it were, from some terrible dream.
! ''Gerald Glen"
could not be mistaken in the name it
was scarcely commonplace for that. They
were talking-two or three business=like
men-in the hall without, and could
catch now and then fugitive word.
Cline, enterprising, young" Great
| pity" "Totally ruined-so Bees & Mork-
en- say.'' Reckless extravaganza of his
| wife,
All the vague fragments I heard and
some one asked "what is he goingto do;
"What can he do, poor fellow ? am
sorry but he should have counted his in
| come and expenses better"
| Cor his wife should. Oh, the women.
| they are at the bottom of all mems troub-
| les.''
And they laughed. Oh, how could they?
I had yet to learn how easy it was to bear
other peoples troubles. rose hurriedly
| my heart beating unanimously beneath the
pink azaleas, and went back to the lighted
| saloon. Mr.. Albany Moore waited to
claim my hand for the next dance.
care you i'll Mrs. Glen How pale you
! look.''
"I-I am not very we'll. wish you
would order my carriage for Ele.'
For I now thought that home was the
proper place for me.
Hurried by some unaccountable impulse
I sprang out the moment the wheels touch
ed the curb-stone, and rushed up to my
husbands room. The door was locked
but 1 could see light shining family I'M
| der the door. I knocked wildly and per.
| sistently.
ssGerald, for heavens sake let me in. -
Something fell on the marble hearth
stone within, making metallic click, and
Imy husband opened the door little way
I had never seen,,him look so pale, so rigid
yet so determined.
"Who are you 20 he demanded wildly
"Why can't you leave me in peace ~
cit is 1. Gerald-Madaline- OWL
! dear little WIFE"
And caught the pistol from his hane
that he was trying to conceal in his bosom
Its mate lay on the hearth under Eth'
mantel, and flung it out of the window.
"Gerald, would you have left me Z"
III would have escaped" he cried, still
} half delirious, to all appearance, "debt
misery, disgrace her reproaches, Woul'
have escaped them all.'''
His head fell. like that Of weary CHILD
on nv shoulder. drew him gently to
sofa. and soothed him with ten-thousan'
murmured words, and a thousand NUT
caresses for it had been every pit N N
fault.
And through all the long weeks OF feve
that followed, nursed him with unWaV
ering care and devotion. l had but on
4 thought-one desire-to redeem mysef
his estimation-to prove to him that W.
something more than a mere butterfly
had hitherto shown myself.