The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-12-23
would have escaped from

proaches-I would have escaped from
all u
His head fell like that of weary
child on my shoulder / drew him
gently to a sofa, and soothed him with
thousand murmured words, thops.
and mute caresses; for had it not been
all my fault And through all the
long weeks or fear that followed /
nursed him with unwavering care and
devotion. ] had but one thought
one deslre-to redeem myself in his
estimation; to prove to hirn that | was
more and higher than the mere but
terhy of fashion l had hitherto shown
myself? Well, the March winds had
howled themselves into the mountain
fastnesses the bright April raindrops
were dried on the bough and spray
and now the apple. blossoms were toss
ing their fragrant billows of pinky
bloom in the deep blue air of latter
May. Where were we now? 1t was a
picturesque little cottage lust out of
the city, furnished very like magni-
fed baby house. Gerald sat i2 a
cushioned easy chair on the piazza,
just where he could glance through the
window at me working batch of bis
cults, with my sleeves rolled up above
my elbows, and the "gold.thread" hair
neatly confined in silken net.
"What an industrious fairy it is"
he said, smiling sadly.
"Well, you see like it It's a great
deal better than those sonatas on the
pianoW
"Who would ever have thought you
would make such notable housokeep-
er ?"
l laughed gleefnlly-I had child's
delight in being praised. s.
"Are you not going to Miss Delan-
cy's croquet party?" he pursued.
"No-what do care for croquet
parties? I'm going to finish your
shirts, and you'll read aloud to me. +"
Madeline, l want you to answer me
one question"
"What is it ?"
/ had safely deposited my pan of
biscuits in the oven by this time, and
was busting the -four off my hands.
"What have you done with your
diamonds p
81 sold them long ago; they paid
several heavy bills, besides settling
half years rent here"
"But Madeline, you were so
proud of your diamonds"
II was once-now they would be
the bitterest reproaches my eyes could
meet. o, Gerald! had l been less
vain and thoughtless and 'extrava-
CANT"
/ checked myself and a robin sing
ing in the perfGmed depths of apple
blossoms above the piazza, took up the
] current of sound.
"That's right little red breast" said
my husband, halfjokingly, talk her
down She has forgotten that our past
is dead, and that we have turned over
a new page in the book of existence.
Madeline, do you know how / feel
sometimes when / sit and look at
your
"Nop
"Well, feel like a widower who
| was married again.
My heart gave little superstitious
jump.
Like a widower who was married
again, Gerald ?"
"Yes, | can remember my first wife
"a brilliant, thoughtless child-with
out an idea beyond the qualification OF
present whims-a spoiled plaything
Well, that little Madeline has vanish
ed away into the past somewhere; she
has gone away to return no more, and
in her stead / behold my second wife
thoughtful, tender woman, whose
watchful love surrounds me like an at
mostphere, whose character grow:
more noble, and develops itself into
new depth and beauty every day |"
Twas kneeling by bis side now, witt
my cheek upon his arm and my eyes
looking into his.
"And which do you love best, Ger
aid, the first or the second wife 2"
81 think the trials and vicissitudei
through which we have just passed are
welcome indeed since they hav'
brought me, as their harvest fruits, ,th'
priceless treasure Of my second wife.
That was what Gerald answered me
the sweetest words that ever fell upoI
my ear.