Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-06-06

gently to sofa. and sOOthed him with
a thousand murmured words thousand
mute caresses; for had it not been all
my fault? And through all the long
weeks of fever that followed I nursed
him with unwavering care and devotion.
I had but one thoug ught-one desire--to
redeem myself in his estimation; to
prove to him that I was something
more and higher than the mere butter
fly of fashion I had hitherto shown
myself! Well, the March winds had
howled themselves into their mountain
Businesses: the bright April raindrops
were dried on the bough and spray
and now the apple-blossoms were toss
ing their fragrant pillows of pinky
bloom in the deep blue air of latter
May. Where were we now? It was
a picturesque little cottage just out of
the city, furnished very like magni-
fed baby house. Gerald sat in a cush-
ioned easy chair on the piazza, just
where he could glance through the
open window at me working batch of
biscuits, 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 sec I like it! It's a
great deal better than those sonatas on
the piano?"
"Who would ever have thought you
would make such notable house
keeper?"
II laughed gleefully--I had q
child's delight in being praised.
care you not going to Mrs. De-
laney'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, I want you to answer
me one question ?"
"What is it?'
I 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 ?"
CT sold them long ago; they paid
several heavy bills, besides settling
HAL u year = IcDU ucIo.
"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 1 been less vain
and thoughtless and extravagant-"
I checked myself and robin sing
ing in the perfumed depths of apple
blossoms above the plaza, took up the
current of sound.
"That's right little red-breast," said
my husband half jokingly, 6" talk her
down! She has forgotten that our
past is dead, and that we have turned
over a new page in the book of exist
ence. Madeline, do you know how
feel, sometimes, when I sit and look at
you?"
"Now
"Well, I feel like widower who was
married again"
My heart gave little superstitious
leap.
Like widower who was married
again, Gerald?"
eyes, I 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 vanished
away into the past somewhere; she has
gone away to return no more, and in
her stead behold my second wife, a
thoughtful, tender woman, whose watch
full love surrounds me like an atmos-
phere, whose character grows more no.
BILE. and develops itself into new depth
and beauty every day!'
was kneeling by his side now, with
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?
"I think the trials and vicissitudes
through which VIC have just passed are
welcome indeed, since they have brought
me, as their harvest fruits, the price
less treasure of my second wife"
That was what Gerald answered me,
the sweetest words that ever fell upon
nv ear.