Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-10-28
AFTER MANY YEARS.

WELL, darling" l said, catching her
two hands in mine, as we met under the
trees in the loveliest corner Of the square.
had no other words, and she did not
need any.
The old story" looking up at me,
had been crying "I'm-I'm here, Shir-
ley"
Do you guess what those three words
meant? That Edna Verdery, before the
first star looked out of the opal sky up
above us, would be my wife.
1t was the old story, you sea penni-
less lover, a hearted little woman
clinging to her faith, and a parental curse
impending over both our heads.
| drew her hand tight through my arm,
and we walked away very quietly, for she
was tired, and the little hand trembled
against my side. She only told me that
she was not afraid, that she loved me, and
she would be glad to rest when it was all
over and we two safe and far away to-
gether. And so we went on and were
married.
Then | took home my wife. 1t was
DOOR home, but she was not afraid to
sweeten it with herself, and she had said
that she was glad to come. She never
spoke OF her father and mother and never
seemed to miss them or regret what she
had lost in them. [ never should have
known that was a grief to her but for one
7 nt
night, with her face all sparkling and her
voice unsteady with excitement, and even
before she kissed me cried out:
i've seen my mother!"
Your mother? Has she been here?"
] asked
"Yes Only think how glad 1 was
how surprised! She came and she kissed
me, and forgave me,' putting her arms
around my neck and beginning to cry in
her gladness, land forgave you, too; and
she said she couldn't live and lose her
only daughter. Oh, Shirley, it was the
only thing more that wanted on earth!
I'm so happy, darlingn'
And your father?'
'He couldn't be as kind as she was, -
said my little wife, with her cheek on
mine. Fathers never are; but she
thought-she was sure, she said-that he'd
forgive it all, and that she loved me Just
as much all the time, and it would be all
right at last, Shirley. Oh! aren't you
happy, too? Look glad! Tell me you're
glad, dear; you don't know how l wanted
it."
| was glad, for her sake, God knows; for
my own, | would never have cared to look
on their faces again.
But all that was changed now Mrs.
Verdery's carriage ratified, day after day,
down the little dull street and stood at
Mrs. Lecompte's door, and Edna Lecompte
was pardoned and petted and caressed as
if Edna Verdery had never disobeyed
And then we were asked to dine at
home,' she andI; and the old man greeted
us both kindly and kissed his daughter
with two tears in his cold eyes, and seemed
TO bury our old enmity as he shook my
hand; and after that night it was all sun
shine between us.
But never ceased to feel an odd chill
in my heart like prophecy of something
bitter coming between us. Perhaps it was
because instead of growing richer since
married wife l only grew poorer, and
the world outside our little room got dark
and threatening overhead and seemed only
cold place for my child to inherit.
He came to test its tender mercies JUS
with the early winter and, as he came
Edna was very nigh going out forever
She was delicate little thing and needed
so much petting and nursing and tendel
care that my heart ached, as many a poor
mans has done before me, whenI looked IL
the white little face that had been so rosy
when | first took her from her home. An(
instead of growing stronger she onl.
dropped more, like flower in the frs
frost; and the child was as pale as she.
There was a season of business losse
and heavy failures; firm after firm CAV