Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-01-29


vet determined.
"Who are you?" he demanded wildly
"wby can't yot, leave me in peace"
ats I, Gerald-your own Madeline-your
own little wife.
And caught from his hand the pistol he
was striving 10 conceal in his breast-its mate
lay on the marble hearth under the mantel-
and flung it out Of the window.
Gerald, would you have lei; me-"
81 would have escaped :" be cried, still
half delrious to all appearance. Debt
dssrace-misery reproacbes-I would
have escaped them all :"
His head fell like ,lat Of weary child on
my shoulder. ldrew him gently to sofa aud
soothed him with thousand .murmured words,
thousand Sute caresses !or had it not tecn
all my fault? And through all the lepg weeks
that followed, nursed him with unwavering
care and devotion. had but one thought
one desirc-to redeem myself in bis estima-
tion, TO prove to him that was something
more and higher than the mere butterfly OF
fashion had hitherto shown myself Well,
the March winds had how,cd themselves into
mountain businesses the bright April raiu-
drops were dried on the bough and spray-ap-
pie blossoms were tossi ne their fragrant bill
lows Of pinky bloom IN the deep blue air Of
latter May. Where were we now? IL was
picturesque little cottage just outside OF the
city, furnished very much like masniied
baby house. Gerald sat in cushioned, easy
chair on tie pazza, just where he could
glance through the open window at me work
ing batch Of biscuits, with NY sleeves rolled
up above my elbows, and the gold thread
neatly confined in a siken net
What an iudust rious fairy il is" lie said,
smiling sadly.
well, YOU see like il lt'sa great deal
better than those sonatos on the piano |"
"Who would ever have thought that you
would make such a notable hous,kecper -
laughed gleefullyl had cbd's delight
in being praised.
Are you not going 10 Mrs. Deaney'S ero-
quot party?" be pursued.
" No, what 90 care for croquet parties
I'm going TO finish your sLiits, and you'll read
aloud to me"
Madeline, want you to ans@ei nc one
question"
"What is it?"
lad safely deposited my pan Of biscuiisin
the oven by this time, and was dusiing tic
-four of ny hands.
" What have you done with yOar dia-
monds2"
." sold them long ago. they paid several
heavy bills, besides settling half years rent
here"
But, Madeline you were so proud Of your
diamonds"
al was once-now they would be the bitter
est reproachcs my eyes could meet. o, Ger
aid had been less vain and thoushtless and
cxtravagant-"
checked myself, and robin singing IN tho
perfumed depths Of apple blossoms above tho
piazza, took up tho current Of sound.
That's right, little redtreast," said my
husband, half jokipgly, "talk Der down She
has forgotten that our past is dead, and that
we have turned over new page in tie book
Of existence. Madeline, doyou know how
feel sometimes when sit aud look at you?'
Nor
"WelI, feel like widower who wa mar
ried again"
Ny heart gave little superstitious jump.
Like a widower who was married, again,
Gerald2"
"Yes, | can remember my first wifc-a
brilliant, thougbtlese child-without an idea
beyond the gratihcatian Of present wbims-G
spoiled plaything. Well, that little Madeline
has vanished away into tie past somewhere;
she has gone away to return no more, and in
her stead behold my second wife, a thought
ful, tender woman, whose watchful love sur
rounds me like an atmosphere, whose character
grows more noble, and developes itself into
uew depth and beauty every day"
was kneeling by bis sile now, with my
cheek upon his arm and my eyes looking into
his.
"And which do you love best. Gerald, tie
first or second wife?"
al think the trials and yicitsitodes through
which we have passed ere welcome indeed;
since they have brought me, as their harvest
frui,s the 0riccless treasure Of my second
wife"
That was what Gerald answered me, tie
sweetest words that ever fell upon my ear.