The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-27
MARGARET WAYLAND'S HUSBAND
BY EMMA A. CLAY.

BY EMMA A. CLAY.
And this was the end of it all: Was
her happy welded life to come to this
Onlv!'
Margaret Wayland asked herself the
questions bitterly, as she pressed both
hands to her aching head, and looked out
at the dreary storm. Tomorrow the sun
would shine, and the flowers be all the
sweeter for the rain; but for her she
must walk in the shadow, and the dark
ness OF her life could never be frightened.
How happy she had been! Who,
among all the friends who saw her lay
her hand in Ralph Wayland's and prom
Use to cling to him in riches and in poy-
crtv, in sickness and in health-who
would have predicted such future as
she saw before her now? How she had
worked and planned and saved, that they
might have ahome of their own; and how
happy she was when the money was
counted out, and Ralph brought the deed
home. She had worn it in her bosom all
day, and sung little songs over it; and
now only the sight fbaby Nell, asleep
in her crib with one white arm thrown
over the sunny head, keeps her heart from
breaking.
Sadly she goes about the room, and
touches each loving object with the ten
der loving touch we give the dead.
Everything was so dear to. her. Yonder
marble bust over the door Ralph had
given her on her birthday; that lovely
landscape she had surprised him with one
Christmas Eve. Pictures were passion
with Ralph, and his wife knew Just how
many times he had stopped before win
bow down town, and wished for this
very one. Her tears fall as she thinks
she shall never sec these precious treas
ures again. But she stops longest over a
rosc-bush IN the window, which Ralph
had given her in her girlhood- in that
golden time Of her life, which comes but
once to US all-and the tears fall faster as
she breaks off blossom and puts it
away in her bosom.
Her plans are made. She thought
them all out last night, after she left
Ralph and Jeanie Cameron singing to-
gether in the parlor below; and when
phi came up at last, he thought her
sleeping; and so she had lain watching
the shadows flicker on the wall until the
morning had broken and the sun came in,
red aud yellow, through. the blinds.
Jcanie Cameron came to them two months
before-came, she said, because Ralph
was the only kin she had in the wide
world, and she felt so alone and helpless
by herself" She was cousin, twice re-
moved, of Ralph's, and Margaret had
never even heard of her until that April
day, when she huttered in upon them
with q face like an angels, and pretty
baby ways, that won her heart at once
She possessed fortune more than suffici-
cnt to keep her in elegance all her days,
. but she was so tired Of the froth and
emptiness of fashionable life; and this
was such quiet village; and what de-
}ightf'.l little home they had, with the
sweetest mistress in all the world, she was
sure" she added, as she gave Raj ph's wife
timid kiss.
And SO Margaret had gone blindly on
for six weeks, suspecting nothing until
she was rudely awakened, but, alas! too
late, % bridge the gulf which had open
ed between Ralph and herself. Jeanne
seemed so innocent that when, at even
ing, she would nestle down on footstool
close to Ralph, with the freight falling
on the golden hair and sweet upturned
face, the wife only smiled and thought
how fortunate it was the child was an
heiress, and that the little snowflake
hands would never have to toll for daily
bread. She often left them playing
chess, or singing some quaint old love
song, while she put Nell to bed, or at
tended to some household duty; and so
the sunny juno days went on till that
bitter awakening had come to her.
It was only last night-but how long
ago it seemed. She had intended to
spend the evening at a quiet gathering
at a neighbor's house. Jcanie had re-
fused to go, pleading indisposition, and
Ralph had urged an unusual press of bus
mess at the Office, which would detain
him until late; so Margaret had decided
to stay at home, but Jeanie's sweet voice
had entreated her mot to stay on her &C
count-oh, no! she wouldn't be the least
afraid, or lonely either, for there was
her new book"
Ralph hurried down town and Marga-
ret went to her own room to make he1
simple toilet for the evening. While
dressing, Patty, the maid-of-all work,