The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-09-13
THEFALSE AND TRUE:
A w1FE's STORY.

A wIFE's STORY. b.; sea-.
When my husband: Roscoe Arnold,
asked me to marry him, felt it., neces.
sary to tell him that did not love him
as he loved me-that l understood. his
devotion, because l had felt 1t for anoth-
er-that other, Ivan Grey-that to MY
husband had to give only a grateful
affection. Would that suffice2
He said that it would. He told me af.
terward, that through my weeping he
did not catch the name; that he thought
1 said also that my, lover had died.
From the first, Roscoe was good hus-
band. If did not appreciate him then,
was not unhappy. had bright beau
tiful home which Roscoe named Hesper-
ides. The library was extensive, the
conservatory luxurious. Books and
flowers being my ruling passion, my hus-
band had taken especial pains to crafty
me.
After our boy was born, and everybody
pronounced. him a most healthy and
beautiful child, Roscoe said to me:
"Constance, arc you happy now?"
L looked straight into his honest brown
eyes as I truly answered.: eyes Ros."
He bent and kissed me with delight
I had never seen him show before.
"Dearest, you are mine!" he murmur-
ed.
That was all he said.
It was just two years after our mar
riagc. =
A few days later he received letter.
I asked who it was from.
my sister,hhe answered..
II never knew you had sister," l said
in surprise. '.;~,- ,...-
"No, have never spoken to you of
Ora. When my parents died in my boy
hood, Ora, was a baby, and taken to an
aunt down to New Orleans, where she
was raised with her two children. have
only seen her once since. She is very
pretty. This letter tells me she is to be
married"
He gave me the letter to read. It was
written on delicate fragrant paper, the
penmanship easy and graceful, but rath-
er too fine. Rather brief communica-
ton, prettily expressed, asking us to come
to the wedding. ..t
ITO New Orleans in July! 1 am afraid
to take baby, and I could not leave him. ~
II see that we cannot 60. It is i'm
practicable. will write and tell Ora. !"
"And give her my love. Say that I
hope she will be very happy" -
I had been present at but one wedding
in my life, and that was my own: I was
six-and-twenty. It was very different
from what I thought it would be when
was eighteen I had been betrothed to
Ivan Grey; at twenty:six I. married Ros-
coe Arnold. -
The suggestion Of another wedding
brought back the past to me: When I
was alone, and baby asleep in his basket,
I want to q drawer in the private cabinet
and took out apacket of letters and a
photograph. , ::' ..~....
The latter was vignette- face hand
some as Greek gods, with a perfection
Of contour that must ever be fascinating.
As looked at it, the peace Of my heart
fled away, The breath of the past, fra
grant, new, spring like swept over me; the
warm, imperious impulses of youth start
ed to life in my blood. ..,:,. -: )
1 looked at the letters but did not open
them, There was no need. I had learned
each one by heart years ago. The packet
was small, and l sat with it held between
my palms for nearly half an hour. But I
put away letters and pictures at last; and
sat down by the: open window, swinging
the baby's basket to and fro. Just then I
heard Roscoe whistling lightly as he ran
upstairs, and in q moment he entered the
room, his hands full of pond lilies.
-: "See here, Connie-here's a treat fol
you Aren't they bcauties?" -:4:-~
My'favorite flower! I took the, splen.
did things from him and put them in q
crystal globe of cool water at,
"See here!'' said Roscoe. ':.'' e.tE '":
He had pulled up his straw hat, and
the curling hair about his white forehead
was literally dripping with pcrspira
'4"See how wilted am, hurrying hom.
through the heat to save your lilies," HI
SAID. = - :; ;:i!;:r ,i't'st i7gr,t. ,fC
i sn / brought him some cool water to bathl
his face, laid out; for him; some fresl
clothing, and went away to see. if dinnel
was ready. Thus / took up again th'
! nresent. >',j j. - ,t!3+ =! T., =, .;
Another year went by. was surround
ed by every comfort; tenderly cared for
I resolved not to unlock the rosewoot
cabinet again. j cd l;:" '-l:hGi
Twas reading in the portico, ono jun
morning, while Melissa, the nurse, wa