Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-03-22
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MYRTLE'S NEW-YEAR.
BY vIoLETTE WOODS.

How do | look, Chester and the
thoughtIess young wife turned from
the mirror, in which she had been
contemplating her loneliness for some
moments, full upon her husband.
His cheek had been resting in his
hand, his eyes upon the floor; but he
raised them with look of Vulnerable
love, and gazed upon the Respondent
figure before him. You are beauti-
tul, Myrtle, beautiful. Your eyes rival
your diamonds in brilliancy, and | am
sure you have robbed the roses and
lilies of their beautiful complexions.'
You are proud of me. then. aren't
you p She knelt beside him, resting
one slender jeweled hand upon his
| knee.
Indeed indeed. l am, Myrtle He
placed his arm caressingly about her,
and drew her nearer to him. What
an unfit mate l am for you, darling.
MY helpless limbs render it so impos-
sible for me to be your constant COM
panion, as | sigh every moment of my
life to be. sometimes compare my
self to bird, whose pinions are brok-
en-, and whose wanderngs are confin-
ed to earth; whilst thou, my lovely
mate, can soar away beyond the
clouds into the realms of eternal
sunshine.
The roses upon the cheeks of the
young wife assumed deeper hue as
she listened to her husbands meta
phor; and observing it, he added,
quickly But you have not told me
whittier you are bound tonight. Is
it the opera, or to another party 2
ooh, the opera, to be sure Mad
anne Parepa sings tonight, aud my
ears are aching to hear her. have
thought of her voice and the sensation
I shall create, until / have scarcely an
idea left. | wish you could 60, dar-
ling; but. since have such kind pro-
tectors as Mr.. and Mrs. Howard, /
oughtn't to complain. But there is
the carriage now. | hope Madame
Parepa will sing for US again when
you are rid ofthat horrid rhuematism,
and then we will enjoy the treat to-
gether Sit up for me, won't you,
dear ? as she threw her ermine-lined
cloak about her shoulders Il have
ordered James to bring you some oys-
tiers and coffee at eleven to cheer your
spirits and keep you awake. You
must think Of me whilst | am gone,
Chester. how much [ am enioyiug
myself, and how every one is envying
you your wife
She pressed her lips to his, and
passed from the room. A moment
later the heavy door closed upon her
retreating figure, the carriage rolled
away, and Chester, reaching his
crutches, which rested against the
fauteuH upon which he was reclining,
with their aid hobbled to the door
Thomas, who had been closing the
house until the return of his mistress,
hearing his footsteps, waited respect
fHlly.
when your mistress arrives, said
he, in an unsteady voice, tell her
that have retired, so that she will
not look for rue in the library. Tell
James, also, that l shall not need any
refreshment as directed. That is all
you can 60.
Thomas bowed and departed. with
look of sympathy for his lonely, saf-
fering master and Chester Startling
turned with slow steps to his comfort
BILE armchair, aud threw himself
YEARLY within it. His thoughts fol-
lowed his gay young wife to the bril-
liant scene of which she was so bright
an ornament. He recalled their first
meeting to the present moment, and
fingered lovingly over its happy in
cidents.
Two years before he had met Myr-
tie Vane at the house of her uncle
| i n an obscure try village,