Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-03-22

warm, loving Heart, anu more tudu
ordinary intelligence. These, added
to her personal charms, speedily won
the heart of the wealthy young stu.
dent, who was travelling for his health
The engagement was short. She was
poor, and keenly felt her dependence
upon relative whose salary as a
country pastor barely sufficed to meet
the wants of his own large family.
Chester was rich, his elegant home
needed mistress, and himself com
panion to cheer his hours of loneli-
ness and why Chester argued,
should Myrtle be longer deprived OF
those social advantages which she is
SO well calculated to receive and be.
stow p
Immediately after the wedding the
young couple took possession of the
house in which Chester was born, and
in which his parents had died, but
which remodeled and refurnished in a
style better snited to the somewhat
extravaganza taste of its beautiful
young mistress. For awhile Chester
accompanied her everywhere her in
clination suggested, he gave up his
hours of study to her amusement, and
laid aside his books that her pleasure
and enjoyment might be abridged in
nothing. She is like a bird which
has been Gagged from its birth, he said
to himself, 'and now that she is tree
she shall roam wherever her own
sweet will dictates.
But after a few months a change
came. His enemy-the rheumatism
which had attacked him at intervals
from childhood-seized upon him
with grip from which no medical
seemed to have the power to free him.
In his widest paroxysms of pain Myr.
tic stood by his bedside. knowing
neither sleep nor rest, and giving all
the comfort which sympathy can give
to its fellow.sufferers but,as soon as
he was convalescent, she fitted like a
bird to her own enjoyment, leaving
him to the care OF hired attendants.
And yet he never complained. He
loved her with a devotion unsurpassed,
and he confded as implicitly, and
rested as securely in her affection as
he would have done had she been
constantly beside him. seeking no
pleasure which he could not share.
She was young and thoughtless had
been fettered by poverty, and circum-
scribed in feeling and action and, as
he recalled these facts, he judged her
leniently and without the shadow OF
reproach. He had never attempted
to dissuade her from the course she
pursued; had never discouraged her
visits to the opera when accompanied
by those friends upon whose Judge
ment he could rely; but tonight, as
he sat alone, and thought of her so
Respondent, so fascinating. and SO
loving, his feelings began TO change.
She was young, younger by ten years
than he; she was scarce eighteen, and
he more than twenty eight What if
the world, always SO eager to de-
nounce the thoughtless, should take
her name upon its lips, and sully its
purity with its polluted breath. She
was but child yet, chasing butter
fly; society, operas, balls, were new
to her; she was gathering her flowers
whilst the fresh dews of morning lay
glittering upon them. AS Chester
Startling thought of these things, his
heart seemed to die within him; his
Myrtle, was in danger of which her
innocence had never dreamed, and
to save her was his resolve.
It was New Years morning, a week
after the incidents recorded in the
last chapter. Chester sat alone in his
library, his lips compressed, and a
look Of doubt and trouble resting in
his fine eyes. Presently his wife en-
tered in obedience to his summons
and as he made room for her at his
side. the trouble in his eyes grew
denser, and the lines about his mouth
more rigid. She was dressed in a
morning -aobe of crimson, lined with
white, and faced with swansdown
and as she toyed carelessy with the
heavy silken tassels, Chester thought
he had never seen her look so lovely
You received my message, did you?'
he inquired, scarcely knowing what
TO say.
Eyes, but had half mind not to
obey you,' she replied, glancing
brightly into his face. 81 have been
as busy as a bee all the morning get
ting ready for Mrs. Fortesque's party
tonight | am to personate Winter,
and am having the leveliest gray
velvet dress made, just the color OF
winter clouds, trimmed with down in
imitation of snowfiakes, and am hav-
ing nv diamonds reset to represent
icicles She looked up into his face
as she concluded ner narration, and,
startled by its pallor, exclaimed:
sWhat is the matter, Chester? Tell
me darling, tell me =
He put his arm around her. 'Oh
MYRTLE said he, in voice which he
vainly endeavored to steady, 'are you
so welded to the vanities of the
world that it would kill you to be di'
yorced from them?'
welded to them! Divorced from
them 7 she repeated, vaguely. 'What
do you mean? Why do you not ex-
plain?
He looked into her face as sternly
as he could. If | should tell you that
this house and furniture, your dia-
monds, and servants, and equipage,
could in some degree meet the de-
mands of hungry, nay, insatiate cred
itors, what would be your reply?'
The truth burst upon her like a
peal of thunder from a cloudless sky.
She was unprepared for it; two years
ago she had assumed an exalted po-
sition, and she had worn the honors
it conferred as regally as queen wears
the crown destined to her at her
birth Myrtle loved splendor and
gsyety as dearly as the bird loves
sunshine and warmth, but she loved
her husband and his honor be-
III Il ~1o1.-a