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

once had been her own, and even the
driver who had formerly been in her
employ.
Come, my love, the carriage is
waiting said Chester, aud too much
surprised to speak, Myrtle suffered
herself to be placed within it.
where are we going, Chester?'
she asked, as soon as she could COM
mand her voice.
Il am ANXIOUS for you to become
| acquainted with the mistress of our
former home, and her husband desired
me to bring you directly there You
will find her woman who has but
few equals, and no superiors; one in
whom her husbands heart doth safe
ly trust You will love her for my
| sake, am sure.
Myrtle did not reply, but after few
moments drive they reached the lux
urious house in which they had spent
the first years of their married life.
Chester led her up the marble steps,
through the broad hall, into the very
| chamber which had been her own a
twelve-month before. Everything
was unchanged; carpet, furniture, cur
tains were the same, even her very
jewel box occupied its place upon the
dressing bureau.
'What does it all mean? she asked
herself upon looking around and see-
ing that Chester was absent.
She removed her wrappings me-
chemically, and laid them upon the
bed took little Chester from the arms
of his nurse, and laid him within the
elegant cradle, the only addition
which had been made to the furniture
of the apartment. Chester entered
looking radiant with happiness; he
put his arm about his wife's waist, and
said, softly -
Before presenting you to the lady
of the house, must tell you that you
must never be jealous of my exceed
ing love for her, nor deprecate the
wonderful influence she possesses
over me- This is she.'
He turned her around so that she
could see herself in the full length
mirror, and exclaimed -
'Let me introduce you to Mrs. Star
ling, the only mistress this house has
ever had since her husbands mother
died. Long may she reign, the queen
of his home as of his heart? 2
The tears rolled down Myrtle's
cheeks.
'What do yol mean. Chester? Are
we in dream?'
NO, Myrtle, it is all blessed real
ity.' He drew her unresisting form
to his knee, and continued: Let me
tell you little story. Myrtle. There
was once a wife, young, and beautiful.
and admired. Her husband was
wealthy but was an invalid, and he
loved her too well to confine her at
his bedside. He urged her to go into
society without him, and she went UNI
til she was fast becoming slave to its
destinations He determined to res
cue her from the giddy vortex to
which she was so rapidly moving, and
to do this he resorted to measures
which otherwise would have seemed
harsh. He conversed with her in
such a way regarding his affairs that
she thought him a bankrupt; thought
him reduced to poverty, and she he
roically sustained her part in the con-
fict of life. 1t was furnace of fire in
which he tested her womanhood and
her affection, but she came forth re-
fined, purified, exalted. Her husbands
love and confidence had not been mis-.
placed Was his course wrong?
NO, no, Chester, that course was
my salvation I needed the retire
ment in which to think over and re-
pent of my former follies. You pur-
sued the wisest plan, and how CRATE
ful I am my future life shall prove
This, then, shall be your New
Years gift he returned, presenting
her with the deed of the property,
and with it the assurance of my I'm
bounded love and faith