River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-06-28
MARGARET WAYLAND's HUSBAND
BY EMMA A.CLAY.

And this was the end of II all. Was
her happy welded life to come 10 this
onlyl"
Margaret Wayland asked herself the
questions bitterly, as she pressed both
hands 10 her aching head. and looked out
al the dreary storm. Tomorrow the sun
would shine. and the flowers DC all the
sweeter for the Tain;-but for her she
must walk in the shadow, and the dark
ness of her life couid never be frightened.
How happy he had been. Who,
among all the friends who saw her lay
her hand in Ralph NayIand's and prom
ise To cling to him in riches and in pow
ertv. in sickness and IN hcalth-who
would have predicted such a future as
she saw before her now? How she had
worked and planned and saved, that they
might have home Oftheir own; and how
happy she was when the money was
counted out. and Ralph brought the deed
home She had worn il in her IosOm all
day. and sung little songs over it; and
now only the sight ofbaby 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 10 her YOnder
marble bust over the door Ralph had
given her on her birthday; that lovely
landscape shr had surprised him with one
Christmas Eve. Pictures were a passion
with Ralph, and his wife knew just how
many times he had stopped before a win
how down town. and wished for this
very one. Her tears fall Is she thinks
she shall never see 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 ail-and the tears fall faster as
She breaks off a blossom and puts il
away in her bosom.
Her plans are made Che thought
them all out last night, after she left
Ralph and Jeenie Cameron singing to-
gcther in the parlor below: and when
Ralph came up At last. he thought her
sleeping: and 80 she had lain watching
the shadows flicker on the wall until the
morning had broken and the sun came in,
rel aud yellow. through the blinds
Ieanie Cameron came 10 them two months
thfAfHft~-NtkAA sac ~sAttts A#tNNtA~E AAAAAAa
was the only kin she had in the wide
world. AMI she felt - alone and helpless
Nv herself She was cousin. twice re-
moved. of Ralph'~ and Margaret had
never even heard ut ner until that April
,lay. when She ilUtttrcd in upon them
with face like an angels. and pretty
baby WAYS. thar won her heart AT once.
She possessed fortune more than Suiticl
INT to keep her in elegance all her days,
tut She wa~ 81 tired Of the froth and
emptiness of fashionable life; and this
was such quiet village; and what de
lightft. little home they had, with the
sweetest mistress in all the world. She was
sure. she added. aS she gave Ralph's wife
a timid kiss.
And "a Margaret had gone hlindly on
for six weeks. >UspeCting nothing until
she was Tudcly awakened, but, alas. toe
late. to bridge the gulf which had open
ell between Ralph and herself. Jeanne
seemed 80 innocent that when, at even
ing. she would nestle down on a tOOtstOOl
close 10 Ralph. with the freight falling
on the golden hair and sweet upturned
face. the wife only smiled and thought
how fortunate il was the child was an
heiress, and that the little snowflake
hands luld never have 10 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 June days went on till that
bitter awakening had come to her.
II was only last night-but how long
ago il seemed. She had intended to
spend the evening at quiet gathering
AT neighbor's house. Jeanne had re-
fused to 90, 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 stav ut home, but Jeanie's sweet voice
hal cntreated her mot To stay on her ac-
count-Oh. no, she wouldn't be the least
afraid. or lonely either, for there was
her new book"
Ralph hurried down town and MaTga-
ret went tC her own room TO make her
simple toilet for the evening. While
dressing. Patty. the maid-Of-all work,
came 10 ask permission TO 60 home, as
her mother was taken suddenly i'll. Mar
garet could not refuse the grief-stricken
ON. who instantly fastened away.
Obliged now. 10 relinguish her visit, and
thinking She would not disturb Jeanne,
Margaret passed down TO the kitchen to
finish the work which Patty'S sudden de
parture had left in more than an usual
chaos.
Half an hour later she went softly up
stairs. and glanCing In at little Nell IN
her white bed, was about to descend
again. when her footsteps were arrested
bv voices below. and. with blanched face
and heart sinking like stone in her
bosom. she looked down upon Jeanic
Cameron-and Ralph--her husband.
They stood under the hall light
Ralph had lust entered. and Jeanie's
white arms nal fluttereG up 10 his neck
and drew his handsome face down TO hei
own. while she lavished kisses and loving
words upon him. Then came floating NJ
10 the outraged wife. her husbands voice
saving tCnderly:
And 81. nv bonnie Jeanne, we're tC
have an evening by ourselves, Marga
ret has gone. of cOurset
sOh. VeS-an hour ago, What bliss
f,l time We will have, darling, and ther
The rest was list t. her by the closing
e The narlor door. And what did she do
von AK Wife and mOther-wOuld yoU
not have crept down stairs as she did
and crouching down by the door have
listened 10 words that drove the blood {
be- heart leaving the face white and colo
- 5esthl When she heard all she tot
crsd ~ her feet. and mp to her own room
convulsively clenching her hands to keel
from CRYING out with agony.
..Oh- could il be, or was she gong in'iei
D;5 She hear her husband-the idol that
sbe had set up and worshipped a. y
that was good and true and n2nle-1 IN
She hear him planning. to ny Win ma III.
false woman--that fiend with an ahgel
fsce-that serpent who had eFePt lnu
their Eden to destroy 1T
Thev we're going to Italy hasph va
T. his dream az last. lie coulu ~