Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-01
HOW 1T WAS DECIDED.
BY MARY REED CROMWELL.

BY MARY REED CROWEIL. .-
It was no wonder Amy Leith stood
on the long, lonely stretch of sandy
shore, listening to the dirge of the March
wind, to the fierce dash of the green
waves on the beach, to their rolling
thunder as they foamed in fury at her
feet: no wonder that she had been stand
ing there almost an hour, listening, and
watching the sullen clouds scud over the
sky, for the day and her surroundings
were in perfect accord with her spirit,
that restless, tempted, rebellious spirit
of hers that all her life had led her
through such gloomy ways.
She had dressed herself in black
wooden dress, some soft, clinging mate
terial that draped gracefully around her
slender, well-rounded figure. She had
wrapped thick scarlet shawl closely
about her, and tied scarlet cloud over
her hair-lus,rous dark hair that waved
from wide white parting in loose bands
back to low coil just above her neck.
Her face was not beautiful, despite
the warm scarlet of her lips: the dusky
glow of her eyes, the tender tint of her
complexion-at least, no one but Adam
Leith, her husband, mad ever thought
her perfect beyond compare, and he
was of such a different mold from her
that all his compliments and rough,
honest 1attery never could bring even
one thrill of glad pride or shy delight to
her heart Yet she had married him,
knowing that every fiber of her being
was at variance with him, knowing that
he never would be anything to her, and
that she gave herself to him simply and
solely because she was SO heart-sick and
heart-sore with her never-ending fight
with her destiny-a destiny that forced
her to such hard work for her daily
bread
He had comfortable income, and
comfortable home, and when he had
awkwardly asked her to "have him."
she had thought anything was better
than such never-ending misery as hers.
So she had married him. And now,
three years afterward, Adam Leith's
wife was standing on the ocean beach,
this raw, windy March day, with pale
cheeks and sad, unrestful eyes into
which occasionally came sudden gusty
looks of passionate recklessness, follow
ed by cold, pitiful resolution, and wild,
anxious desperation.
For the crisis of her life had come to
her. Into her hands her fate had "thrust
the disposal of her FUTURE" to her, that
day, was permitted her choice, her aw-
full choice between--the dark, monoto-
nous, joyhess life that had never been so
unendurable as very recently-simple
endurance. until death released her,
with Adam Leith. or-such delirious
happiness as took her breath to think
Of, and-Eustace Florestan. Poor, poor
Amy! She had met him, and casual
acquaintance had ripened into friendli-
less, and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., she
never knew exactly how, or when or
WAY. or where, they had come to under
tand that they loved each other-they
wo, Eustace Florestan, the rich, idle,
esthetic man Of the world, who was able
nd determined to do just as he chose,
nd do it we'll, whom women loved,
HON men envied; and she, obscure.
lyly retiring, not beautiful, and-Adam
eith's wifei ....-......
It was one of those problems whose
,lution is impossible-why these two
,ould have been allowed such terrible
ltanglement; why, with her peculiar
sture, her romantic, morbid DISPOSE
IN, her intensity of longing for, and
,preciation of just such exquisite ten
r1less and masterful devotion as
lstace Fiorestan offered her SO deli
tely-Amy Leith was permitted to
er have seen him. e.rss
He was a very handsome man-just
Al. A -. L -.
lie face shoreward, his blue eyes were
lalight with smiling eagerness as he
lrried his rather leisurely walk and
ent up to her. sz1ol5 -
Well, Amy, shall confess am just
little surprised, and great deal de.
geted to find you here, as you promised
be?'' @a.a9 .4s9a8U s HfaTe
He took her little gloved hands III
IS, and he could feel their trembling
oldness through the cloth. "a fTIS,
what is tho matter, my darling2 Is
he sea breeze too strong, Or = -
Her wistful eyes went up, to his face
searching glance that pierced him
o his very soul. .--Ssr.s,5 .s,5-. :
"Oh, Eustace!. Why did you come !?
Why did you not stay away, and leave
ne to battle. this. out alone 2~Oh, nay.
Tod, what am LtogdoY' EO4
This usefulness was gone now, fand a
Wild excitement was IN heraeyesf that
matched the rising passion ia her voice.
He drew her:eloser to him, still hold
ng the trembling hands in his strong
mes He smiled indu1gently, tenderly
her white, desperate faceLand there
vas something of dissatisfaction in the
mile as we'll. seetE as g a1assf s1 ~.
"My little girl, is It fight between
aneied duty TO hins "-he nodded, care
essly toward a group of houses far inr
and, one of which. was Adam Leith's
lome-" and-what your true, loving
leart bids you is due to nses My dar-