Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-05-01
HOW IT WAS DECIDED.
BY MARY REED CROMWELL.

BY MARY REED CROWEIL.
Twas 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
we're 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 a 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 a 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
complexon-at least, no one but Adam
Leith. her husband, had ever thought
her perfect beyond compare, and he
was Of such different mold from her
that all his compliments and rough,
honest Aattery 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
heartsore with her never-ending fight
with her destiny-a destiny that forced
her to such hard work for her daily
bread.
He had a comfortable income, and a
comfortable home, and when he had
awkwardly asked her TO shave 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-
ful choice between-the dark, monoto-
nous, joYless life that had never been 80
uncomfortable 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-
ness, and then-then-somehow, she
never knew exactly how, or when or
Why, or where, they had come to under
stand that they loved each other-they
TWO, Eustace Florestan, the rich, idle.
aesthetic mar of the world, who was able
and determined to do just as he chose,
ana 90 1t we'll, whom women loved,
whom men envied; and she, obscure.
shyy retiring, not beautiful, and-Adam
Leith's wife!
1t was one Of those problems whose
solution is impossible-why these two
should have been allowed such terrible
ENLARGEMENT; why, with her peculiar
nature, her romantic, morbid DISPOSE
tlon her intensity of longing for, and
appreciation of just such exquisite ten
derness and masterful devotion as
Eustace Florestan offered her so deli
casely-Amy Leith was permitted to
ever have seen him.
he was very handsome man-iust
as the moment when Amy turned her
pale face shoreward, his blue ewes we're
al a!lght with smiling eagerness as he
hurried his rather leisurely walk and
went up to her.
Well, Amy, shall l confess am lust
little surprised, and a great deal de-
.igeted to find you here, as you promised
He took her little gloved hands in
ms and he could feel their trembling
GOODNESS through the cloth.
=, What is the matter, my darling? Is
'ne sea breeze too strong, or"
her wistful eyes went up to his face
m searching glance that pierced him
70 his very soul.
W. oh. Eustace! Why did yoa come !!
my oid you not stay away, and leave
n cue 70 battle this out alone? Oh. NV
"od, what am l to doy'