Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-02
HOW IT WAS DECIDED.

1t 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 a 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-lusirous 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, had ever thought
her perfect beyond compare, and he
was Of such a different mold from her
that all his compliments and rough,
honest flattery 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 Il
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, joyless life that had never been so
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 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., 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,
and do it well, whom women loved,
whom men envied; and she, obscure,
shyly 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
ENHANCEMENT; why, with her peculiar
nature, her romantic, morbid DISPOSE
ton, her intensity of longing for, and
appreciation of just such exquisite ten
derness and masterful devotion as
Eustace Florestan offered her so deli
cately-Amy Leith was permitted to
ever have seen him.
He was very handsome man-just
rs the moment when Amy turned her
pale face shoreward, his blue eyes were
all alight with smiling eagerness as he
hurried his rather leisurely walk and
went up to her.
We'll, Amy. shall confess | am just
little surprised, and a great deal de
igeted to find you here, as you promised
to be?"
He took her little gloved hands in
his, and he could feel their trembling
GOODNESS through the cloth.
What is the matter, my darling? Is
the sea breeze too strong, Or"
Her wistful eyes went up to his face
in searching glance that pierced him
to his very soul.
ooh, Eustace! Why did you come!
Why did you not stay away, and leave
me to battle this out alone? Oh, my
God, what am to do?"
This wistfulness was gone now, and a
wild excitement was in her eyes, that
matched the rising passion in her voice.
He drew her closer to him, still hold
ing the trembling hands in his strong
ones. He smiled indulgently, tenderly
in her white, desperate face..and there
was something of dissatisfaction in the
smile as well.
my little girl, as it a flight between
fancied duty TO him he nodded care
lessly toward a group of houses far in
land, one of which was Adam Leith's
home" and-what your true, loving
heart bids you is due to me? My dar-
ling, you shall never regret having
chosen between us, do you think you
will? Do you think, if you come tc
me, that you will be unhappy? Think
Of it, Amy, forever with me, aOith met"
He released her hands, and wrapped
his arms around her waist in close
clinging embrace, kissing her lps-oh
such kisses as he knew she valued more
than all else.
For a second she received his caress-
es; then wrenched herself suddenly
fiercely from him.
"Oh, yes, the happiness, the awful
happiness! But-the sin, the awful
a1gfad sin!'
/ cannot think SO, DEAR" he return.
ed, in patient, tender tone. You are
IL ,,,n,I,l ~, ,,o,, WOULD LII,