Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-06
HIS WIFE.
Twice wedaed. once mated.

1t was glorious moonlight; sucn
moonlights as one sees only in the South
the skv one beam of living light, yell
low and clear as crystal. The soft breath
of summer stirred the leaves of the starry,
white jasmine, which swung as by UNI
seen fairy hand. The night, in all its
projections, lay gloriously fair unmarried
by any sound to break the perfect out
lines of the picture, save the musical
voices. We stood together beneath a
widesprea1ing magnolia tree-John Van
deleur and I. The moonlight glinted
on his stern white face; his dark eyes
were bent upon my own; both his hands
prasped mine grasped them with the
desperate eagerness of despair.
jessie" he said, at length, breaking
the silence that lay between us two, 81 am
going away tomorrow"
felt my heart buond madly. and then
stand still, with underlined terror. We
had been SO happy all that long quiet
summer, away from the noise and din of
the world, shut in by forests and green
banked lakes and waving verdure. 1t
had been like beautiful idyl, and, like
all such episodes, had to end some time.
But it was hard lesson that had learn
ed in the interim. knew that during
those few short weeks I had learned to
love John Vandeleur; and ] knew also,
by look and tone, and the caressing man.
ner, which stood instead Of speach, that
he loved me. But felt that shadow
stood between us-an impenetrable
shadow did not know how impene-
trable until that night, when, out in the
pale-faced moonlight, we stood beneath
the magnolia trees. | saw him gasp for
breath as his eyes met the look of pain
in mine; he trembled violently, and drop
ped my hands with passionate gesture.
"Jessie," he cried, suddenly, facing me
in desperation, "you love M, and 10,
God, love you SO! And yet | am going
to break your heart. This summer has
been dream of heaven to me; wild
hasheesh dream, in which such wretches
as I ought never be permitted to indulge.
All, we'll, it is over now! Jessie, say that
you love me-oncc-just once"
looked into his dark, sad eyes. II
do" answered, firmly. Ay, come what
might, that was true and earnest and I'M
alterable. He threw both arms around
ne, and, drawing me closer to him,
pressed one kiss upon my lips. No one
else has ever kissed them, 30 one else
ever shall. - .
'Can you bear to hear my story to-
night?" he asked, as | loosened the cling
ing arms, and stood before him, trying
hard to calm the wild, tumultuous throb-
bling of my heart. Because" he contin-
ued, you must know 1t; and ], shall go
away tomorrow"
II can bear it," My voice sounded far
away, and faint He pushed the dark
hair from his forehead, and, turning his
face away from my eyes, leaned against
the magnolia tree.
give years ago. he began, in cool
dreary tone, ''while travelling in Europe,
l met the woman who has ruined my life.
I can not tell you how she entangled me
in her meshes throwing the net around
me with consummate art and skill; suffice
it that she succeeded in her schemes, and
I was bound to her, body and soul, in
chains of CALLING iron. You cannot i'm
agine what nay life has been since then
until few months ago, when received
letter from foreign land, telling me
that she was dead and was free. Then
l met you, and our friendship grew and
ripened every hour, into something that
can never die. To-day, Jessie"-he
paused and clenched his hands feTcely
together ito day / received letter from
her-this woman-my wife-do you I'M
derstand telling me the report of her
death was mistake, and she is now on
her way to this country to join me. All,
God you cannot dream CT the agony that
has been mine since then! am wild
with anguish and despair; it seems as if
I should 60 mad or dle!" ~
He paused, and once more turned his
eyes toward me. The moonlight was
pallid on his face, and showed the dread
full suffering which was his. l did not
speak; had NO words; who could speak
at such time9 ." ~
"Jessie,'' he went Oh, brokenly, while
she--that woman--lives,I am fettered with
heavy chains. cannot appeal to the law
for my freedom, for, vile as she is, she OPP
crates within its pale, and justice cannet
reach her. There is no hope, Jessie,
none; We must bear our heavy burden as
patiently as possible, remembering that
life must end sometime" 49,
Then he drew me to him FOR moment
and gazed silently into my eyes. Nc
word passed his lips; he pressed my hand
convulsively to his heart, and, turning
went away through the moonlight.
All night | knelt at my window, with Ily
head upon the sill, in trance Of woe and
agony. When the morning came, arose
from my knees, and, throwing myself
upon the bed, slept from sheer
exhaustion. ~-,- 49,.
A few weeks later, in company with
my mother (she was all had in the
world, l started for Europe, l hoped
in other lands, and amid new and chang
r ing scenes, to find some surcease to my
J sorrow. Ibid not knew then how hare
it is to rid ones self of a haunting grief
J for sorrow follows, like gaunt spectre
whithersoever your footsteps tend; stalk
by your side, claims admittance to you
: heart, and will net leave you.
We were on the sea at last-the beauti
: full. smiling, treacherous sea, SO clam anC
blue and peaceful above, but with sucl
depths of woe and dispair within hi
bosom, when the white faces turn upwart
to the light, and the sea moss tangles il
the floating locks, and the coral insec
: builds where the mortal rest remains o
g those who go down to the sea in ships.
For the first day or so l was confined
: to my stateroom. very i'll and dreary ant
: hopeless. On the evening of the secont
+ day / came up on deck, determined I,
obtain breath of fresh air. Lying on I
t pile of rugs, with a book in my hand