Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-02-18


some great rock in the path. "Oh, why
was l born p she cried.
One evening she said to him, "You
are so seldom at home, that see moth
ing of you; you must be very busy"
He was putting on his great-coat to 60
out. He turned around, and look of
anguish came over his face. He made
movement with his arms as though he
would embrace her, but they dropped to
his side. He said goodnight" and
hurried away.
Far from his young wife be flies,
through the many winding streets. tow
ars the boulevards. He is sorely trou-
bled, and his handsome young face is
very cloudy. His life does not lie in a
path of roses. He sighs every now and
then, and peers into the mass of people
as though in search of some one final
ly he enters brilliantly lighted cafe
and glances around; he goes hurriedly
to small table where sits gentleman
alone, by whom, after a warm greeting,
he takes chair.
81 am sadly in need of friendly ad-
vice, Paul." he commences. "My funds
are low, and my last book having been
seized by the government, will, of course,
not bring me any profits. My wife's
fortune has gone in unlucky speculations
at the Bowrse must pay the sum of
5000 francs, and l haven't actually the
money to pay it. Debt stares me in the
face. The only thing left for such as l
is exile. Oh~God what shall do %
''Go to America" said his friend,
coolly, as he raised a glass of wine to
his lips; "you can remain there till it
has all blown over"
"But my wife !" cried Gustave, husk-
lily, 81 cannot take her p
"She will go, perhaps I"
"Oh no, she would never consent she
would 60 to her fathers. Oh, heavens p
he exclaimed, sit is a bitter hour for
me-"
"Take my advice, my friend" said
Paul, ''go home to your wife, and make
clean breast of the whole affair; tell
her your plans, and she will aid you"
"Oh no it would do no good" re-
piled Gustave, adding bitterly, 'you do
not know my wife
But after moments thought, he said,
with a careless recklessness, as his face
grew paler, 81 believe will go;" and
shaking hands with Paul, ere he had
time to reply, he was gone-gone out
once more into the darkness of the
streets, where the wind sang softly
around the corners, and the crowds went
swiftly by. He stood still gazing up
into the dreary blackness, and said, ve-
hemently. Il know what is best to do /;
I'll end all this with my life !" and
plunging off, in the opposite direction
from his house, he was engulfed in the
nights mist.
In the meantime his young wife threw
herself into chair, and pressing her
hands tightly to her head, cried: 81 do
not understand; l have failed to keep
him by my side he loathes me. Oh, l
wish that / was dead ~
o, Lucille Poor child, you wish
that you were dead, not knowing how
near death is; he is lowering about you
constantly You cried for death, and
far away God heard that cry and it is
answered, and the angels record it in
the Golden Book"
Thus she sat thinking of her husband.
Each moment she felt herself growing
weaker and weaker. All was silent in
the house. The clock of st. Augustine
: pealed out midnight. She arose and
paced up and down the room, wondering
why he did not come. Could it be pos.
sible that anything had happened How
could she live without him; he had
grown so dear to her? Did he still fee
J indiferently toward her? Oh, if she
, could but win his love! How had she
! failed =? Why did he not understand her
She had been told that she was beauti.
full. Did he think her plain =? The hall
, hour struck she moaned and said slow
: ly:
"He is always home by midnight. L
is strange he is so late tonight
She lighted her candle, and passed
into her bedroom, commencing slowly t.
: disrobe. Then. after unbraiding he
/. long, black hair, she laid down upon he
: bed, leaving the candle lighted. Sh,
tried to read novel, but could not; he
e thoughts wandered, the hero became he
e husband, the heroine herself. She count
S ed and recounted the figures on tn
n wall paper, and the little brass knob
f on the chairs. She went over and owe
e again the incidents of her childhood
u pleasant days-days that could neve
n come back to her; but try what sh
e might, there still lay in her bosom tn
a presentiment of some dreadful evil abou
: to happen. The very air seemed oppress
t. i've. The clock of the neighboring ca
d thedral struck sharply two, and as sh