The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-09-24
'efore, or 60 rigid yet SO determin-

ed
"Who are you!" ho demanded wildly.
Why can not you leave me alone in
peaeef''
at is l, Gerald-your Madeline--vour
own little wife,
And l caught from his hand the pistol
he was striving to conceal in his breast
its mate lay on the marble hearth, un-
der the maatel--and flung it out of the
windov.
/" Gerald, would you have left me .
" would have escaped !" he cried still
half delirious, to all appearances. "Debi
-disgrace-misery reproaches All
| should have escaped y
His head fell like that of weary child
on my shoulder. / drew him gently to
a sofa, and smoothed him with a thou
sand murmured words, thousand mute
caresses' FOR had IL azt been altorcthel
my fault ~"
And through all the long weeks that
followed, nursed him with unwavering
care and devotion. | had but one
thong t--one desire--to redeem myself
in his estimation; to prove to him that
was something more an higher than the
mere butterfly of fashion | had hitherto
showed myself.
Well the March winds had howled
themselves away in their mountain fast.
ness; the brilliant April rain drops were
dried on bough and spray; and now the
apple blossoms were tossing their fra.
grant pillows of pinky bloom in the deep
blue air of latter May.
Where are we now?
1t was picturesque little villa, not far
out of London, furnished very much like
a magnitied playhouse. Gerald sat in q
cushioned easy chair in the garden. Just
where he could glance through the open
window at me, working busily with my
needle.
"What an Industrious fairy it is" he
said, smiling sadly.
"Well, you see like it! It's a grea,
deal better than those sonatas on the
piano y
"Wh no would have thought that you
would make so notable little house.
keeperT
laughed gleefulIy; had all child's
delight in being praised.
care you goingto Miss Delancey's Gro.
quet party p he asked.
mo; what do | care for croquet par.
ties l am going to finish your shirts
and you'll read aloud to me-
Madeline, | want you to answer me
one question:
What is it?"
"What have you done with your dia
monds p
81 sold them long sgo they paid sew
eral heavy bills, besides settling half I
years rent here"
v,, nB 9gttsM,h adsdliae Won we're so proud 9
was once; now they would he Tho
bitterest reproach my eyes could meet
oh, Gerald, had l been less vain, and
thoughtless, and extravagant-'
checked myself, and robin, singing
in the perfumed depths of apple-blos
SONS, took the dropped current Of
sound.
That's right, little red breast," said
my husband, halfjokingly, "talk bel
down! she has forgotten that our past is
dead and gone, and that we have turned
over new leaf in the book of exis
tence! Madeline, do you know how
feel some times, when | look al
your"
"No"
"Well, l feel like a widower who has
married again =
Like ia widower who has married
again, Gerald
eyes, can remember my first wifi
"A brilliant, thoughtless child, without
any idea beyond the qualification pres
ent whms-a spoiled plaything? Well
that little Madeline has vanished away
into the past some where and in her steat
| behold my second wite--a thoughtful
tender woman, whose watchful love sur
rounds me like an atmosphere, whos'
charter grows more noble, and DEVELOPS
itself into new depths and beauty every
day!'
was kneeling at his side, now, will
my cheek upon his arm, and my eyes
looking into his.
"And which do you like best, Gerald
the first or second wife r
81 think the trials and vicisitude,
through which We have passed are wei
come indeed, since they have brough
me, as their harvest fruits, the seeont
wife,
This was what Gerald answered me
the sweetest words that ever fell upol