Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-02
HIS WIFE.
twice Welded. Once Mated.

It was a glorious moonlight; such
moonlights as one sees only in the South
the sky 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 un-
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
widespreaaing 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
grasped mine-grasped them with the
desperate eagerness Of despair.
s.Jessie," he said, at length, breaking
the silence that lay between us two, 81 am
going away to morrow"
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. It
had been like beautiful idyl, and, like
all such episodes, had to end some time.
But it was hard lesson that l had learn
cd in the interim. I knew that during
those few short weeks l had learned to
love John Vandeleur; and knew also,
by look and tone, and the caressing man
ncr, 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. I 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 me, and 10,
God, love you sol And yet l am going
to break your heart. This summer has
'bcen dream of heaven to me; wild
hashcesh dream, in which such wretches
az ought never be permitted to indulge.
All, we'll, it is over now! Jessie, say that
you love me-oncc- ust once"'
I locked into his dark, sad eyes. Il
do,'' answered, firmly. Ay, come what
might, that was true and earnest and un-
zltcrablc. He threw both arms around
nc, and, drawing me closer to him,
pressed one kiss upon my lips. No one
else has ever kissed them, no one else
ever shall.
"Can you bear to hear my story to-
nights'' he asked. as l looscncd the cling
ing arms, and stood before him, trying
hard to calm the wild, tumultuous throb-
hing of my heart. Because" he contin-
ued, you must know it; and I, shall go
away Tomorrow"
Il can bear it," My voice sounded fa1
away, and faint. He pushed the dark
hair from his forehead, and, turning his
face away from my eyes, leaned against
the magnolia tree.
Five years ago. he began, in cool
drcary tone, ''while travelling in Europe,
met the woman who has ruined my life.
I can not tell you how she entangled me
in her meshes, throwing the net around
it that she succeeded in her schemes, and
I was bound to her, pody and soul, in
chains Of CALLING iron. You cannot i'm
agine what my life has been since then
until few months ago, when received
a letter from foreign land, telling me
that she was dead and I was free. Then
| met you, and our friendship grew and
ripened every hour into something that
can never die. To-day, JESSIE
paused and clenched his hands fercely
together to-day | received a letter from
her-this woman-my wife--do you I'M
derstand?- telling me the report Of her
death was a 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! l am wild
with anguish and despair; it seems as if
I should go mad or dle!"
He paused, and once more turned his
eyes toward me. The moonlight was
palsid On his face, and showed the dread
full suffering which was his. l did not
speak; had no words; who could speak
at such time?
"Jessie,' ne went on, brokenly, swhile
She that woman lives, I am fettered with
heavy chains. cannot appeal to the law
for my freedom, for, vile as she is, she op-
crates within its pale, and justice cannot
reach her. There is no hope, Jessie,
none; we must bear our heavy burden as
patiently as possible, remembering that
life must end sometime"
Then he drew me to him for moment
and gazed silently into my eyes. No
word passed his lips; he pressed my hand
>convulsively to his heart, and, turning,
went away through the moonlight.
All night I knelt at my window, with my
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.
A few weeks later, in company with
my mother (she was all I had in the
worldly, started for Europe. l hoped
in other lands, and amid new and chang.
ing scenes, to find some surcease to my
sorrow. did not know then how HARD
at is to rid one's self of haunting grief
for sorrow follows, like a gaunt spectre
whithersoever your footsteps tend; stalk:
by your side, claims admittance to youl
heart, and will not leave you,
We were on the sea at last-the beauti
full. smiling, treacherous sea, 50 clam anc
blue and peaceful above, but with suct
depths of woe and despair within hi
bosom, when the white faces turn upward
to the light, and the sea moss tangles il
u l-s