Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-05-03

most perfect welded life. The young
merchant was The most attentive Of bus
bands, and Mrs. Aston lived in a
scarcely broken dream of happiness.
After four years came the tiny stranger
asking admi.tance to both hearts, and
then life seemed indeed complete to
pretty Rosalie Aston.
But when the little one could barely
utter his parental title, Mr.. Alston's
mien began to change. He ceased to
come from his work with the light
hearted smile bis wife had learned to
expect; he forgot sometimes to kiss the
baby boy, of whom he had been so
proud; and his manner constantly be-
trayed bitter anxiety.
al must go away, Rosa," he said at
last; "some one must go. or our firm
will be ruined, and who can go but me?"
So, for the first time since their bridal
day, they were separated, for he went
away hundreds of miles, and she stayed
at home with little Lou.
All the long winter months she had
waited, lonely, for his coming, and his
letters said often, :" | shall be with you
soon;" but he did not come. He wrote
sometimes of brilliant and unlooked-for
prosperity in his business, and of the
remarkable liveliness and cordially of
the society in which he found himself.
but she looked in vain for day named
for his return. At last came the terri
bic letter that told her how he had sin
ned and fallen, and that they might
never meet again.
And all the half-dozen years of their
happy welded life, she had been so sure
of his affection! Could it be that in
this stranger he had found the one true
love of his life? His picture hung on
the wall before her, looking down upon
her with the beautiful dark-blue eyes
she had loved to watch; and looking
there on that handsome face that was
bending now to an ignoble one, on that
shapely head so dishonored, she cried
out at last, and wept in her agony. And
thus they found her in her helpless woe,
and kindly hands and voices ministered
to her in the fearful hours that followed.
"Do you know" queried kind
hearted neighbor few days later, ''do
you know what's the matter with Mrs.
Alston?"
"She is suffering under severe nerv-
Gus prostration," answered the Doctors
wife, who lived across the way, land
they fear something worse. Joseph
was called to see her last night. MIR.
Aston has eloped with young lady
of -"
ssDear, dear! what won't men do?
DIT sbo,1I ,,a1-a,. how, ,bnprbt tho. Of
Mr.. Aston, he always seemed to care so
much for his wife. How does she speak
OF himp-poor little woman!"
"She does not talk of him. She told
Mrs. Lynde that she had rather see him
dead than have him living so dishonor-
ed; that is all have heard"
'sPoor little woman! I'm so sur
prised l can hardly think at all. How
could he leave the child? But l must
go right over and see if there is any thing
l can do for her."
Poor Rosalie Aston was not left to
feel any lack of friends in her worse
than widowhood. Few who knew her
failed to offer sympathy and help. There
were none who didn't censure Louis Al
ston's heartless conduct. 1t was re-
membered how tender and true she had
been to him from the day he brought
her to his home in her girlish loneliness,
how careful and fond; and he had not
always been loyal to her, now said the
watcbful world; yet for her sake Gossip
whispered TO her votsries the rumors
that Louis Alston's life had not been
blameless, for the forsaken wife could
not, even now, hear word spoken
against him.
81 would nevertrouble my head about
him again." said one; al would stop
mourning, and let him GO"
81 would get a divorce, and marry
again." said another.
"He was scamp, any way, and she
has plenty of money and that dear little
IL. II. IL II