Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-09-26

ai''A' "'~ s~9'
time
We'll, tell it to me-"
Il know how can bring back the
roses to your cheeks. and make OF you
your own old cheerful self.
That is an impossibility, said Mel
lie "but go on and tell Inc.
II am going to take You With me to
see my cousins family, who live on q
plantation on the Ohio, in Kentucky;
the place is JUS; grand, with its great
fields and woodland and old mansion.
They have everything beautiful about
them that one can think OF, even to four
beautiful daughters, and q comely wife
10 do the honors of the house."
III 60 TO please you, said Nellie.
lone place is very much like another
to me-"
They went. and Nellie had not been
there q week before she felt interested
in the household and place. In few
more, her laugh would ring out at tines
as merrily as ever, and she began to
confess 10 herself that the old wound
was healing.
"Oh, auntie," she would say, some
times, isn't it glorious to be free from
pain? If 1 am never happy again, at
least shall not suffer any more"
So she rode with her cousins, and
sang and played with them, and, ere
| the summer was over, would accept the
company, now and then, of young
physician from neighboring city.
And before she left for her northern
home she had found in this parsonage
her prince, whom she accepted, and
then told her little secret. She also
confessed to Edward Rorke, her lover,
that although she would try to be low
ing and dutiful wife to him, che could
not love him as at one time she had
loved Charlie Ellsworth. But Mr..
| Rorke seemed satisfied and radiantly
happy.
So Nellie went home to prepare for
her nuptials. She would have gone
with heavier heart had she known
that Mr.. Rorke had heard through her
lawyer of the part she was assuming,
and had followed her up to secure the
prize.
Well. at mid-winter they were mar
ried. Nellie, with her love of domestic
| life, would have been a contented, COM
paratively happy wife, had the husband
been half as devoted as was the lover.
But the honeymoon was scarcely over
before his affection was changed to al
most hatred. Her resolution to be q
dutiful wife seemed to be only strength
ened by this change on his part. No
capricious nor selfish harshness on his
part was ever rebuked by her.
cat least" she would say to herself,
"he loved me at one time. have
proven that and now can bear ALL"
But there came time, ere they had
been man and wife year, when he so
far forgot himself that he told her the
| truth !; that he had known her secret,
had never cared for her, never would
care for her. And then she gave him
up.
The sacrifice seemed now very small
to her, even though in giving him up
she gave up the greater part of her
property. For, in her early married
days, she had, to show how entire her
trust was in her husband, made over
the greater part of her wealth to him.
He has sold his soul for gold," she
said che shall enjoy the reward in
peace" She would never trouble him
again he could go on his way /; she
would go hers.
So, with enough left to maintain her
comfortably, Nellie went to pleasant
little country town, and lived the life
| of q recluse. A recluse at twenty ;
bearing burdens that life of four.score
ought not to have gathered.
Two years passed away. Nellie be.
came used to her lonely life, scarcely
realizing her situation or circumstances
until an event, trifing in itself, sud.
denly gave her shock that reused her
from the lethargic sleep into which she
had fallen.
We call, some one says, this recogni-
ton of facts turning-point in our
lives.
The little event was this +: A noted
lawyer had been sent for by some par
ties of the little town to attend to some
legal business. The stranger passed
her door on the way to his hotel, and
Nellie recognized in him her old friend,
Charlie Ellsworth. At sight of him,
all the old, slumbering passion she had
held for this man took possession of
her.
"And yet, since saw him." she said
81 have been wife. Have been
God forgive me, I am now!"
An unloved wife, whose heart is beat
ing in unison with another, who in o
crowd can only see the face of one,
who listens patiently for the footsteps
she has learned to know, not at her cwn
door, but on the street, or in lecture
hall, or even in church. aisle, who
feels the touch of his hand for days
after it has been given only in friendly
greeting, who marks the very books
she reads with reference to him alone,
has need to pray, not only "Forgive
me" but God help me-"
Nellie felt, before many days had
passed, that her position was bitter
one.
He is going tomorrow, and am
thankful" said Nellie, as she watched
him coming up the walk toward the
house for he had often called on them
during his weeks stay.
Il have come to tell you some news
that l ought to have spoken to you of
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