Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-02

she had been to him from the day he
brought her to his home in her glrliSh
loneliness, how careful and fond; and
he had not always been loyal to her,
now said the watchful world, vet for her
sake gossip whispered 10 her votaries
the rumors that Louis AStonS life had
not been blamelesS, for tine forSaken
wife could not, even now, hear word
spoken against him.
Il would never trouble my head about
him again, said one; II would stop
mourning and let him go.
IL would get divorce and marry
again. said another.
HE was 4 scamp, anyway, and she
has plenty Of money and that dear lit
lie boy left, chimed third.
But to her they spoke gently always,
of her loss reverently, as of the dead,
for she was beloved Ivy all
] She stayed N the house where ne had
left her. The roses doomed by the
doorway almost unnoticed the vines
struggled unframed over the porch; the
garden lay neglected; the house was
quiet always, and the only happy thing
about it WAS baby Lou, who ate and
slept and laughed and grew cheerily
enough, yet seemed 10 wonder some
times why mamma wept when, half
forgotten ftce crossing his infantile
mind. he called for Papa"
SO the summer passed, and autumn,
with its softened sunshine, dying beau
ty, and weird melodies came, rounding
the year since Louis Aston left his
home.
A year! The pale woman, standing,
where he had kissed his pretty wife
good-by, looking so sadly unlike her for
mer self, asked her aching heart how
many long, long years like this ere
lifes hold must be loosed from earth,
and the years to come looked dreary IN
deed
Once dming the winter that followed
came Il too otlicious friend, who babe
her he comforted
81 have been where Louis was said
lie, "and learned al about the girl he
went away with. She is silly, heart
less creature, and people said there WAS
no doubt she would leave Mr.. Aston if
his health or money should fail. 1t
will he strange if he isn't 4 poor man
before many years so by. for he had be-
come very reckless with his property,
and then he will see how much his new
love cares for him. lie will receive his
due reward, and you will be revenged,
never fear
81 do not crave revenge, was the
only reply of the true-hearted wife. and
in the night watches, she sohbed on her
wakeful pillow, God have pity for him,
wherever lie is"
BY and by the child sickened, and
for time the mother forgot all else.
cts only a cold" the good neighbors
said hell be well in day or two"
But the little one grew no better. There
was brlel sharp struggle with the De
troyer. then the baby hands fell help
less down, and the sunny life was yield
ed.
She was alone-poor RoSalie Alston.
with only that sweet dead face and tiny,
cold form, and that beautiful pictured
face of the absent one-only these left
of her treasures. Yet not alone; for
nearer to the torn heart came the pres
ence of the Infinite sympathy and love;
over the weary, impatient spirit fell
/
wherein her baby was safe.
Its wonderful how she bears her
trouble said the doctors wife across
the way; "such frail little creature,
too"
Yes; I'm afraid sometimes she'll
not be long with us, though" replied
the next-door neighbor. "She does not
say anything about Mr.. Aston, but
doubt if there's ever moment when
he's out of her mind"
"You don't think she would forgive
him if he should come back? She has
too much spirit for that"
"She has spirit enough to be sure;but
hers is the true spirit. Size has the no
bility that forgives the deepest wrongs.
She's worth dozen like Lou Aston,
any day.
" Yes, he wrote the truth, surely,
when he said he was not worthy of
her"
But ] believe his desertion will
grieve her life away. She is no more
like the pretty rosy girl he brought here
than white violet is Ike rose" and
the tender-hearted woman wiped her
spectacles to take look over at the
tasteful dwelling Of the lonely sister
woman, for whom her kind heart ached
daily.
"Poor, lonesome child" she sighed"
"If Lou Aston THINKS he has found n
better love than hers, he is mistaken"
There was never an hour Of wakeful-
ness, in which she did not remember
him. Her soul never lost its longing
for him. And the springtime coming
again, with its beauty and music,
dropped none of the old-tine life and
Joy for her, from it. perfumed wings, as
it passed, for the snow Of chill despair
still lay over that year-old grave, where
her hearts fondest trust had been laid,
and on the turf over that little mound
in the village cemetery so precious to
Ter the grass had never been green.
81 must go away from here" she
thought, as the summer deepened. 81
must find work to do. am wasting
time and losing energies that might be
Of use TO others. must 20 away and
SEQ IL tho world has any Mace for mo Y