Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-06-26
FOR HER LOVES SAKE.
BY ELLEN MAY.

Gordon Delmalne, the widow of the
great iron merchant, who kindly
left her something over half q mil.
lion dollars to console her for hi
loss, He was sixty. eight when BIZ
died and his wife twenty-five, ant
yet it had been happy four years
they had spent together, and tht
petted wife made a truly mourning
widow But she was young, beau
tifol and accomplished, and after
three years of seclusion it was MOI
unnatural or mOnstrous that she en-
tered society again with full ap'
probation of all its pleasures, and 6
brilliancy of beauty only heighten
ed by three years spent at hel
county seat on the Hudson in quief
retirement, with only such amuse
ments as was afforded by riding
driving, walking outdoors, and hel
piano, library and work basket il
the house.
was her companion, her salarie(
friend, who gave propristy to bel
continuing to reside in her old home
l was past Fifty years old, without
money or friends, and many year
widowed, but Lois Domaine tool
me into her warm, loving heart ant
my life was one of unaiioyed happi
ness, until her three years of wild
owhood completed, Mrs. Delmain,
returned to society.
Then / trembled for her happi.
ness. / knew from her many con
fidential talks, that her affection fol
her husband had been more like
that of child for a father, thar
that perfect sympathy and tast,
that makes the ideal married lif,
seldom, alas, realized.
Yet she was the most loving wo
man | ever knew, overlooking witt
affection for all who came within
the circle of her friendship. She
was the most thoughtful mistress tc
all her servants, true friend in
any trouble. She was a generous
tender friend in social circles and
full of noble impulse to help in all
works OF charity. think the
wogds perfectly womanly describe
Der best, for there were the ele.
nents of a heroine in her had they
ever been called forth; she was es-
sentially feminine 10 all her daily
habits, her gentle manner and her
sweet voice habilual to her.
The first winter in New York
was o round of gayety, and my
poor head was fairly dazed with the
constant succession of pleasure par.
ties. Popular in her own circle,
with large wealth at her com.
mand Lois Delmaine was at once
the cynosnre of all eyes, belle by
right OF her amiability and many
accomplishments as we'll as by Der
beauty, at once brilliant and win.
ming. Balls succeeded parties, con-
cert followed opera, morning recep.
tions were varied by high teas, till
|, for one, was glad when June
came and We all fitted back to our
country home.
But there were changes there too.
Every long closed bedroom had
beed put in habitable ordor, the
stable made ready for those who
brought their own horses, new SER
wants engaged. and 'open house"
the order of the day. No less than
twenty guests at time made the
house and lawn bright. and there
was constant change of visitors,
one going and another coming.
1t needed just such quick and low
ing eyes as mine to find out that
there was one, more than another,
favorite with the hostess; bat /
knew that DR.. Graham's step was
the one that called the color to her
cheeks, the smio to her lips while
yet he was 800 far away to know
his coming was expected.
His mother was a cousin of Cor
don Delmaine's, little lady Of a.
most Quaker.like simplicity of dress
but one Lois delighted to honor.
She had visited US before this gay
summer, and Lois was careful of
her comfort and tenderly loving in
her manner. But Herbert" was
but q name to us in those days. We
knew that he hal attained some
eminence IN his profession. and
was travelling with an invalid I'M
Gle in Europe. We saw some ex-
tracts OF his letters and were con-
Vinced that "my boy" az his mother
fondly, called him, was worthy of
the devoted love she gave him. In
every line of his many letters could
be read the proof of cultivated in
tellect and noble nature.
But he never came to us until the
summer of which l am writing.
Mrs. Graham was visiting Lois
when her son returned from Europe
aud Lois insisted upon bis being in
vited to come directly to Us.
! "You promised me three months,
Aunt Mary" said she to the old la
dy, ''and l am not to be defrauded
in this way. There is a lovely
room just across the hall from your
own that is yawning with vacancy,
and that shall be D.. Graham's."
So our new guest came, and won
attention from the first by his total
want of resemblance to the fashion.
able men who had found time to
accompany wives, sisters or moth
ers in their visits to Mrs. Delmaine.
They were devoted to eroeuet,
wsltzlng flirting, singing and small
talk. DR.. Graham gave one the i'm
preston of towering over them all.
He was q noble-looking man, tall,
we'll proportional and dignifed,
with o strong face, broad Of brow
and we'll featured. With this CON-
manding presence, he was one who
Was earnest of purpose, giving his
heart to his profession, and, while
he could talk small talk, dance or
play croqust.he evidently consider
ed social duties merely as amuse.
ments set far away from hfe's reali.
ties. You imagined as was the
case with many Others, that he was
giving his whole soul to frivolIties.