The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-18

MY HUSBANDS SECOND WIFE.

/ looked down complacently at my
dress of pink crepe, dew-dropped over
with crystal, and the trails of pink aza-
leas that caught up its fold here and there.
A diamond bracelet encircled one round
white arm, and little cross blazed fit
fully at my throat. | had never looked
better, and I felt a sort of girlish pride
as my eye met the fairy reflection in the
mirror.
"Come, Gerald, make hastel Why,
you haven't begun to dress yet!'
Where were my wifely instincts, that
| did not see the haggard, drawn look in
in his features-the fevered light in his
eyes?
81 can't go tonight, Madeline-I am
not we'll enough"
"You are never well enough to oblige
me, Gerald. | am tired of being put off
with such excuses"
He made no answer, but dropped his
head in his hands, on the table before
him.
ooh, come, Gerald" urged, petulant-
ly; cit is so awkward to 60 alone al
waysW
He shook his head listlessly. .#..
II thought, perhaps, you would be
willing to remain at home with me, Mad
cline"
"Men are so SELFISH" l said, plaintive-
"; "and am all dressed. Claudia took
half an hour for my hair. I dare say you
will be quieter without me-that is you
are determined not to CO."
No answer again.
swell, if you choose to be sullen |
can't help it." said, lightly, as l turned
and went out of the room, adjusting nv
bouquet-holder, the tuberose and hello
tropes seeming to distill incense at every
motion.
Was l heartless and cruel? Had |
ceased to love my husband? From the
bottom of my heart | believed that l had
loved him as truly and as tenderly as
ever wife did; but | had been spoiled and
petted all my brief, selfish life. that the
better instincts were, so as to speak, en-
tombed alive.
went to the party, and had my fill of
adulation and homage, as usual. The
hours seemed to glide away, shod with
roses, and winged with music and per-
fume and it was not until, wearied with
dancing. sought momentary refuge in
the half-lighted tea-room, that | heard
Weakening me, as it were, from dream.
"Gerald GlenW
| could not well be mistaken in the
unornnlx, >1nn
enough for that. They were talking
two or three misunderstanding gentle
men--in the hall without and | could
catch now and then, fugitive word or
phra'e.
Fine enterprising young fellowW
"Great pity!" Totally ruined; 80 Bees
and McMorken say" ''Reckless extrav-
agance OF his wifcY'
All these fragments l heard, and then
some one said:
"And what is he going to do nowT
"What can he do? Poor fellow? am
sorry; but he should have calculated his
income and his expense better"
COR his wife should. Oh, these women!
they are at the bottom of all mans
troubles" .--.-- --,-----~~,.. .-.
And they laughed Oh, how could
they? 1 had yet to learn how easy it is,
in this world, to bear other people,
troubles. ..,
I rose hurriedly up, with my heart
oeating tumultuously beneath the pink
azaleas, and went back to the lighted sa-
loon. Mr.. Albany Moore was waiting to
claim my hand for the next dance.
care you ill, Mrs. Glen? How pale
you lookv'
"T-I am not very we'll. wish you
would have my carriage called, Mr..
Moore"
For now felt that home was the
proper place for me!
Hurried by some unaccountable i'm
pulse, sprang out the moment the car
riage wheels touched the curbstone, and
rushed up to my husbands room. The
door was locked, but could see light
shining family under the threshold. !
knocked wildly and persistently.
"Gerald, dear Gerald! for heavens
sake, let me inv'
Something fell on the marble hearth
stone within, making metallic clink, and
my husband opened the door little way.
had never seen him look so pale before,
or so rigid, yet SO determined.
"Who are your he demanded, wildly.
"Why can not you leave me in peace%'
"Its I, Gerald-your Madeline
own little wife"
And | caught from his hand the pistol
ne was striving to conceal in his breast
it's mate lay on the marble hearth
under the mantel-and flung it out Of
the window.
"Gerald! would you have left meT'
II would have escapedr' he cried, still
half delirious, to all appearances. "Deb'
-disgrace-nlisery-her reproaches! ]
would have escaped them alp
His head fell, like that Of a weary
child, on my shoulder. I drew him gent
ly to a sofa, and soothed him with ,
thousand murmured words-a thousant
mute caressesl For, had it not been m,
fault?
And through all the long weeks Of fea
that followed, | nursed him with un