Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-02
HIS TRUE LOVE.
ny LIZZIE l., SHAW,

shall leave property enough 10 support
YOU and the child, for you have been
dear to me, but | never was worthy Of
YOU; and now YOU must forget me.
have tried III vain to conquer my love
for Florence Abernethy. My passion
for her is the one true love of my life
time. | cannot give her up and we are
going away together.
The little white-faced woman, hold
ing with trembling hands the botted
paper, read again the cruel letter from
her idolized husband, declaring his love
himself from his family for that others
sake. 1t had come hours before; she
had read it over and over, and still she
sat there pallid, weak, not half compre-
hending yet the trouble that had come
upon her, conscious only that her
hearts trust and love had been be-
trayed, that she had lost the presence
dearest to her on earth. The spring
sunshine, finding its way through
among her callas and geraniums, lay
warm across the handsome carpet, her
birds caroled lightly i'll their dainty
cage, her baby boy slept soundly III his
crib, and outside we're all the sweet,
soft odors of springs buds and blossoms,
and its countless hymns of gladness,
while she sat there in her dumb misery,
questioning if this were all true, If she
had lived to know her idol false and
base, and her life's JOY forever vanish
cd, or if she were only i'll the mazes of
atevered, delirious dream.
She was one of those golden-haired,
exquisitely pretty little women, who
seem sent into the word expressly for
men to take care of, one who needed to
be loved aud cared for always, and
hitherto she had known no lack of ten
dercst devotion and affection. Six
years before Louis Aston had taken
her from the luxurious home of her
childhood, where she had known sor-
row but by name, to his own elegant
residence, just finished and furnished
for his bride, and from their brief, bliss
full courtship, they had entered ON what
appeared an almost perfect welded
life. The young merchant was the
most attentive Of husbands, and Mrs.
Aston lived in scarcely broken dream
of happiness. After four years came
the tiny stranger asking admittance to
both hearts, and then life seemed in
deed 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 hghtneart-
ed smile his wife mad learned to expect;
he forgot sometimes to kiss the bal Y
boy of whom he had been so proud;
and his manner constantly betrayed a
bitter anxiety.
81 must go away, Rosa" he said at
last; some one must 60, or our firm
will be ruined. and who can 60 but me. !"
SO, for the first time since their bridal
day, they were separated, for he wen
away hundreds of miles and she stayed
ut home with little Lou.
All the long winter months she had
waited, lonely, for his coming, and his
letters said often, 81 shall be with you
soon;' but he did not come. lie wrote
sometimes Of brilliant and unlocked
for prosperity in his business, and of
the remarkable liyellness and cordiality
Of the society in which he found him
self hut she looked in vain for a day
named for his return. AT last came the
terrible letter that told her how he had
sinned aud 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 III
this stranger he had found the zone
true love" of his lif,2 His picture
hung on the wall before her, looking
down upon her with the beautiful, dark
blue ewes 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 dshonored,
she cried out at last, and wept in her
agony. And thus they found her in
her helpless woe, and kindly hands and
voices mlnstered to her in the fearful
hours that followed
"Do YOU know" queried kind
hearted neighbor, q few days later; "do
YOU know what's the matter with Mrs.
Aston?'
"She is suffering under severe nervous
prostration," answered the doctors
wife. who lived across the way, "and
they fear something worse. Joseph was
called to see her last night. Mr..
Aston has eloped with young lady
Of --"
"Dear, dear! what won't men do?
But should never have thought that
Of Mr.. Aston, he always seemed to
care so much for bis wife. How does
She speak of him?-poor little woman.
"She does not talk of him. Sue told
Mrs. Lynde that she had rather see him
dead than have him living 20 dishonor-
ed that i all have heard.
Poor little woman? I'm Sc surprised
| can hardly think at all. How could
he leave the child? But must 60 right
over and see if there is anything ! can
do for her.
Poor Resale Aston was not left to
feel any lack Of friends III ner worse
than widowhood. Few who knew her
failed - cffer sympathy and help.
There we're none who did not ceasure
Louis Alston's heartless conduct Il
was remembered row tender aud true