The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-04-23

be ready to return to you as soon as you
are able to provide for me, but for the
present we must part. My brother tells
will end in nothing, and that you are not
worth dollar to-day, and it is not likely
you ever will be-
''And if that is SO, it would seem that
you are leaving me with the expectation
OF returning no more"
"That must depend, Mr.. Bondurant.
said the wife, steeling herself to cold
and firm look, ION the possible contin-
gency, at some future time of
your being able to provide for
me in a comfortable way, which, am
sorry to say, does not now apper very
probable. /"
''Then good-by forever |" said the hus-
rising and Withdrawing from the room,
without ticking any further notice of his
wife; nor did he even look back.
The marriage, as legal relation, re-
manned undisturbed. The husband and
wife, when meeting occasionally on the
street or elsewhere, bestowed upon each
other a bow of civil recognition, but
without exchanging word.
In this way eight years had passed.
At the end of five years Mrs. Bondurant's
family, including that devoted brother,
had been both unable and unwilling to
do anything more for her, and for the
last three years she had been supporting
herself by performing the duties of Sec
retary for an insurance company. Why
that situation had been given to her just
at time when she had no other means
of support, and at a salary much larger
than she had expected to receive, was q
mystery about which she had her own
private suspicious.
It was a cold morning in mid-winter,
and the sidewalks were covered with ice.
Mrs. Bondurant, on her way to her
Office, had just passed the manly form of
one whom she had never ceased to ad-
mire-yes, love, for his image had al
ways remained in her heart. Every pho
tograph, piece of jewelry, or other
memento that he had left with her had
been looked at and handled again and
again, and some of these articles she had
often bathed with her tears.
On passing him this time she had re-
ceived the usual look and bow, and
nothing more. The poor woman could
not, however, refrain from casting look
back for an instant to catch glimpse of
his receding form, and while she was do
so the treacherous ice, as if intending
some mischief, permitted her to fall sud-
denly and at full length.
''Are you hurt, my dear ?" were the
first words she heard, and her quick,
spontaneous answer was:
"Not much. hope, darling husband!'
And as he lifted her into the carriage he
had hailed and took seat by her side,
with his arm around her, she added !,
'How glad am that you were there to
assist me"
eyes, dear, that was slippery path, y
he said softly.
(Which I hope I may never pass over
againr' murmured the wife, earnestly.
ST gained that suit" said the hus-
band, as the carriage was taking them
to his home, which could now be hers
also.
Eyes, dear, knew you gained it, and
was so glad! I have saved more than
half my salary the last three years. You
know, and so do I, that most of that
salary has come from you"
The long embrace and fond kiss which
each received and returned was mutual
assurance that through their long separa-
ton their hearts had become united
more firmly than ever.
cit was all NY all my fault" was
what the repentant and now happy wife
wanted and endeavored to say, but she
was stopped every time.
''No, no, my dear!" her husband
would answer. sThese self-reproaches,
coming from you, are painful to me.
The past has done it's work in it's own
way, and now let us remember the les
sons it has taught us, and forget thesor-
rows through which those lessons have
been 1earned!''