Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-17

w III you Iilbs Inc sHli IltIeIl ,aIlu
she tried to smile.
miss you? Oh, my Cod"
1t was the cry of q man stricken by
y thunderbolt.
Like lightning the truth had come
home to both hearts, Of just what this
two months daily associates had
brought to them--the sweetest hours,
the most perfect joy, the greatest salts
faction, the most complete happiness
of two lives.
And now it must end, and for ever.
All light, all hope. all joy, seemed 10
go out of the world at the thought
81 want to say just one word to you p
said Helen, and her voice shook and
trembled. 81 want to bid you to be
strong, to be brave TO resist tenn ptation;
to be true, brave man in the future,
though we never meet again. shall
like TO think Of you always rs knew
you"
She rose up to go out of the room.
| He rose, too.
"For Gods sakew he cried-"for
Gods sake, do not let as part like this!
mast speak, Helen--I must tell you
what you have done for me. Before
you came | was miserably weak, and
completely under the control of my
fierce thirst for liquor at times. At all
times it troubled me. But you have
transformed me. don't know how,
but the old thirst has no power over
me; the old pleasures no allurements
since ! knew you. You have taken
hold of something in my nature that
never knew was there; you have
brought great strength, great good to
the surface, Helen. But the whole
tide Of my life Rms to You; all light
and JOY comes through you. | cannot
help it. ! cannot restrain il. When |
think that you are to 20 and leave me-
the whole world grows blank to me.
But no fear, no possibility of n relapse
to my old errors assails me; you have
taken that away. could no more
commit an act that seemed unworthy
in your sigh! than ! could crush out or
forget my~-God help me, Hclen--my
loW for you"
She put out her two hands with II
frightened gesture. Her face was
deathly pale; her whole form quivered.
ooh, hushl" she cried. you must
not speak SO. God help you-God
help both of us, Oscar 1t is time we
parted, if il has come to this"
"rimel Yes" he said "Therc ~
always--must always be-a time to die.
But we cling to life"
"lromise mech, promise metz she
cried, "thnt you will be true, tender
husband; chat you will never, by act or
word wound your wife, my dear friend :;
that you will guard her from all knowl-
edge Of what has come to you tonight.
If you should ever hurt, Oscar-if |
should know of your ever neglecting
her-l should feel perfect contempt for
you"
"And now he cried, -"oh,
Helen! we may never meet again--and
before God promise all you ask -
promise to be true To ever trust Of man
or husband; but LIT me hear you say
what is in your heart, Helen Just
once"
She looked up with dry hot eyes; she
came forward with swift movement
and stood near to him, but she did not
touch him
Yes" she said softly yet clearly
eyes, Oscar, | love you; ana now good
night, and good-by."
She glided from him, and went TO
herroom TO do her packing Agnes joined
her few moments latter and All hour
aitcrward she had left the house, with
kind cordial words of farewell from
( host and hostess and promise to write
soon
In the days and weeks that followed
life to Oscar Munroe was n strange ex-
altcd dream. lie WAS conscious Of be-
ing kind and assiduous to his wife
whose secret he now shnred-of per-
forming his tasks in sort of somnam-
hullc state Of feeling not the slightest
III the old pleasures, and beyond all,
Of n stoady pain and constant Joy
dwelling together, side by side, in his
heart
Helen was gone from him; Helen
loved hun. These two thoughts we're
never absent from his mind.
SO like dream was his life that he
did not see the grim presence that
lurked ut his threshold, waiting to
enter
You arc very pale, dear, hr said TO
Agnes; "do you fell ill?"
And Agnes answered NO, only
tired very tired Oscar.
You are too much,' lie answered
Let Us send for You mother
AS You please, Oscar" and the
mother came-cume to he alarmed and
disturbed Mt the pale fcc and spiritless
manner Of her naturally bright and
vivncious child
You are in III unnatural state
Agnes She said, and do not like
Your cough. Do you feel ill.,
And again Agnes answered, No
only tired very tired
Agnes needs change, said Oscar
70 lis wifc's mother "A think YOU had
better run of with her for II Few weeks
will join you every SUNDAY il vcu 4,
not 80 far
50 Agnes WAS taken down e. tho SCI
shore, and for three weeks roamet
about for new strength and ambition
Then She asked to 90 home Anl
lsh il MsA "a L II, hAt