Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-11-11

But no one suspected Eleanor an
Herbert of being tbride and groom
Their honeymoon was one of polite
ness, never of tenderness. The
saw nature in it's grandeur and beau
ty, but sough thor found no restfu
feeling in its peace. In their eye
all nature seemed distorted into
mockery. To them the hues of sun
set were devouring flames, the peac,
of starry nights but treacherous calm
They looked upon the mighty Mag
ara and thought not of God, bu
turning their thoughts inward said
See how smooth and mirror. lik,
the water is before it falls, but lool
far down how it seethes and boils i,
agony
No happier for it all, they turned
home again, smiling at their misery
That was beautiful home to which
they returned; friends flooded then
with congratulations, the world, theil
world, pretended is be deceived, but
was not.
Bat so far at least the marriage
had not been failure. The objec,
for which it had been consumm ated
had been successfully accomplished
The investment of their joint fortunes
was left entirely with Herbert. Up
on his Judgment, the result of careful
investigation, their money was used
to purchase stock in an enterprise of
great promise. At the end OF three
months they received a dividend far
exceeding their expectations, at the
end of six months, another still lar.
ger. Thus they grew richer; but
let man or woman be ever so love.
less, the daily lite Of marriage can
never be life of business. 1t there
be neither love nor dislike then, with
refined natures, thoughtful courtesy
takes the place of affection. 1t was
so in their case. Surely Herbert
was thoughtful for her. If this had
been love match he could have
been no more regardful of her health
more anxious to give her pleasure.
She was at least his dearest friend,
and knowing that her life lacked that
without which the coolest womsu
must be wretched. he strove to
tighten her lot by unvarying kind.
ness. She appreciated this If he
was hard and worldly, SO was she.
They had been made so in the same
school. She could not blame him
for being what she herself was, and
was thankful to hun for the kindness
he substituted for love She was
equally thoughtful, equally kind to
him.
But they were unhappy. Hearts
cannot be ted with words or deeds.
Once he said to her:
'What strange lives we lead 80
little like other husbands and wives.
There is something desolste about
this house.
1t was the first time the silence
had been broken. Eleanor answered
hurriedly:
'We did not marry like others, why
should we live like others 2
The hardness of the reply shocked
him. She did not intend to wound
him, and added sweetly:
Yes, Herbert, l have not been as
unhappy as you may think. Your
uB wearied kindness has done much.
lie said nothing in return, but,
well pleased, smiled OH her. She
thought afterwards of that smile.
Herbert's birthday came a few
days after this. He had mentioned
the date to her casually and suppos-
ed she had forgotten it. Not 40 !;
that evening she greeted him more
warmly that was her wont. No
woman could have been more
charming than she, nor wished him
more charmingly many returns of
the day. All men Sf culture have a
literary hero; Herbert's literary hero
was Shakespeare. As she greeted
her husband, Eleanor placed beau
fully bound and illustrated volume of
the great poet in Herbert's hands.
His face flushed with pleasure. With
an impulse that for the moment
overcame him, he stopped and kissed
fher. Startled, with burning cheeks,
and eyes almost fearful, she looked
at him wonderingly, inquiringly. He
did not meet her gaze, and hastily
left the room.
That night was a revelation to
him. That heart of hearts, wherein
love dwells, beats once again. I'm.
suspected or UNDECIDED by himself,
an affection for his wife had Teen
growing for months. Now his love
for her, deep and strong as a great
river, flooded his soul. He could no,
escape that food, for it was his be.
ing.
Oh! what failure was the mar
riage new! 1t had promised to be a
life wreck, now fer him IL must be.
come a heart wreck. Now be mus,
play part, now must his life be dou.
bly hard. Still he must be kindly,
yet show no trace of tenderness in
his actions. He must conceal from
her the great love that had come to
him. Her life, already miserable
enough, would be made more so by
a knowledge of his love
4 ca nnever be more to her than
am now, he cried, 'and will save bel
the pain of plying me-
So the days and weeks wore OF
an1 she saw not the change 10 him
He played his part well, but it wa
hard-hard. There were times wher
at some kind word from her he iongeC
10 throw his arms around her ant
tell her all. But he was used. to re
strain himself, and the words wer,
left unsaid. He kept bis secret clos
and she saw notking in his kin,
words and deeds but the chivalry 0
gentleman.
Another three months went by
Herbert heard rnmors on the street
which started him. 1t was whisper
ed that the company in which bis an
Eleanor's money was invested, wa
in financial difficulty, and that th
usual quarterly dividends would no
be paid. The latter rumor was cor
irmed by announcement by the CON
psny. Herbert saw 81 impendin
I Al