Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1881-01-06
aAm I Irksomo to youP, She asked, the

least bit sensitively.
/" Not exactly"
Her soft hand tOyed with my locks and her
warm breath Caressed my cheek. felt that
my wisdom was rapidly expiring. Again
collected myself and assumed an air OF cold
ness.
lone kiss, only one, and will go" she
8EOnsonse, Paulinel I have no time for
kissing"
| YeX your
" Exceedingly"
A sigh scarcely audible escaped her lips,
and she left the room.
For this morning at least had destroyed
her cheerfulness. il was the first cloud In
our matrimonial sky.
Years have passed, and / became con-
stantly less capable Of cOmprehending now
could have so persistently undermined the
foundation of my peace and happiness, IN.
stead of building thereon life's content
ment. The next six months were period
of misery to me, and without doubt also for
Pauline; for she became pale and thin ana
lost all her spirits, My plan had succeeded
excellently we'll; she had learned to doubt
nv affection for her. That was revealed to
me occasionally by her stealthy, wistful
glanees and the manner in which she began
! to occupy herself with FidO-as if she now
| relied alone upon his love and faithtulness.
| But L was too proud TO admit my wrong,
even to myself, and daily widened the
breach.
Then the dog began to grow sickly; he had
grown oda feeble. She abandoned her
| work and devoted the time taken from her
labor to the dumb brute. When life was
extinct, she bent over him, burst into tears,
kissed the white spot on his forehead, and
then closed eyes which, even in death,
seemed to regard her with affection.
| Great as was her grief, she sought no con-
dolence from me. She provided for the
burial of FidO, who was Inferred by the gar
dener close under the window of our study.
She would frequently tarry by the little
mound, at which times gloomy reflections
seemed to agitate her soul NOW stlll,
while sitting at her desk, she often gazes
pensively toward the quiet spot. She is true
to him beyond the grave, because he had re-
NAMED true to her.
The year SO auspiciously begun was ap-
preaching its end, when one morning was
amazed to hear Pauline singing merrilly; 1t
was the first time since FidO's death. Soon
thereafter | heard her coming toward my
room, and / at once affected pre-occupa-
tion.
1t was beautiful morning, and her en-
trance seemed to usher in happy sunlight
Her face, too, beamed with that serenly
which it had in her girlhoOd. --..
"What is itw / asked, looking up from
my work.
She placed lovely little nosegay OF vio--
lets, tied with blue ribbon, before me, and
said: "See, George, these are the hrst Vlo-
let's of our garden. have something else IN
petto, but of that hereafter"
And she stopped over me, placed her
hand lightly upon my shoulder ana Kissed
me. It was the first exhibition oT rondness
she had voluntarily rendered me these many
days. I contemplated her in surprise and
said:
"You appear to be in an unusually happy
4. humor to-day, Pauline" =,
TtItis somebody's birthday to-day" she
reioined, as she sat upon my knee and gazed
into nv ewes. "May heaven grant that some
one many happy returns OF the day, and
and" she paused for moment, then con-
tinued in voice whose quiverlng was not
. easily concealed--"if during the past six
months all has not been between us as 1t
should have been, let us forget 1t all from
this day forth"
Silently she encirced me with her arms
and her head sunk upon my bosom. How
would it have been possible to remain in
sensible thereatP kissing her silken hair, l
said that would gladly forget it'all Gas If l
had ANYTHING to forget but nay own culpal-
bilityllwhereupOn she raised her eyes, smll-
ing blssfully, and thought, in sober truth'
that was very magnanlmous 10 her. 4.
''New, George, we will begin anew TO-
u@HF As YOU wish, my child" And at once
she proceeded, in her old way, to daily with
Shall meet with credence when say that
hardly had my wife been gone five minutes
before began to fancy that had let her
see too freely the influence she possessed
over me? For months& had practlced Ghe
art of appearing tranquil and Indifferent,
vet the first smile or kiss had proved sur
icient to oyerpower me. She had harrassed
me- insufferabIy the last six months--as put
II to myself; therefor to grant her at once a
full pardon seemed to me at least matter
for consideration. So, when she returned she
found me absorbed in my documents.
UOne moment, if you pleaseW she cried,
taking the pen from my hand and holding it
above my head. 81 have a present for you
will you have itN
me-" H.a
@Then beg for it,"
said nothing, and seized another pen.
That disconnected her.
1Don't you--want itr she asked timidly.
t"There was once a saint, named Francis
de Sales, y / began to sermonize, ''Who was
wont to say that one should never ask for
nor refuse anything"
"You are no saint, and it was I that spoke
to YOU. Will you accept my little gittE
Say yes-if it be only to please-to make
me still happier on this day than 1 already
am" -,
WDon't be so childish, PaulineW
ttIt is childish, know it; but do me this
favor. Georgie. 1t is so little that | ask, and
vet it would make me so very happyW
al shall never decline what you oter me-
But be good enough not to disturb me any
longer" ,,,..
Scarcely had these words escaped my lips
when the present, an eXquistely Ornamented
bronze inkstand, in the shape of Cupid,
Ilav at nv feet. Pauline turned away, eXas-
nerated and hurt. picked up the pieces
"How you stoop to get hlmT she asked
sarcastically
"Upon my word, you are the most unrea-
sonable creature in the WOrldW l exclaimed.
''Fortunately the little loYe-god may be
eyes. but wounds will leave scars. o.,
Georgie I" she continued, reproachfully, cast
ING herself down before my, chair, ''Why do
YOU temptme thus? DOyOu really, truly love
/ me?1
"Paulinel" / said, impatiently, edo stand
M; this is getting tiresOme."
She did so, but deathly pallor mantIed
a will go: yet one question before. Dc
Won love me, GeorgieW tue.,
I was d little fretful and very headstrongi
that was all. But did she mean to threaten