River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-08-11

human sympathy"
you may"
'And you will not think less of me
because | have sinned and sutfered?'
81 will not"
Give years ago-nay, must begin
further back. Ten years ago | knew
and loved young girl. She was low
ing child, tender-hearted, and winning.
She won my heart ere l knew it, and
asked her to be my wife. She consent
ed; and when we parted, hung round
my neck and wept so bitterly that |
found it very hard to leave her. |
went back to Germany, and afterward
carried with me all over the continent
the memory of that beautiful face, and
more than it, this memory of the gen.
tie, loving heart. l returned five years
la Ter, to lind cold-hearted, naughty
woman, who repealed my tenderness,
and threw back upon my aching heart
the love | would have felt for her if she
had but been tender and patient. But
/ must be iust-I found the lady so
changed in her personal appearance
that | did not know her at first, and
doubtless my manners seemed cold to
her, for | was mourning for my beauti-
full little Etsy and could not believe
this cold, pale woman was she. We
were married within the hour of my
arrival, and though at first my soul
sickened, | did strive, before God, to
give her my love, but / verify believe
she hated me, for she grew more and
more cold and disdainful every day,
till, mad with sorrow and regret, | left
my home to wander, disconsolate and
sad all over the earth. Twice, remem-
boring she was my wife, | wrote, beg
ging her to JOIN me, for | could not
bear to return to Grange, where all
knew my sad history; but she haughti-
ly refused, saying in her last letter that
she fancied our paths would be hap
piest far apart. You, too, have known
sorrow, Mrs. Willis, but it is better to
mourn for the dead than the living"
Lionel Peyton loved Mrs. Willis, and
it required all his honor and manhood,
all his selfcontrol, to keep from taking
her in his arms and telling her so. He
did not, but continued:
Later, / met with one who, befole |
was aware of it, crept into my heart
beautiful, regal woman, with pas
siOnate, tropical nature, entirely suited
to mine. | loved that W man, but l
dared not tell her so; my honor for
babe it, and yet | loved her! Oh, my
God Thou knowest il ALL"
AS the white lips grew ealmer, he
said: Tonight, for all my battling,
this Wild love is clamoring to be heard
all the anguish and regret, all the hard
er to bear because unspoken. | thought
| must speak or die, but when the
storm was at its height a great calm
came over my spirit, and something
like Gods great pity fell upon my
tempted soul, and once more I was
able to overcome. / have come to say
goodbye, Essie. There is only one
course for me to pursue. | must re.
join my poor wife, and, if she is willing
to receive the prodigal, try to make hel
happy"
'Did you love her so much-this
beautiful woman of whom You spoke
better than any beauty of Italy OIL
| Spain, or anyone you met in your wan.
derings?"
His face flushed and then paled.
"Better than any woman on earth
better than anything but my honor and
my God" and he held with an iror
grasp the small white hands he had
| taken in his Love her! ali, it would
be heaven to be always by her side; tC
watch the flash and CLEAN of those
proud eyes, and the sweet trembling O
those red lips, and the shining dark
hair, and the proud throat, white as
snow"
sit must have been very hard to give
her up"
at was hard. What would you have
done so circumstancesg
II would have been true to my honol
and my God, as you were"
/ God bless you, Essie; now we must
part"
Essie had been merciless, but hel
starving heart craved all she could heal
of the love he bore her. But the strair
had been too great; and when she rose
/ to go, she faltered, and would have fal-
| len, had he not caught her in his arms
He seated her again, and brought q
goblet of water.
"You know who the woman is, Essie
1 that is so dear to me-"
II have known it from the first"
'And you still advise me to return tC
my wife ?"
| Il do"
"And if she will not receive me"
"Then return to Europe and work
for the good of Others and for Gods
glory"
He drew her close to his heart.
"This once let me hold you here, anC
now farewell"
A moment more and she was alone
and Lionel Peyton was wildly pacing
his chamber floor with broken words
of prayer upon his lips.
| A week from that time found Etsy al
the Grange, where she found letter
awaiting her announcing the arrival Of
her husband on the following night.
ooh, Etsy, if you only loved Lionel,
said the disappointed mother.
perhaps l may, mother. perhaps he
may find me more worthy to be loved. y
He came at Z o'clock. The long
drawing room was lighted in honor OF
his coming, and the servants, at least
with bright new suits and shining faces,
showed joy at his return.
He was shown into the reception
room, while servant went to apprise
"Miss Essy."
He returned in moment, saying she
would see him in the drawing room.
Lionel bit his lip, and followed the old
servant with a proud step.
cat least she might have been here
to welcome me-" he thought. Under
the brilliant gasiight stood that beauti-
full Essie he was trying to forget.
Again-must he again battle with
the spirit TO keep down that mad love
which haunted him every hour? What
could have brought her to the Oranges"
She sprang to meet him.
Oh, Lionel, | am so glad" And
bending back her beautiful head she
held up her lips for kiss.
cannot, Essie-I dare not. am
glad and yet sorry that we nave met. "
But she fettered him with her white
arms, and drew his face closer to hers.
Lionel, if you will take me | am
yours-f r II am Etsy Peyton."
The strong man staggered and would
have fallen had not she supported him.
Need we describe the JOY of the wan
derer, or can you imagine it for your
selves? How the past seemed like a
hideous dream, whose memory he was
trying to forget; and the future so rich
will, N, m aasI1rab HE hone anil how two