Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-08-12


You are sad tonight, Mrs. Willis.
Are you sorry to leave Niagara?"
For the life other she could not have
answered him, but, without waiting for
one, he sat down by her side.
Il, too, am sad tonight, but my sad
ness has deeper meaning than yours.
At my heart are tugging love, remorse,
regret. and wretched quarrehng with
fate. | wish dare lay bare my heart
10 you. for my soul is famishing for
human sympathy"
You may"
"And you will not think less of me
because | have sinned and Sutfered?7
Il will not"
Five years aso-nay, | must begin
further back. Ten years ago l knew
and loved a young girl. She was low
ing child, tender hearted, and winning.
She won my heart ere | 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. L
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. | returned five wears
later, to find cold-hearted, naughty
woman, who repelled 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 just 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-
ful 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
slckened, | 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-
hering 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
plest 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 self-control, to keep from taking
her in his arms and telling her so. He
did not, but continued
Later, met with one who, before |
was aware of it, erept into my heart
beautiful, regal woman, with pas
sionatC, tropical nature, entirely suited
to mine. | loved that woman, but |
dared not tell her so; my honor for
babe it, and yet | loved herl Oh, my
God Thou knowest it all
As the white lips grew calmcr, 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 / was
able to overcome. | have come 10 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 prodigll, try to make her
happy.
"Did you love her so much-this
beautiful woman Of whom you spoke
better than any beauty Of italy or
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 iron
grasp the small white hands lie had
taken in his. Love her! all, it would
be heaven to be always by her side; TO
watch the flash and gleam Of those
proud eyes, and tho sweet trembling Of
those red lips, and the shining dark
hair, and the proud throat, white as
snow.
at must have been very hard to give
her up"
1T was hard. What would you have
done so circumstances"
81 would have been true to my nonor
and my God, as you were"
God bless you, Essie; now we must
part
Essie had been merciless, but her
starving heart craved all she could hear
Of the love he bore her. But the strain
had been too great; and when she rose
to go, she faltered, and would have fall
len, had he not caught her in his arms.
He seated her again, and brought
goblet of water.
You know who the woman is, Essie,
that is so dear to me-"
81 have krown it from IT, first"
And you still advise me to return to
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, and
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 Neeh lOll lildl lIIDe lOunQ EIsy at
the Grange, where she found letter
awaiting her announcing the arrival Of
her husband on the following night.
"Oh, Etsy, if you only loved Lionel"
said the disappointed mother.
perhaps NAV, mother, perhaps he
may find me more worthy to be loved"
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 a moment, saying she
would see him in the drawing room.
Lionel biz his lip, and followed the old
servant with q proud step.
At le2st 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
coiIld have brought her IN fha Gra.1ge,o