The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-06-16

endurance ana patience, and earnest reso-
luton and consciousness of His own
strength and presence, upon her heart,
that was sick unto despair.
Half an hour later she looked up into
her husbands face, as they sat alone in
the coach that was conveying them to The
depot--such a good, grand face that ac-
companed the character, no woman could
come III contact with and fail TO thor
oughly revere and admire. And a sud-
den little thrill of humble content warm-
ed i'll her eyes and qnivered into peace
ful smile, as she laid her hand on his.
Il mean to be such Il good wife, Hor-
ace,'' she said, gently.
''My darling, I know it, !" he answered
her. And I am most blessed of any
man on Gods earth today
So their welded life began.
II
Two years afterward, and half city in
mourning, because Of the pitiless scourge
that the hot midsummer days had swept
relentlessly down upon it. And in a
nearly deserted hotel, where fashion, and
beauty and wealth had fled before the
grim oncoming Of the pestilence, two peo-
pie lying dead---young, handsome even
i'll death, with refinement and nobility on
their marble faces.
And the death-roll, that morning, tee-
graphed to happier Northern cities, con-
tanned these names: t'Mr. Horace Van
Verst, and his wife, Mrs. Isabel Lsle Van
Verst;'' while, IN an adjoining room,
rosy, healthy, joyous and unconscious Of
her awful loss, their baby girl, a year old,
watched over by one careful nurse, while
another, gray-haired and fearful, was hur-
riedly making preparations to leave the
accurs9d fever-stricken city.
x i X y
Theo. Edmerton had taken up his po-
sition at the foot of the grand stair case,
and was rather enjoying looking on At
the gay crowd that was fast filling Mrs.
Wizards parlors, and especially looking
as was not the first, or the second, Or the
dozenth time he had looked just SO eager
ly, at lovely Vivian Gwyneth.
OF late, Edmerton had been passing
through strange experience, and fair
haired Vivian was very intimately con-
nected with lt---so intimately that, during
these past few weeks, Edmerton had
come to know that that had happened to
him he had thoughs never could happen
to him again, after the desoIate, waste
time in his life, when Isabel Lisle had
married another.
He had thought never to renew his
faith and trust i'll woman. He had had
no hope nor wish that the wreck that he
had believed himself in love and passion
should ever be made anew. And then,
right into all the debris OF his affections,
Vivian Gwyneth had come with sympa-
thy and healing.
Until, standing and watching her to-
night, the fairest, brightest star in Mrs.
Willartl's brilliant assemblage, T,heo. Ed
merton knew he loved her.
Until he was wondering what the REM
nant of his heretofore unblessed life would
be worth to him if, when he asked lovely
Vivian for her love, she should withhold
it.
For he had made up his mind slowly,
during the past few weeks, that he was
warranted in asking her.
| He was almost sure she cared for him,
and vet, If it should SO happen that she
did not!
| An hour afterward he stood before
Vivian Gwyneth, alone with her, in the
fragrant, half-diln fernery, with bis hand
some face pale with passionate pleading,
his ewes full OF masterful tenderness, as he
told her how he loved her, and asked fol
her sweet self III return.
4 And Vivian?
think it was the sweetest way a wo-
man ever gave herself to her lover, tha'
which she did, in her own perfect way
so proud, so tender, SO charmingly shy:
Before answer yon, sSshe said, lifting
her glorious eyes to bis in swift radiant
little glance---.sbetore answer you, LET me
show you---this--the picture Of nm
have loved all my life. Even as baby
began to worship it. It was my ideal
have worn it night and day. Would yot
care to have me tell you what you wish
knowing what | have told you?''
A grasping sort of vague tear crep
chilly over him III that one instant WheI
she laid diamond-crusted gold locket Il
his hard.
And then he opened it to look into III
own eyes---the picture he had given lsabe
Tislc nineteen years before.
/ she smiled in his astonished face.
/ oYou don't know---no one knows ou
nv dear adopted parents---that ! am lsa 50
hel Iisle,s child; but knew you' Ifeo
tha first time I saw you, and think, Y
had not mammals loclset, ! should stll
have known you from her letters ans
diary / have kept. Are you sorry af'
mammals daughter?
| was it posslble---vas T possloIes lsa
bells child!
Then ali the passion came radlantl.
back to his pale face and astonlslied eyes
! IL held out his arms caressingly.
sI think your mother has given you :
ne. { loved her, but not#as y lose=,oo
oh. ny little one, Vivian viii you eo,h 2.
49, 4a