River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-08-11
TWICE LOVED.
Or, the Romance of Etsy PeytOn.
BY D. D. HOWARD.

winter, even though she does keep her
self close"
Etsy's lip curled with something of
the haughtiness of early days.
81 cannot, Aggie. l am tired of gay.
ETY.. Oh, this is such hard world to
get through. / am so tired of it, so
tired of living!"
"What, Etsy, tired of life at 25"
Gwen so, Aggie; fatherless, mother
less, and deserted wife-it is enough. +"
Not deserted, Etsy; you have twice
refused to join him."
eyes, / know; we have both erred
we are both too proud. In some of my
moods / do not blame Lionel. l was
so changed, so sallow, and bony, and
homely, and then / never could forgive
him that first unconscious start and
shrinking away. / had loved only Ii
onel in all my life, and | forgot for the
moment how changed | was, and flew
to meet him. He recovered himself in
a moment, but it seemed as if it chang
ed my whole nature, and | grew cold
and disdainful; but a great pain was at
my heart, even when | seemed most
Indifferent. | have the same pain to-
night"
"You love him still, Etsy?"
The crimson lips grew scornful, and
then tremulous.
eyes; | have never loved any one else.
You will think me mean spirited, Ag-
gle"
''No, Etsy; l honor you for it. But
we will not talk of it. Papa will &C
anywhere / wish. / have never been
to Niagara; if you would like, we will
go there where all will be strangers to
u.s."
So they went to Niagara. Mr.. Warner
Agnes, and Etsy. Leaving the ladies
in the waiting room Mr.. Warner went
to register their names in.the hotel book
of entry, but returned in q moment,
with face from which every vestige
of color had flown.
"Etsy, when L went to write my name
gentleman was just returning the pen
to its case, and the ink was yet wet with
the name of Lionel Peytonr'
my husbandw
II fear SO; but do not grow SO pale,
child. | thought perhaps you might
wish to leave this place, and so did not
register our names"
The beautiful, pale face was pitiful
to see.
"Stay, let me think. 1t might not
be my husband, and yet | never knew
q Lionel Peyton out of our family
Was the gentleman's face anything like
this % and poor Etsy took miniature
from her jewel case.
eyes; it was very like, only this face
is more youthful. The face I saw was
bearded, and bronzed, and careworn
looking"
"If | thought he would not know me
l would stay and see him for myself
Il would like to-"
"He would never know you, Etsy.
You are as different from the Etsy OF
fifteen as you are unlike the wife OF
twenty. l think you might remain with
perfect safety; and he may not be your
husband, after all"
So Etsy stayed, and on the book of
entry was written Mr. Ely Warner and
daughter, and Mrs. Willis.
We will call you Essie, and then if
it is your husband he will never know
you"
Mr.. Warner was right, Lionel Peyton
could never recognize in this brilliantly
beautiful woman either the rosy school
girl of Is or the wife of 90. Etsy at 26
was tall and stately, with clear. dark
skin, brilliant color and large, shadowy,
haunting eyes, in whose depths lay a
great pain; you felt as soon as you saw
her. 1t was her husband; Etsy knew
him the moment she saw him. 1t was
in the dining-room she first met him.
He looked at the party entering, as any
gentleman would look at pretty wo-
men, his gaze resting longest on Etsy,
her gorgeous eastern beauty overshad-
owing the pale loneliness of Agnes
Warner; but it was evident he did not
recognize her.
He was bronzed and bearded, and
something more than careworn-sad.
Etsy began to question whether he,
too, had not suffered. They sat at the
same table day after day, this husabnd
and wife, till poor Etsy's heart was like
to break. By and by Mr.. Warner made
Mr.. Peyton's acquaintance in the read
ing room, and together they Travelled
over where Mr.. Warner once
spent many years of his life-Mr. Pey
tons great descriptive powers painting,
as with a pencil, every subject he
touched upon.
One day Etsy said. half scornfull,
half earnestly:
"What do you think of my hus-
band, Mr.. Warner"
His answer surprised her.
Z" / admire him more than any man
| ever knew, Etsy | wish / could I'M
derstand what Is keeping you apart"
That night he sent for the ladies to
Join him in the parlor. To Etsy's sur
prise, he introduced them to Mr.. Pey-
ton, who threw the charm of his con.
versation over them. as he had over
Mr. Warner, and the evening passed
ere they had begun.
Time passed on, and other evenings
were spent together, and it soon requir-
ed but a careless eye to see that the
beautiful face of Etsy Peyton was the
only face on earth 10 their new friend.
"Essie, your husband is falling in
love once again" Agnes said, but the
said "Essie" made no reply.
One night Mr.. Peyton said to her:
"Mrs. Willis, your face haunts me;
it reminds me Of some one | have seen
before, perhaps it was liz my dreams.
And Etsv only answered, Perhaps"
She sat on the verandah one night
waiting for Agnes and her father. They
were to leave for New York the next
day, and there was great ache at
Etsy's heart.
Mr.. Peytou stepped through the
window and stood beside her. He
merely bowed his stately head, and she
never spoke-she dared not.
"You are sad tonight. Mrs. Willis.
Are You sorry to leave Niagara
For the life of her she could not have
answered him, but, without waiting fol-
one, he sat down by her side.