The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-02-01
arms and bowed head, musing painfully,
as ! could see by his rigid lips and stern

arms ana OOW6u neaQ, nuSlnS palnIully,
as could see by his rigid lips and stern
brow.
l had been six months at Wolfston
ard the snow covered The ground when
Mrs. Latimer presented to me the fret
piece of gossip I ever heard fall from
her lips,
You remember that Mr.. Dalton who
came here so often when we were first
here ?" she asked me as We fingered over
a late breakfas:
nodded assent. sa
"My dear, he has crazy wife shut
up in that gloomy house."
Nonsense !" l said sharply, while my
brain seemed a6sme. s
..But Mrs Reynolds told me. She
says that Mrs Dalton has whole suite
Of upper rooms, two women to wait
upoq her, every care and indulgence bus
that she IS 1 very violent Ihaniac." i
"But he would not pass himself of
for single man" I began.
"Whosver heard him say whether be
was married or single ?" was the reply,
he never talked about himself any"
Which was strictly true.
So this was the solution of the mys.
tery! This was the reason WHY, when
We met in the woods or lanes, he was re.
strained aud cold, unliL,r little by little,
woke the lovelight in his eyes,the tender
tones OF his voice, and was happy, until
some warning aroused him to his own
happiness, and he would leave abruptly
as II caught 10 some net hard TO break
A mad wife,! Truly have played a
noble part to win the love that belonged
to the poor creature wasting her life q
prisoner 10 her own house! l was hum.
hled to the very dust, though conscious
of my own innocence OF any intention
Of wronging her. My heart ached for
both, for his generous devotion. his 10
voluntary faithlessness; and for her
oh. how pitied her-his wife and mad
But I had my task now--to conquer
the miserable love in nv own heart. to
tear away, one by one, the sweet dreams
I had cherished Of the time would
break down the bsrrier that separated US
and win from Ralph the assurance OF his
love. I would not cross q grave to my
own happinese, aud what else but death
could free him2 .HsAs
would,not love him, but OH how my
heart ached for his misery! II only ne
could be mr. b, other, that might assure
him Of my sympathy, comfort him, give
him some womshly care in his desoIate
home. would wake sobhing, from
dreams of his pain. l stole often to the
hedge in the garden and watched how he
grew paler and sad.ier, and my prayers
for him we're more earnest than they had
ever, been for u yself. r. - s,...
ltwas after the New. Year festivities,
and I had shaken hands vita R,lpt ct
my reception. and smiled intn his hag-
gard face With what i felt was q vary
viEtry imitation OF joyous greeting. I
had crept away to weep after all my
guests we're gone, and Mrs. Latimer had
told me, .Is=ves al quite parfset nbg
dear; but yon look pale and tired; you
had better sleep late Tomorrow"
And had tossed sleeplessly till dawn.
A bright winter dawn, with the sun beat
ing on the hard. frozen ground, and not
. breath Of sir stirring WAS up early
and out. The room seemed to 8 iae
me. tre r
l stole down stairs, before even the
servants we're out OF their rooms, and
wrapping myself in heavy cloak, aad
with a fieecy white scarf about nv head,
l went to walk. Perhaps this feverish
unrest would be quiete.l in the crisp win
ter air. ff.,ss-s4 a.. 81.
i struck into grove OF trees that
stood on my own grounds, and was
pacing slowly forward when ! heard a
stealthy step beside me, aud turning
quickly saw . woman keeping near me
and watching me. sn.9 81. rs !.
Ny, very heart seemed to cease its
pulsatlons, for she was richly dressed in
a loose, lowing garment Of silk, quilted
and warm, but bare headed and with only
thin slippers on her slender feet. Her
eyes, restless and wild, told Of menta
wandering, and her hair, heavily streaked
with gray, her wrinkled cheeks and bent
figure seemed to tell an eloquent story
OF, premature suffering, Every, detail
confirmed me in my recognition of Mrs
Dalton ss.}ars.;- a.. s.,.5s ,s.,'s..g
."Hush 81 she said coming close to
me. "If you make q noise they will finf
me and shut me,up Aud cannot Il
to Ralph il am shut up. Day and nigh
he calls me to come to him, and th,
doors are barred so that I cannot go !"
I put my hand upon her arm, sayini
gently: n - .ss,, ,a9
"But il you go home you will hut
Ralph there.
"No, he went AWAY long ago--so yer.
long. They told me he was Dead" SD
whispered. : "Did you hear, he wa
dead p go - s ?
.No, he is not dead" answered.
| "Why does he not come, then ?"
I heard, still afar of, step ] kne,
well. - e''' .'r f : -
i "Perhaps he will come soon," said
"Shall We wait here for him !"
:. The step came nearer, then turne
into another path. 90 - 3
"Does be know We are here ?" sh
asked with wistiul, pleading eyes.
"Suppose you call" I answered.
Il In q moment she obeyed me.
4 "Ralpb, dear Ralph, am here" sh
!. cried. z go = 81 =. no.. = :
And quickly the steps followed II
voice, and Ralph Dalton came towar
us. t
! But the woman clung to me sobbir
out: 5ps
He viii shut me upr' q a.s0
Then Ralph Dalton spoke gently. tel
derly':
"Motser. you will be i'll again. Con
| home with me-"
1 Mother! His mother! I Icould NJ
I help II. My heart gave such q gil
' bound my lips weuld follow its dictate