Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-09-02


fear / had not Gomez"
A deadly faintness came over me.
Your sister," | murmured. "She
is not here?"
My sisterl" she repeated. She is
not here ?" showing her amaze my
sister, You said nothing Of her accom-
panying me-"
Then | saw it all Fool-fool that !
had been By a more powerful effort
than / believe myself capable of, |
threw oil the despair which was crowd
ing on heart and brain. Already the
clergyman was awaiting me and my
bride. My bride How differently
now / repeat those wrods.
"What is the matter, Harry ?" asked
Adele. Can it be that you have no
welcome for me?"
There was such reproachful sadness
in her tone that it compelled me to be
strong and meet the fate my idle care
lessness had brought upon myself
| hurried her into the carriage, and
then folded her ii my arms. | stroye
to reassure. to convince her of my
love; bu5 | saw her glance wondering
" into my face, even while my lips
pressed hers.
Once, as the ceremony was being per
formed which made our lives forever
one. she paused, Us though tempted
even then TO withdraw; but with reas-
surfing pressure Of my hand, she gained
courage and went on to the end.
10 the end? For me, when would
come the end | had arranged to be
mn from, fo,.r =,
and had planned ont their every delicious
hour. Now pleaded urgent business
for an Immediate Teturn-to winch
Adele gladly acquiesced.
She said She was anxious to see her
home Once there, | felt could grow
caImer. Each hour that | could spend
away from her ! passed in almost
frenzy Ny terrible misery, and the
necessity for its concealment, racked
me night and day.
Our home reached, it grew worse
rather than better. II was pitiful To
see Adele's efforts to brighten it with
the pretty things she had brought from
home. What wonderful difference Il
woman's tact will make
One night, rs we sat together,
thought ! bad grown strong enough to
ask the question which for three wretch
ed weeks had been trembling ON my
lips.
Adele" ! said, tell me Of May.
Was she sorry to give you up?"
She was less sorry than she would
have been, because she was so engross-
cd with her own affairs. She is 10 be
fol nn,,.
little May Ii was SO hard that had
to leave before the ceremony took
place"
The room swan before me- Married.
May married. | strove to answer, but
my tongue Glove TO the roof Of my
mouth. | was capable Of but one
thought married! married. and to an
other. Was | repeating the words
aloud? was | mad? was | dreaming? |
knew not, rs, with Il low cry Of anguish,
fell forward III what seemed to me II
gulf Of blackness.
When awakened from what seemed
"a me long swoon. Adele's eyes met
mine. But | forgot myself III the
change in her.
She was very thin and deadly pale,
her eyes scemina too large for her face.
! learned all too soon that She had rot
left my bedside for fourteen days and
nights, during which time / had been
tossing III delirium of brain fever.
What did talk about?' | inquired.
Nothing, dear" she replied, sooth-
ingly. "Most Of your words were inco-
herent'
And fool fool believed her.
My recovery was very slow one, and
due "a the nursing of my devoted wife.
Strange to say, the I'D agony her pres
cncc had brought me, fled. She now
soothcd me The storm had reached
its height and burst. a quiet calm now
succecded-a calm when began to see
with clearer eyes, and resolved to take
up my burden and bear it more
hravcly
But III Adele there was an indescrib-
able change She talked, She laughed,
She sang; but 50 might III automaton.
Her soul had gone from her face, and
gone from every action.
Why did it frodble me? She never
offered me demonstration She ac-
cepted in quiet passiveness those |
gave her.
When had grown quite strong again,
there came crisis iii my affairs. In
4 moment she was 1T the wheel, ready
70 help steer my barque ont Of the
troubled current
In that hour. the contrast flashed upon
me Of how May would have acted, and
the double burden should have borne
ot her helpleSsness. Through Adele,
with her help. by her Judgment | came
out safely; but | looked ut her with
new admiration
At the end of the year we received u
letter sealed in black. X announced
the death Of Mays husband He had
hecn instantly killed hy fall from his
horse.
Adele smiled even while she wept;
hut felt neither pleasure or pain Why
was ii that the widowhood Of the wo.
man had so passionatelv loved moved
me so little? and why had Adele smiled?
longed Is ask her. but dared not.
Singularly enough in the month of
May, our little girl was born. Some
thing like happiness stole into my
heart as took the tiny thing into my
arms, and bent to kiss the white face
on the pillow Life now held new zest
for me. Day hy day | watched my lit
tie daughters growth, while peace and
content took UP their ahiding-place
within me
don't know just when they fled.
nor when the discovery was made
which sent them from me-the discov-
cry that my wife was diving. White
and van, she lay on her pillows, letting
life slip from her aim st rs though she
were glad 10 let it go-almoSt as though
She would not stretch ont her hand TO
hold it back
She had insisted we should call the
baby May, and had consented.
you must rouse her Is take an in
tereSt in living. the doctor said. "She
Is beyond my skill
This, when | had gone to him for
the truth.
That evening, sat down close be-
side her, and laid my hand on hers.
Adele. | questioned, are You IN
happy, that YOU want to leave baby and
me2"
She looked down rs l spoke at the
little face on her breast, with moth
er's passionate longing.
No, no. she walled; then the old,
sad smile crept over her face. 1T is
Gods will, dear" she said, "and he
knows best. Besides, if am not here
when Ske comes she will take care of