River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-01-05

very tired, and must set out on hel
journey at most unearthly hour IL
the morning"
AS she turned to go Mr.. West said
is low, strange voice: ~ must say
good-by, too, Mrs. Gordon. This even
ing's mail has brought me letter which
oblige me to leave tomorrow fol-
Cuba"
"Whatl No bad news from Mrs
West, hopper" she asked anxIously.
"My wife is very IL, and wishes me
to join her at once"
II am so sorry; but / sincerely hope
you will find her better on your arrival
Give her my kind regards and good
wishes. How we shall miss you'll Pray
write and keep us informed of Mrs
Vests health, and les us see you i'm
mediately on your return" and with
few more friendly words, she left the
room.
His wifei These two words burned
into my brain like Goals of fire. |
could not think, nor wonder, nor ask
a question. My one idea was to escape
without betraying my suffering; to in
sure his leaving me without discover
ing what those two little words, spoken
so calmly and unconsciously, 'syour
wifep had wrought for mel In that
supreme moment, in the single flash OF
time, while he had crossed from the
door he had gone to open for Mrs.
Gordon, back to the sofa, where sat,
my woman's pride triumped every
other feeling, and | spoke as calmly
and deliberately as if no tempest ragged
within.
"You must let me, too, express my
regret that your are summoned away
on so painful an errand," said: "and
allow me, though a stranger to Mrs.
West, to send message of good wishes
for her recovery"
He looked at me keenly and long,
but my impassive face and measured
tones bafficd even that sharp scrutiny.
"You know, then, that l had the
good fortune to be married MANI"
he said. From remark you made
yesterday | imagined for a moment
that you were not aware of it; and.
strange as it may appear, | rather
think Mrs. Gordon's mention of my
wife Just now is the first that has
CHANGED to- be made before you. /
wanted you to know it before we part
ed. / came here tonight partly to
define my position, as the politicians
say"
every kind of you, Pm sure; but
you see it is quite an old story to me.
Don't you know, Mr.. West that " Bene-
dick the married man always shows
his colors in spite of himself? | hope,
certainly, to have the pleasure of max
ing Mrs. Vests acquaintance, and OF
telling her how much am indebted to
you for many acts of kindness and
courtesy. And now, if you will not
think me rude, / must ask you to let
me say good-by, for have still more
packing t. attend to-"
Good-by," said he. Not another
word escaped him, but that piercing
eye was fixed intently upon me, seem
ing to ask, "Is this all true?"
How 1 reached my house | cannot
tell. even n >. The journey was &C
complished, however, and on the even
ing of the following day 1 threw my
self into Alice's arms; and when
shocked, l suppose, at the changed
face that met hers, she exclaimed /:
What is the matter, Nelly, dear ?" l
entreated: "Do rot ask me any ques-
tons; only love Away"
After few days | opened my heart
and told her all, but begged that the
subject might never again be mention
ed between us.
And now my life was indeed blank.
1 was not i'll in body, so l said; and
when it was remarked that l became
thinner and paler, | attributed all to
my dissipation and late hours in Bos-
ton. There was no longer anything
that pleased or displeased, interested or
wearied, amused or annoyed me, |
dared neither look backward nor for
ward. / read without receiving the
slightest impression from the page
[ turned over, and listened to
Alice's sweet voice and to the kindly
conversation of friends and neighbors
without understanding or caring for the
words. Thus it was with me when at
last the time came that Alice decided
on change of residence, and, for be-
ginning, resolved on trying how we
should like New York. | said: "New
York will do as well as any other place,
if you will let me stay quietly at
home" And so we went, Alice and
and faithful old woman, who had
been with us from our childhood, and
loved and watched over us as if we
were her very own. We established
ourselves at the Everett, and had been
there for several months ~
In all this time | had heard nothing
of Henry West, but that his wife had
recovered from her illness in Cuba
and returned with him to Boston in
the following spring. In the semi-oc-
casional correspondence between Mrs.
Gordon and myself, his name had only
once occurred, when she wrote: "Mr.
West inquired for you yesterday, and
was grieved to learn that you had not
been well. He looks himself very
badly and has los5 all his spirits. Per-
haps Madame's society has depress-
ing effect; and no wonder, for, as you
know; his boyish marriage was the
great mistake of his life, They are
utterly uncongenial, and for years
have lived apart at least nine months
out of the twelve, though they are
nominally on good terms. Now, how
ever, her health is failing very rapidly,
and it may be that happy release for
both is at hand"
On the very day after had talked
with Alice of the possible material that
might be found in the crowded streets
of New York we made our first ac-
quaintance there. A lady whom we
had frequently met in the halls and
dining room, and admired for her re-
fined and dignifed appearance, and
who occupied, with stately old gen.
tleman, evidently her father, the suite
of rooms adjoining our own, knocked
hurriedly af our door one night after
we had retired. Our old Margaret an
swered the summons, and the lady
begged that we would come to her as
sistance, her father having been taken
suddenly and dangerously i'll. Alice
FASTENED to do all in her power, and
for several days, during which the in
valid slowly recovered, she made fire.
ouent visits to our neighbours apart
ments, bringing back eloquent descrip-
tions of both father and daughter
The latter, who introduced herself as
Mrs. Gray, of Boston, now came fire.
quently into our parlors, and the &C.
auaintance babe fair to become real
friendship. The ice was broken, and
| no longer wished to continue oul
isolated life. On Saturday Alice came
in from walk with our friend, and
said:
"Nelly, Mrs. Gray wants you to &C