Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-02-02

"Answer him." she said, "and tell
| him yes! yes! yesl"
Slowly Miss Meyer read the letter
| through. From whence came this
dull pain at her heart? A mist swan
before her eyes. The written charac-
tiers were blurred from her sight. By
powerful effort size controlled herself,
and spoke with some degree of calm
ness.
''Not this, Elsie, she said. ''This you
must answer yourself"
ooh no, no! I cannotl Make it yet
more, beautiful than the others, Ger
trude The regiment is ordered home
again, he writes, SO there will be no
more letters-at least, until after we are
married, and then there will be no fur
ther need of poetry. He will not miss
its absence"
"No need of poetryw All, thought
Gertrude, was loves perfect fullness
| then but prose?
"Let me alone" she said, aloud.
''This evening will send you your let
ter"
Giving orders not to be disturbed, she
seated herself at her desk, but one by
one two scalding tears fell from the
beautiful, proud eyes upon the blank
page spread before her.
They were the unconscious baptism
OF her awakening womanhood. Then
she wrote, but it was her hearts blood,
rather than the ink, which spread itself
upon the sheet wherein she impressed
her soul.
"r give you ALL" she wrote-'my
past, my present, my future. To me,
in all the lexicon of language, see but
two words-husband and wife! They
are emblazoned in letters of gold within
the shrine where my soul kneels and
worships. Frederic, | love you"
Her pen dropped from her hand,
had she indeed written the words, or
was it her heart which had cried Them
aloud in the Stiffness? A hundred
| mOcking demons took up the cry and
echoed it. She heard it everywhere
around about her She saw it blazoned
in the air. She sank trembling on her
knees, and buried her face in her
shaking hands.
She and her secret were face to face
at last. She had sold her birthright for
a mess of pottage.
In the evening, true to her promise,
Elsa received the letter, but unfinished.
"Add to it what you will, ;" wrote Ger
trude. 81 could not close il fittingly."
But Elsa sent the copy with no added
words.
Another fortnight, and the regiment
had arrived. A month passed, but
Gertrude and Frederic Houghton had
not met. Once he had called with Elsa,
but she had not been at home
By singular coincidence it was at
another of Madam Froissart'ss charm
ing and frequent receptions that fate
threw them together. For a moment
her hand rested in his, and his keen
| eyes searched her face Then Elsa
came to claim him for a dance, and
they separated.
Midnight had sounded, when some
one asked Gurtrude for song. Many
joined in the plea. Giving a somewhat
reluctant consent, she took her seat at
the piano in the little MUSHROOM, the
portiere dividing that from drawing
room drawn aside,
She hesitated a moment, then struck
the chords; and soon the rich, sweet
voice filled the space. at Was a
Dream, was the song she had chosen,
and the pathos of voice and words
brought quick tears to many eyes.
As the last echo died away, amid a
murmur of applause and admiration,
| a man bent close beside her.
"Come into the conservatory a NOM
ent," he said. 81 wish to speak with
you"
She let him place her hand within
his own and lead her where he would.
Among the plants and flowers he turn
ed to her.
81 must speak," he said. "You shall
know how | have loved you! In
another month, to tell you would be a
SIM
els not your betrothal tt en-, as sacred
as your marriage" she questioned.
"No," he answered; "for sometimes,
Gertrude. | feel it would be greater sin
to redeem than break my pledge. Listen
to me! You know the old love [ bore
you, though l never put it into wor DIS
Oh. heart of ice! had you not one
| thrOb for the anguish endured? Coldly
you sent me from you to another. She
welcomed me with smile-you had
dismissed me with frown. She warm
ed me in the sunlight-you chilled me
in the shadow. For a little time, 1
sought diversion and forgetfulness. In
the latter l failed sadly. With glad
ness | hailed the outbreak which
brought my regiment into service
Elsa's regret at my leaving her softened
and touched me. l begged her to write
me. Through her, | thought, | should
hear news of you; but, instead, her
letters gave me d wondering glimpse
into nature whose depths had never
suspected. How rich, how full, how
true they were, [ cannot paint to you.
L read and re-read them. Ny heart
cried out for more and more, until [
knew that its longing and its need we.
satisfied at last. How rich and ex.
haustless must be the mine which
stored such jewels With mans avar:
icious greed longed for its possession.
Is it only the .fulffllment of the wish
which makes me fancy its treasure al
ready is exhausted? 1t was Elsa's let
tiers, not Elsa, that [ loved. She gives
me food, but my heart still is hungry.
Gertrude, help me! Tell me the
right ~
They were alone; the sweet S cent
the flowers filled the air; a murmur
| from little mimic stream rustled past
them. Through the dim light, she saw
the white imprisoned pleading of his
face. She heard his quick, agitated
| breathing. Her own heart beat so
| loudly and unconsciously she pressed