The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-02-02

Aunt Margaret paused, and the intense
look which her blue eyes gathered in the
memories of long ago gave her face, fan
cied, the same expression which it must
have worn in the love.days of her youth.
YES" she resumed, "our happiness was
perfect--far too perfect to last. Our mar
riage was to take place on Christmas, and,
after a short wedding tour, we were to set
tie down at once to housekeeping in the
city, He had brought little Lily to soc me,
and she was to come TO us for good the mo-
ment we returned from our tour How /
loved the child not only for her fathers
sake, but for the innate loveliness of her
own sweet, childish nature.
She did not look like Hugh, therefore |
knew that she must resemble her lost
mother must have been Lily was a
blonde, as | was, but the fairness of my
skin was snow white in hers, the blue Of
her eyes was more the intense brilliancy of
the sapphire, and tho blonde of her hair the
simmer of FURNISHED gold. | can see
Hugh now, as he stood with half fearful,
half laughing eyes, watching me caress his
darling child, and thinking to tease me by
calling me the young stepmother.' I...
"rhe week before Christmas found us all
as bright and happy as u prospective we'd
| ding party could ever be but it brought a
new actor upon the scene who was destined
to change it all in the twiukling of an eye.
| Hugh's divorced wife, having in some way
learned of his intended marriage, made her
way to our village, determined to win back
TO herself the husband whom she had de-
serted. Had she appealed TO Hugh alone,
she could never have been successful for
she had utterly forfeited all claims to his
love or confidence, and his heart was too
entirely mine for her pleadings to have
moved him. But finding him firm aud un-
yielding, she sought me OUT t
80, Aunt Margaret interrupted, in
fearful amazement, -surely you did not
:. voluntarily give up Hugh's love for tho
sake of that bad woman?"
"Yes, child, did, she hastily answered.
with a little choking sound in her voice.
"And you could not have believed her. bad,
Madge, had you seen her, as did, inn
ploriug, with tears and sobs, to be restored
to her husband and child. She was so lovely
oh thousand times lovelier than / ever
was, though Hugh had always called me
pretty. In those days. Madge, divorce was
not SO lightly thought of as it is now. A
divorced wife, whether justly or not, was
always regarded with suspicion, and the
disgrace even attached to her innocent chill
dren 1 thought of dear little Lily whom
l loved so well, and for the sake of her fu-
Hugh. fo
1t was long before he would listen to
either of us, but at last he left the decision
of his fate to me. Oh, child, never can
forget the anguish that filled his loving eyes
as he did 80. My life is i'll your hands,
Margaret he said in his wife's presence
you saved it once, and it is yours, both by
right and my own choice. Do with it as
you will So, Madge, decided against
myself, and that is why you see me an old
lnuiu tO-uuy.
"And they were married over again
How strange. But was she good wife to
Hugh after that Aunt Margaret ?" asked,
with a girlish curiosity, not thinking how
my words might wound the noble heart
until noticed the slight shudder with which
she answered them. w. i8hia'
''Yes, Madge, I heard of them years of
terward, happy and united family. .
have always found strength to be thankful
that helped TO reconcile them to each other
Ny life is flowing peacefully on to the grea
ocean of eternity, so am content Blu
Hugh's last, loving kiss which he gave me
so passionately beside the old well, where
risked my life 10 save his, has never been eff
faced by the touch of other lips."'a gs0a
Aunt Margarets story was ended Sh'
had never thought of this grand, unselfBi
act of her life in the light of a romance, bu
to me it seemed very much like one. 81.