Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-04-04

[ don't know where to show you another
Just like her. She was straight and
round in figure, with fair face, golden
hair and soft white hands. She had
brown eyes. regular features and mobile
red lips, On rainy day certain fine
tresses Of her shining hair would escape
from the remainder and curl about her
temples IN little gold tendriI rings. Her
voice was quiet and melodioUs, and she
wore violet dresses. This is as well as I
can describe her.
And I am afraid this is about all I
knew of her when we were married.
We met first out west. / was alone in q
strange country. She, also, was alone.
She was a music teacher, living in a
boarding. house. She was gentle and
sad ] made her acquaintance I loved
her I promised to make her happy
and we were married.
Ny western tour being ended, we came
back east. and settled at a romantic little
place called Daphne Dell. We had been
married just year when my story COM
menceS.
I was young, just starting in life, and
very much engrossed Ill my business.
Neither was | particularly demonstra-
tive man, and, as Lucie was very quiet
and composed In mien, [ think we hardly
appeared like newly married people.
[ had all confidence In my wife. 1t
was her neatness, frugalIty and good
Judgment that won me, as well as her
beauty. All home affairs-the employ.
ment Of a servant, the domestic arrange
ments, household orders and bills-I
left entirely to her management. It was
a great rest to leave my counting-room
and return homeward, for was sure to
find everything right. If Lucie had any
annoyances. she never confessed them to
ME, and / never took home my business
trouble.
As / said, we had been married a
year, when one evening [ came home as
usual. 1t had been fine day, but as L
left the cars great drop of rain splashed
on my nose. l had ten minutes walk
before me, and commenced the task
rather brlskly.
Daphne Dell was within half an hours
ride of the ity. I had thought it better
for our health to live out Of town, and
then to me, at least, it was infinitely
pleasanter. Lucie, too, had seemed to
like the place. She came and examined
1t before I made the purchases said that
1t was pretty and would do very well.
The rain came down smartly as I
reached my garden gate. AS / entered
the sitting-room, found Lucie hurried
ly putting away some papers.
1.-The rain is blowing up from the
west. You had better shut the parlor
windows, Lucie, said, as I went to
Ghe closet to hang up my coat and get
my dressing gown.
Eyes, Will" she said, absently, rum
maging in drawer. The storm struck
sharply against the pain. The went and
shut the parlor windows and then came
back to the drawer.
When she looked the drawer through
she looked over the table, and finally
went to the escretolre.
What are you hunting for, Lucie?"
said L.
''Never mind" she said, carelessly;
Is I guess 1t viii come. Supports ready,
Will"
We went out to the dining-room. She
poured my tea. and chatted Of her gar
den and the incidents of the day. She
had planter mignonette under the win
dows, that its fragrance might come In
TO her as she was sewing, she said. The
Misses Granger had called, and the man
had been TO graft the pear trees. Pleas
ant ordinary talk that suggested nothing
of the mystery to come.
The rain continued all night, but the
morning was clear. I felt myself very
happy man as / stepped from my door
into the balmy spring air The tulips
were III blossom, and the crocuses filed
the whole garden with their fragrance.
I walked leisurely along the path, IN
latched the gate and went out.
A few steps distant, under the orchard
wall, lay sheet of paper. 1t looked
like something that should not have
been there, and I went and picked it up.
1t was single square sheet of un-
ruled paper, and the handwriting upon
it was my wife's. AS I looked at it q
word here and there caught my eye.
With arrested attention, commenced a
careful examination of the sheet. With
some difficulty / read as follows:
:. My DEAREST PERcY-Your entreaties and
my own heart will not longer allow me to re-