The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-19

thinking over my strange posi- non;;
Then | returned to the hotel AND
sought my own apartment. TWAS one
OF the suite OF rooms had engaged,
and mex. to my wife's. l dismissed,
rs well as could, all hopes and tears
until the morning came, and, tired with
the day events, ut last slept.
My bride and did not visit the
Lakes as ! had planned. In two days
time had learned the whole truth
learned all l could know-all that l
might ever know about Pauline. The
| meaning of the old woman's repeated
| phrase, ''she is not for love or mar
rage" was manifested to me. The
reason why DIR. Ceneri had stipulated
that Pauline husband should be con-
tent to take her without inquiring into
her early life was clear. Pauline-my
wife my love, had no past!
Or no knowledge of the past. Slow
ly at first. then with swift steps, the
| truth came home to me. Now 1 knew
how to account for that puzz led, strange
look in those beautiful eyes-knew the
reason for the indifference, the apathy,
she displayed. The face of the woman
had married was fair as tho morn;
her figure rs perfect as that of Gre
clan statue; her voice low and sweet;
but the one thing which animates every
charm-the mind-was missingl
low shall describe her? Madness
means something quite different from
her state. Imbecility would still less
convey my meaning. There is no word
| can find which is fitting to use. There
was simply something missing from
her intellect-as much missing as
limb may be from body. Memory,
except for comparatively recent events,
she seemed to have none. The power
of reasoning, weighing and drawing de-
ductions seemed beyond her grasp. She
appeared unable to recognize the i'm
portance or bearing of occurrences TAX
ing place round her. Sorrow and de-
light were emotions she was incapable
OF feeling. Nothing appeared to move
her. Unless her attention was called
to them she noticed neither persons nor
places. She lived as by instinct--rose,
ate, drank and lay down to rest as one
not knowing why she did so. Sch
questions or remarks as came within
the limited range of her capacity she
replied to-those outside it passed I'M
needed, or else the shy troubled eyei
sought for a moment the questioner's
face, and left him as mystified as had
been when first | noticed that curious
iniuiring look.
Yet sne was not mad. A person
might have met her out in company,
and after spending hours in her society
mi ht have carried away no worse i'm
preston than that she was shy and
retiCent. Whenever she did speak her
words were as those of a perfectly sane
woman; but rs rule her voice was
only heard when the ordinary necessi-
ties of life demanded, or in reply to
some simple question. Perhaps, |
should not Zee far wrong in comparing
her mind to that of cEild-but. alas!
it was a child's mind in a womans
body-anl hat woman was my wife!
Life to her. so far as could see, held
neither mental pleasure nor pain. Con-
sidercd physically, l found that she was
more influenced by heat and cold than
by any other agents. The sun would
tempt her out of doors, or the cold
wind would drive her in. She was by
no means unhappy. She seemed quite
content to sit by my side. or to walk or
drive with me tor hours without speak
ing. Her whole existence was mega
tive one.
And she was sweet and doeile She
followed every suggestion of mine. fell
in with every plan, was ready to go
here, there, or everywhere, as | wished;
but her compliance and obedience were
as those of slave to new master. 1t
seemed TO me that all her life she must
have been accustomed to obey some
one. 1t was this habit which had so
misled me-had almost made ME think
that Pauline loved me, or she would not
have consented to that hasty marriage.
Now, knew that her ready obedience
to her uncle command was really due
to the inability of her mind to offer re-
sistence. and its powerlessness to COM
prehend the true meaning of the step
she was taking.
Such was Pauline, my wife! A
woman in her beauty and grace of per-
son; child in her clOuded and I'M
formed or stunted mind! And |, her
husband, a strong man craving for love.
might win from her, perchance, at
last, what might be compared to the
affection of child to its parent, or a
dog to his master.
As the truth, the whole truth, came
home 10 me. | am not ashamed TO say
that lay down and wept in bitter
grief.
] loved her even now l knew all,
would not even have undone the mar
riagc. She was my wife-the only
woman l had ever cared for. l would
fulfill my vow-would love her and
cherish her. Her life, at least, should
be made as happy as my care could
make it. But all the same | vowed
would have fitting reckoning with that
glib Italian doctor
Him, ie.t it was necessary | should
see at once. From him | would wiring
all particulars | would learn if Pauline
had always been the same ii there
was any hope that time and patient
treatment would work an Improvement.
would learn, moreover. the OBJ ect of
his concealment. 1 would, l swore,
drag the Truth from him, or it should
cost him dear. Until 1 stood ace to
face with Ceneri should find no peace.
| told Pauline it was necessary we
should return to London in mediately.
She betrayed no surprise; raised no OBJ
lection. She made her preparations at
once. and was ready to accompany me-
when l willed it. This was another
thing about her which pu7 z,el me. So
far as things mecha meal went, she was
as other people. In Ler toilet, even in
her preparations for a Quincy, she