The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-04-04

cival came out into the hall Ste spied
him from the lawn, and in moment
she was by his side. speaking intently
so intently that she never saw my
eyes watching from a bay window in
the morning room that jutted out, CIV
ing a view of the rest of the building.
BY and by they went down the steps,
side by side, into the garden, and l
heard him say, in rather low voice.
'.He must stop work and rest little,
Mrs. Fame. He complains of pricking
sensation in his right side and shoulder.
Still, with our united care, and with
rest, think we shall bring him round"
And Ste answered him with smile.
1 could not see that, and believe that
she was young and sanguine, and that
she never realized her husbands dam
ger. How could give her credit for
this when l suspected her--suspected
as foully as 1 could-that it was not
Gerald whom she loved, but-Mark
Percival.
Gerald was resolved to work on in
spite of every thing. We were not rich,
he said, and work was necessary then
for several weeks. Ste. instead of pass
ing the hours in his studio, as she used
to do, would remain in her own room,
with her door locked-sulking, l told
my sister.
At last one day blow fell on us all
a dreadful blow and harder TO me since
l believed l had helped to bring it
that perhaps l was really the instru-
ment that had dealt it. Had [ not
made my brother unhappy Perhaps
he would not have worked so incessant-
ly in the vain hope of banishing
thought.
Ste found him one bright summers
day apparently lifeless beside his easel.
and for weeks he fingered, lowering, as
it were, between us and eternity.
And his wife. remOrseful of her treach-
cry and want of faith, seemed to have
no thought but him. She never left
him for a moment, and if she slept it
was by snatches only, with her head
against his pillow, when his slightest
movement would awaken her.
After what seemed an age of anxiety
to us the doctor said he would live, but
never more to work, for Gerald's right
arm was paralyzed. I had teen grow
ing less bitter in my feelings towards
Ste during my brothers illness-she
seemed to be really so devoted to him.
But when they said he was not to work
any more with his brush a look of tri-
umph came into her eyes which puzzled
me, and again l began to doubt her,
and the doubt grew stronger when saw
her meet Mark Percival in the porch,
and stand for many a minute in earnest
whispered conversation. Once-from
behind a laurentinus bush-I saw her
place her hand on his arm, and look up
into his face, her great, wild, dark eyes
full of glittering tears, while she said,
with quivering lips:
"How much longer? Oh, these last
weeks have been centuries to me. And
if-oh, If you have not been deceiving
me- may hope
"Everything!" he answered, inter
rupting her, and taking the mite of
hand in his. 81 tell you that YOU have
not many more days to wait, and then
We shall both be very happy"
Upon this Ste smiled up into his hand
some eyes with a strange, wistful yearn-
ing look that drove mo almost wild
with the bitterest anger and suspicion.
Now dared not even look back to the
horrible feeling that filled my heart |
with regard to the woman whom my
brother had made his wife, and in
whom he had placed his happiness, his |
infinite faith. and, more than all, his |
honor. But Gerald was in a weak and
critical state, and 1 did not dare to warn
him of what feared. He was very low |
inc and tender to her, and I'could see |
his eyes follow her slight figure |
wherever she moved with an expression |
of mingled affection and doubt tt at was
sad to look upon.
When one day she heard Mark Perez |
val voice at the door she darted out |
of the room to meet him, forgetful of a
mass of roses on her lap with which she |
was making boauet, and needless of |
the lovely fragile flowers in her haste
and evident agitation, she trod out their |
beauty with her feet.
Then heard Gerald murmur to him.
self:
.'Poor little one! She is so young! l |
hoped to make her happy, but am SO !
grave and quiet that she cannot love |
me. God give me strength to bear it!'
told my sister of this but she would |
hardly listen. Ste had bewitched her |
and she declared that my brothers wife |
was a thoughtless child, but moth ng
worse.
The death of the summer had come
and autumn brought its wailing wind,
and the leaves died in company with
the long bright day. wrapped in splen-
did cerement of rainbow hues. And
Gerald grew no better.
The truth was, that he did not care
to live.
She was in state of feverish excite
ment, which seemed to grow worse
each hour. One day 1 felt the crisis
was near. Her cheeks burnt with two
red spots; her eyts had wilder look
and 1 knew that her ear was strained to
catch every sound of coming footsteps.
At last she heard the welcome sound |
of Mark Percivals laugh. He had not
been near us for a whole week, and, re-
CARELESS of us, she flew down the stairs
to him.
l heard him exclaim:
'.HHrah! it's all right"
And her answer was:
seed bless you! how good you are"
In another moment or two she ran
upstairs again and 1 followed her; but |
if she was aware of my supervision she
did not care.
Gerald was reclining In an easy chair;
his face was ashy pale and he looked
shadow of his own self; but still his
face was beautiful in its classical fea-
lures, and its large, deep blue eyes, over
which fond look always crept when
his wife came near.
She threw herself on her knees before |
him, and, catching his thin, white hand,
she kissed it passionately.