The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-10-02
MY WIFE LUClE.

To begin with-she was very pretty.
! don't know where to show YOU an
other lust like her. She was straight
and round in figure, with Il fair face,
golden hair and soft, white hands. She
had brown eyes, regular features and
mobile red lips. On rainy day GER
tain fine trcsses OF her shining hair
would escape from the remainder and
curl about her temples i'll little gold
tendril rings. Her voicewas quiet and
melodious, and she wore violet dress
cs. This is as well us l can describe
her.
And am afraid that this is about
all knew OF her when we were mar
ricd. We met first out west. l was
alone ina strange country. She, also
was alone. She was q music teacher
living i'll a clearinghouse. She was
gentle and sad. made her acquaint-
ance. I loved her. promised to
make herhappy and we were married.
My western tour being ended we came
back east and settled ut Il romantic
little place called Daphne Dell. We
had been married just ayear when my
story commences.
Twas young, Just startingin life, land
very much engrossed in my business.
Neither was Il particularly demon
strativc man, and, as Lucie was very
quiet and composed in micn, l think
we hardly appeared like newly married
people.
l had all confidence in my wife. 1t
was her neatness, frugality and good
judgment that won me, together with
her beauty. All home affairs-the EN-
ployment OF a servant, and bills-Ileft
entirely to her management. 1t was
u great rest to leave my countingroom
and return homeward, for was sure
to find everything right. IfI.ucie had
any annoyances she never confessed
them. and never took home my bust
ness trouble.
AS said, wehad been married a year,
when one evening came home as us
tal. 1t had been fine day, but, as
left the cars n great drop ofrain splash
ed on my nose. | had ten minutes
walk before me and commenced the
task rather briskly.
Daphne Dell was within half an
hours ride of the city. had thought
it better for our health to live out of
town, and then to me, ut least it was
infinitely pleasanter. Lucie, too, had
seemed to like the place. She came
and examined it before | made the
purchase-said it was pretty and
would do very well.
The rain came down smartly as l
reached my garden gate. AS I entered
the sitting-room found Lucie hurried
ly putting away some papers.
"The rain is blowing up from the
west. You had better shut the parlor
windows. Lucie," said, as l went to
the closet to hang upmy coat, and get
my dressing gown.
sizes, Will" she said aRsently, rum
maging in u drawer. The storm
struck savagely against the pane, She
went and shut the parlor windows and
then came back to the drawer.
When shelooked the drawer through
she looked over the table, and finally
went to the escretoire.
"What are you hunting for, Lucie?"
said |.
"Never mind" she said. carelessly;
81 guess it will come. Supper is ready,
Will"
We went to the dining room. She
poured out my tea, and chatted of
her garden and the incidents of the
day. She had planted mignonette
under the windows that it's fragrance
might come to her while she was sew
ing, she said. The Misses Grangerhad
called, and the man had been to graft
the pear trees. Pleasant, ordinary
chat that suggested nothing ofthe mys-
terry to come.
The rain continued MI night, but
the morning was clear, felt myself a
very happy man as ] stepped from my
door into the balmy spring air. THE
tulips were i'll blossom, and the ero-
cusses filled the whole garden with
their fragrance. I walked leisurely
Along the path, unattached thegate and
went out.
A few steps distant, under the Or
chard wall, lay Il sheet of paper. 1t
looked like solnetiling that should not
have been there, and went and pick.
ed it up.
1t was a single square sheet of I'M
ruled paper, and the nandwritingupon
it was my wife's. As | looked at it u
word here and there caught my eye.
With arrested attention, Icommenced
a careful examination OF the sheet.
With some difficulty read as follows;
"My Dearest Percy.-Your entreaties
and my own heart will not longer al
low me to remain silent. My beloved,
! am so miserable! These clandestine
letters OF yours which receive are my
only comfort in the world. l feed on
them. They are the only brightness
which Eliminates my dark way. My
life is almost Indispensable: You
know that do not love my husband;
that never loved linn. You, only,
know the whole army circumstances
under which married him. Well, lie
is my husband and l try to be a
good wife, but this existence is like
sons drsadful nightmare dream, Per-
cy. 1t does i,et Seem as if it could be
me who lives and brcati,es and an
swers to my name. / am so desoiate
and oppressed-so despairing! Ihave
thefeeling, sometimes, that l am under
a spell, that my faculties are paralyz-
ing and that | shall lose my mind in
this dull. void living. Only when your
letters come l am alive. l feel that
you love me, and l live and feel and
am exquisitely happy and miserable,
both together.
"My husband-as long as I perform
my daily duties hs is contented. He
knows nothing ofmy feelings. Hecon.
siders me machine for his comfort.
Sometimes / loathe him. Usually !
am Indifferent to him.