The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-01
CALLED BACK.
"A Well-Told Story OF Continuous
and Absorbing Interest
CHAPTER VII.


Yes, she was glad to see me back. In
her uncertain clouded way she well
coined me. My great fear, that in the
short time she would have entirely for
gotten me, was groundleSs She knew
me and welcomed me. Ny poor
Pauline! If | could but find the way t,
bring those truant senses back once
more,
For months and months nothing OF
importance occurred. IL my loves mind
was, as Ceneri predicted, to be gradual
ly restored, the process was a tedious
one. AT times / thought her better-at
times worse. The fact is there was little
or no change in her condition. Hour
after hour she sits in her apathy and
listlessness; speaking only when spoken
to; but willing to come with me any
where; do anything | suggest. when
ever, alas! | express my wish in words
she can comprehend. Poor Pauline!
The greatest doctors in England have
seen her. Each SAYS the same thing.
She may recover: but each tells me the
recovery would be made more possible
if the exact circumstances which brought
about the calamity We're known. These,
/ doubt, if we shall ever learn.
For Ceneri has made no sign. nor has
Macari sent his promised information.
The latter, after his last malicious
words. | dread more than | wish for.
Teresa, who might have thrown some
light on the subject. has disappeared. !
blame myself for not having asked the
doctor where she was to be found: but
doubtless he would have declined to tell
me. So the days 20 on. All ! can do
is, with Priscilia's assistance. to insure
that my poor girl is made as happy as
can be. and hope that time and care
may at length restore her.
We are still at Walpole street. NV
Intention has been 10 buy house and
furnish it. But why? Pauline could
ed in tit would not be home. So we
stay on at my old lodgings and | live
almost the live of hermit.
| care to see no friends. | am. in
deed, blamed Tor forsaking all my old
acquaintance. Some who have seen
Pauline attribute my lack of hospitality
TO jealousy: some 10 other causes; but,
rs yet, | believe no one knows the truth.
There are times when feel can not
bear my grief-timeS when l wish that
Kenyon had never led me inside that
church at TuEn; but there are other
times when feel that. in spite of all.
my love for my wife, hopeless rs it is.
has made me a better and even a hap
pier man. can sit for hours looking
at her lovely face, even as | could look
imagine that face lit up with bright in
telligence, rs once it must have been. |
long to know what can have drawn that
dark curtain over her mind. and pray
that one day it may fall aside and | may
see her eyes responsive to my own. If
/ felt sure this would ever be | would
wait wilnOut a murmur, if needs be, till
our hair has grown gray.
| have this poor cOnSolation-what-
ever the effect of our marriage may have
been upon my life, it has. at least, not
made my wife's lot sadder one. Her
DAYS | am sure must be brighter than
those when she was under the super
vision of that terrible old Italian wom-
an. Priscilla loves her and pets her
like n child. whilst well, | do every
thing can which | fancy may give her
such pleasure as she is capable of feel
ing. Sometimes, not always, she seems
TO appreciate my efforts, and once or
twice she has taken my hand and raised
it to her lips As if in gratitude. She is
beginning to love me Is a child may
love its father. As some weak helpless
creature may love its protector. This is
a poor recOmpense, but | am thankful
even for this.
So, in our quiet household, the days
pass by and the months Gid. away I'M
I'll the winter is over and the laburnums
and lilacs in the little plots in front of
houses in the suburbs are in bud.
1t Is fortunate that am fond of books
Without that taste life would indeed be
colorless. have not the heart to leave
Pauline alone and seek society on my
own account. | spend many hours
every day reading and studying. whilst
my wife sits in the same room silent I'M
less / address remark to her.
1t is matter of great grief to me that
/ am almost entirely debarred from
hearing the sound of music. soon
discovered that its effect upon Pauline
was prejudicial. The notes which
Soothed me in some way seemed to IT.
ritate her AID make her uneasy So.
unless she is out somewhere with old
Priscilla and | am left alone. the piano
is unopened; the music-books lie I'M
used Only those who love music As |
love it can understand how great de-
privation this is to me.
L oil II Il
that gentleman wished to see me. He
gave the servant no name, but instructed
her to say that he was from Geneva. |
knew it must be Macari. My first i'm
pulse was to send back word that |
would not see him. Again and again,
since our last meeting. his words had
come back to me-thoSe words which
limited at something in Pauline's past
which her uncle had an object in conceal
ing. But each time | thought of them
i decided they were only the malicious
insinuation of a disappointed man. who
having failed to win the woman he
loved, wished to make his favored rival
suspicious and unhappy. | feared moth
ing he could say against my wife, but
disliking the man. | hesitated before
giving instructions for his admittance.
Yet Macari was the only link between
Pauline and her past: Ceneri | felt sure
] should never see again: this man was
the only one remaining from whom ii
was possible to learn anything respect
ing my wife. The one person whose
appearance could, by any chance. stimG-
late that torpid memory. and, perhaps.
influence the state of her mind by sug-
costing, no matter how dimly. scenes