Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-29

Still she waited. Inere never came
a knock or a quick step up the walk,
but it brought flush to her cheek.
She never peered in the little post
office without an unacknowledged hope
warm at heart
She was fond of meeting Faruuhar
Conway; and all the village thought
that the clumsy. well-meaning fellow
was to be the lucky winner of the girl $
heart and fortune.
But it was only because he now and
then got letter from Paul, and, find
ing that it pleased her, brought them
to her to read.
At last came letter, not from Paul,
but from her little fair-haired cousin
Elsie. written in the first flush of a
brides happiness.
..She was Judith's neighbor now,
living only twenty miles away, in the
dearest old house, where Judith must
come and spend a month with her.
She would tell her nothing about her
husband. She had told him nothing
about her, because she intended them
to surprise one another. They would
be great friends-she was sure"
Judith was tired of her own anxious
thoughts. There was something con-
tagious, too. in Elsie's gaiety and hope,
and so she went.
1t was sunset when she reached the
place. A fine house. Just old enough
to avoid that painful look of newness
| common to modern country houses,
and standing in full view of the river,
to which sloped banks, shaded by ma
Piles, elms, and willows.
They were all out in the grounds"
the servant told Judith.
And, hearing merry singing, she
stole around the corner of the house,
to surprise them. Elsie, looking up
spied her, and gave a gleeful shout
Her husband. who was sitting on a
bank, started to his feet, and faced Ju-
dith.
1t was Paul The shock was too aw-
full; and Judith, who had never known
days illness, and scoffed at the men,
ton of nerves, fell senseless at his feet.
If she had died then and there, bless
ed and happy had it been for her! But
the efforts of the unsuspicious Elsie
soon brought her back to life, while
warning look from Paul checked the
words that were on her lips.
Heat and fatigue were limited at; her
joyous cousin was too much occupied
with her own happiness to think long
about the matter, and Judith did her
best to shine in the virtuous hypocrisy
and moral suicide line, which women
are SO fond of.
Paul only was silent.
Sitting apart in the shadow, his wife
thought him uninterested and sleepy.
Judith knew his eyes We're fixed on
her-that he was watching every move,
and noticing every infection of voice
Though he was almost as motionless
as If he had ceased to breathe, she felt
that he was questioning her. fercely,
eagerly, and that. spite of herself, she
was answering him.
She blushed, and shrank away in the
very silence and solitude of her own
room, when she thought of what his
eyes had said to her
When she looked into her own heart |
she cried out. and struck her hands
together, and seizing what she had al |
ready taken from her trunk, began to
thrust it back again in desperate haste.
Someone touched her, and spring
ing up she met the eyes that had haunt
ed her.
..Paulr'
"Well, Judith oh. what
depths of tenderness in his voice
'.you are not afraid of me?" |
mo, not afraid"
~ 1
you are going; | know what these prep
arations mean"
Because am not stone nor steel.
l should 60 mad"
Then you did love me?''
IF it will give you any pleasure to
know. yes.
The light that had terrified her be-
fore leaped up in Paul's eyes.
MY darling, you need not shrink
from me. You have nothing to fear.
Only stay. Judith, if you love Elsie,
stay. 1t has been so long since | have ,
been near you, looked into your eyes,
heard you speak Deprive me not of
t too suddenly. Let me contemplate ;
md grow familiar with my sorrow, or
shall die in my despair
''Oh, Paul!' she burst forth, "why
lid you stay away all this weary time,
md why did you let me come here?"
why did you answer me as you did, {
he last night We were together, Ju-
lithP As for your coming, l knew 5
nothing of it. l never dreamed that
slsie's Judith was my Judith t
Poor Eisie"' |,
You pity her? Stay, then. If you
20 now she will learn all. Stay, and i
promise not to offend by word or &
ook." :
So Judith stayed-from pity for t
elsie, said her deceived heart. Cruel t
mercy, that held the poison to her own v
ips day by day. Q
At first the guileless Elsie saw moth '
ng of the tiny cloud arising. that was a
ne day to darken her whole horizon. Il
She fancied that, somehow. Paul and S
Judith didn't agree, and, anxious that Q
hev should know and appreciate one u
notner, was continually leaving tnen +
lone together, fancying that her pres f
nee was restraint. q
By one of those convenient sophis- 3
ries which poor humanity calls in
7hen right and reason have deserted
, Paul argued that because his wife
ras pure and trusting, there was a
estiny managing his affairs over which y
e had no control. h
Presently he ceased to argue at all. n
le took matters out of destiny's hands Y
nd refused to listen to conscience p,
1t was all the worse that he dared =
OF speak out the thoughts of his heart "
[e was all the more eager to be by c]
eyes more constantly sought d
er face. She seemed to move in an n
of his waiting and watch a
illness. h.
Again Judith wished to 60. Again G