The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-07-31

my wife"
He spoke with exceeding bitterness,
and his eyes grew hot and haggard as
the memory CT the woman to whom he
had bound his fate. foated through hi.
brain.
Clytie evinced no surprise at his
words.
II wonder you did not remember this
sooner" was all she said, and then
looked right away from him.
Remember! Do you think 1 have
ever forgotten ?" he exclaimed, pausina
abruptly in his impetuous walk. "You
cannot understand what it is to be
bound to one for whom you care moth.
ing-one who is less to you than 8
stranger"
Perhaps I can though Imagine you
can scarcely have felt your tie since you
came to Stratford. Does Lady Ruther-
ford never travel with you?"
Never. We do not tread the same
path through life; I could not have
borne that. She was in the south Of
Franco when l last heard of her; she
may be at the North Pole now for all ]
know; l & only hope we shall never stand
side by side again on this earth. ]
think of her as my worst enemy
through her my life's happiness has
been wrecked"
Clytie paled, startled by the pas
sionate bitterness vibrating in his sub.
dued tones.
"How has she wronged y0u?" she
asked, with that same ring Of scorn il
her words which seemed to strike in his
soul when she said she pitied him.
els it not sufficient wrong to me that
she is my wife," he muttered, fiercely.
You have not heard the story, oryou'd
understand"
will you tell mesome day, Sir Len
nox?"
"Ill tell you now if you have the
patience to listen, he replied, gloomily.
"The story is soon told. Ny uncle
the last living relative 1 had-on his
death bed forced from me an oath that
l would marry some one to whom he
had left half his fortune, so that his
wealth might descend to those who
r%ightfully bore his name. I declined to
have any part in the arrangement,
choosing to give up the money rather
than marry a girl I had never seen.
My %obstinacy exasperated him, and q
fearful scene ensued, to end which l con
scented to do as be wished. I knew if /
did not l should be the cause of hasten
ing his end. I need hardly tell you the
rest. We were married, but it had been
previously agreed between ourselves
that we should part Immediately after
the ceremony, which we did, and have
never met to this day"
"How long ago did this happen? %
Clytie asked, her sweet voice sounding
very low and dreamlike after the brief
silence that followed his words.
"Last November. 1t was a black,
dismal day a fit day for such q compact
to be sealed. 1t was more like funeral
than a marriage. l shivered when /
looked at my bride, for she had wound
her veil about her like a shroud, and
the hand she gave me seemed to have
the chill of death upon it,"
"Do you think-do you think the GER
emory was as hateful to her?" Clytie
asked, gazing up at him with an express
sion he could not define.
"Inever gave the question q thought"
he replied, moodily; II suppose she
didn't mind much, or she would have
rcbelled and won the day. Women
have a knack Of always getting their
own way.
"Bntif the old man would not be
contradlcted-if he could not live or
die in peace till this mad whim was
gratifed-how could she fill his last
moments with reckless dissatisfaction
and pain? Even you had not the heart
to hold out longer against his wish"
"No; weak fool that / was! I did not
feel the weight OF the fetter I had forged
on my life till I wanted to use my free
dom. II Ihad never seen you, l should
never have known what I had missedl"
He took her hand, and for a second
held it IN a close, hot clasp; then, drop.
ping it suddenly, lie moved from her
side and commenced his aimless pacing
up aud down.
Clytie watched him wistfully, her
large, innocent eyes more pitiful than
they had been before, the soft bloom
on her cheeks losing its richness.
II am glad you have told me your
story" she murmured, after a long
pause, unable to endure the silence any
longer; II may be able to help you"
He interrupted her with an impatient
gesture.
"Whathelp is there for me?" he de-
manded, harshly, my fate is sealed
with a curse. A home, a wife, the love
of little children are denied me. I am
the most wretched outcast amongst
mankind!"
GO A nd vat po,, hove proo14I Oh ..
wealth that 1 loathe, since it is the
chain which holds me beyond the reach
of happiness"
"You arc very bitter"
"Very," he responded, with a short,
aching laugh. "The greatness of my
love for you makes me So"
She did not heed his words. Her fair
head was bent, 80 that he could not
look INTO her eyes, or be certain whether
the sigh he heard came from her sweet
lips or from the Auttering rose.leaves
dropping close against her face.
"Do you ever think Of the poor lone
ly hand that felt like the touch of death
in your clasp" she asked, abruptly. as
though she feared to let his thoughts
dwell too long upon herself-"the hand
on which you placed a wedding-ringl"
"Since l have known You, l am wick
ed enough, sometimes, to wish that
it were folded away in the grave! Deem
me as brutal, as inhuman, as you like,
but | cannot help it, for l love you, and
her life falls like a shadow between us"
Clytie shuddered.
poor bride!" she murmured, invol-
UNFAIRLY, and q strange, bitter light
came into her eyes.
"You pity her?" he exclaimed, jeal-
ously.
CAS- much as I pity you" she an
swered, steadily. "Her suffering must
be as great as yours"
Not unless she loves as greatly"