The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-02-11
CHAPTER XIV.
FROM GRIEF TO JoY.

My tale is drawing to an end, al
though l could, for my own pleasure,
write chapter after chapter, detailing
every occurrence of the next month
describing every look, repeating every
word that passed between Pauline and
myself, but il wrote them they would
be sacred from all persons save two
my wife and myself. ....
II my situation was an anomalous one
1t had at least certain charm. 1t was
a new wooing, none the less entertain
ing and sweet because its object hap
pened to be already my wife in name.
1t was like landowner walking over
his estate and in every direction finding
unsupported beauties and unknown
mines of wealth. Every day showed
me fresh charms in the woman loved.
Her smile was q joy greater than /
had ever pictured, her laugh a reyela-
ton. To gaze into those bright un-
clouded eyes and strive to learn their
secrets was a reward that repaid me for
all that / suffered. To find that her in
tellect, now restored, was fit to be
matched with any one's-to know that
when'th time came l should be given
rot only a wife, beautiful in my eyes,
obove all women, but companion and
sympathetic friend-how can. l de-
scribe my raptureP
Yet it was a rapture not unmodilied
iJy doubts and fears. IL may be that
my character lacked that very useful
trait called by some self-confidence,
and by others conceit. The more l
saw to love and admire in Pauline, the
more asked myself how could dare
10 expect that so peerless creature
would condescend to accept the love
and the life l wished to offer herp /
was rich, IL was true, but / was sure
that riches would not buy her affection
besides, as | had not told her that her
own wealth was swept away, she fan
cied her fortune was as large as my
own. She was young, beautiful, and,
as far as she knew, free and amply pro-
vided for No, | had nothing to offer
her which was worthy of her accept
anee.
quite dreaded to look forward to
the moment which must sooner or later
come--the moment when must, ignor-
ing the past, ask her once more to be
my wife. No wonder / decided TO
postpone the ordeal until / felt quite
certain that the result of it would be
favorable TO me. No wonder that
when with Pauline, and realizing the
value Of the prize aimed at / grew
quite humble and depreciatory of what
merits may have possessed. No Won
der that at times wished that were
gifted with that pleasing assurance
which sits so well on many men, and,
time and opportunity being given,
seems to go long way toward winning
woman's heart.
Time and opportunity at least were
not wanting in my case.
had taken up my quarters near to
her, and from morn TO night we were
in each others company. We wan
dered through the narrow pevonshire
lanes, with their luxuriant banks OF
ferns on either side. We climbed the
rugged tors. We fished with more OF
less success the rapid streams. We
drove together. We read and sketched
but as yet we had not talked of love
though all the while my wedding-ring
was on her finger.
II required all my authority TO pre-.
vent Priscilla telling Pauline the truth
On this point / was firm. Unless the
past came back Of its own accord,
would hear her say she loved me be
fore my lips revealed 1t TO her. Per
haps Il was the idea which at time
came 10 me, that Pauline remembered
more than she would own TO, kept m,
steadfast in this resolution.
II was curious the way in which sh'
nj once fell into friendly, unconstraineC
intercourse with me. We might hav,
known each other from childhood, s,
perfectly natural and unembarrasset
was her manner when we were 10
gether She made no demur when
legged her to call me by my Christian
name, nor did she object TO my makinI
ase of her own. Had she done so,
can not think in what form / shoul'
have addressed her. Although l ha'
instructed Priscilla TO call her Mis-
March, the old woman stoutly objecte'
20 this, and compounded matters b,
speaking to and Of her as Miss Paul
Inc. .,
The days slipped blythe happies
days my life had as yet known. Morn
noon and eve we were together; and
fear were objects Of great curiosity b