News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-06-11

even her marriage had not weakened he
affection for her,
Mrs. Sturdy was to receive a weekl
stipend for Lola's board, which job
longed to refuse to receive, but did no
see how he could under the circum
stances.
Tt was a novelty to Lola, this quie
life. She was lying upon the big chintz
covered lounge and gazing out at tn
green fields and the quaint old-fashionet
garden of the cottage. And then tn
knowledge that she could make Johl
Sturdy, such great powerful fellow
tremble at her very touch, amused her
| How he waited upon her, never tiring
even when she became trifie exactine
and perhaps bit cross. He had always
an excuse for her. Her arm paineG
her, or it was lonesome for her. Til
his mother one day, taking his honest
face between her hands, said:
John, John, my son, am afraid
you are lying up trouble for yourself.
The Lord give you strength"
"You will love her mother, for my
sake and-and her own ?"
Lola's arm mended rapidly, and one
evening she suddenly announced her in.
tention of leaving Quietton to join her
sister, who was still travelling with the
circus.
Swinging gracefully to and fro on the
little whitewashed gate at the end of the
lane that led to the cottage, she leveled
this shaft at John, who stood at her
side, wealth of intense feeling darken-
ing his eyes.
"Going away?" he gasped. emo
Oh, Lola I cannot spare you; stay
stay and be my wife. love you SO thai
1 will do anything in the world to make
you happy. You remember Hawthorn
farm, the pretty pace you said you liked
SO much? We will live there. Oh,
Lola, my darling is it so hard to love
me just little ?"
Holding out his arms yearningly, yet
not offering to touch this bit of girl he
could have crushed in his strong grasp,
he awaited her words.
Glancing shyly from under her dark
lashes, while a half-smile quivered
athwart her rosy lips, she answered
"Do you really love me SO much
It's nice to be petted, and Hawthorn
Farm is real pretty place, but it must
have bow-window, and lovely flower
garden p
At this he drew her toward him, and
kissed her SO passionately that, perhaps
a little awed by this strong mans love
for her, she said hurriedly:
81 am afraid do not love you enough.
and perhaps shall not make you
happy"
81 am willing to risk It," he MUIR
INJURED fondly, as he again clasped her
in his arms.
just a month from that day Lola be-
came Mrs. John Sturdy, and they went
to live at Hawthorn Farm, where the
bow-window and everything the young
wife had expressed desire for awaited
her.
For few months not a cloud dimmed
the horizon of this happy pair. Lola
was pleased with her newly acquired
dignity and her power over her stalwart
husband, Then the novelty began to
wear off, and the young wife waxed
restless, and Johns heart ached with
the fear that she was growing to feel
like bird that had been deprived Of its
liberty.
Once when she had driven with him
to the neighboring town he noted the
quick color dyeing her cheeks as they
passed large circus-poster, and with
what eager eyes she scanned the red let
ters, and he made up his mind when the
circus arrived to visit it with her.
But unfortunately he was obliged to
be away that day on business, and it was
not until late in the evening that he re-
turned to find an empty home and few
hastily written words, bidding him fare
well.
His wife had gone back to the circus.
She bade him get divorce, that she was
not worthy of his love, for she cared
more for the old life than she did for
him.
Not word to anyone did the wronged
husband say concerning his wife, ex-
cept that she had gone on visit to her
sister, and that he intended following
her as soon as he could put things in
order.
His mother suspected, but held her
peace, although the sight of her sons
face came nigh to break her heart.
Then he went away, and only sor-
rowing mother knew how he was travel
ing from town to town, following the
fortunes of his wife, yet never seeking
to speak to her, or even enter the circus
to whose company she belonged, just
guarding and watching over her in every
way.possible without her knowledge.
Lola's sister, happy In the knowledge
that her young charge was well provided
for when she gave her into John
Sturdy's loving hands, had with her
-s,-,zlsand- ieined- q -eifeas-en-r route for
California, some two months previous,
and consequently knew nothing of all
this.
Only once during the year that John
followed in his wife's wake did he wit
ness performance, and what then took
place is already known.
=
A pretty sunny room, with bow
window opening upon perfect bouquet
of garden. A tiny mite of two sum-
mers being tossed in the air by papa's
strong arms. As the little girl cIaps her
dimpled hands, voice exclaims:
"Oh, John, how you do spoil baby n
Then two pretty white arms clasp
johns broad shoulders, and a soft
oheek lays itself caressingly against his
rougher one, as he, seating both mamma
and baby upon his knee, answers:
why, how can I help it, Lola, when
she is the image of you p"
With a smile that fails to hide the |
tears clinging to the wife's dark Iashes.
she suddenly raises her husbands hand
to her lips, murmuring passionately:
'Oh, John ! to think I never knew
how much L loved you until 1 thought
you were lying dead at my feet. The
old life that fled to had ceased to exist
Tor me, soon learned, and if had not
been ashamed, should have begged
ny husband to take me back to his
heart long before that dreadful night