The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-02-03
Srlfrt Stuw.
THE WIFE'S SECRET.

Chow on earth could we love her
She had caused such bitter disappoint
ment."
"And bow could Gerald care for q pale
strange looking little witch, with hel
queer name after her French mother
For witch Of course che must be to have
fascinated oor fastidous brother to the
extent of marrying her,"
Gersld was our only brother, 26 years
of age, tall and handsome and The idol
of bis sislers-two Of us-one widowed
and the other, my self. an old maid.
Few sisters are perfectly satisfied, as q
rule, when their brother has found some
one dearer to him than those who have
loved him and administered to his CON-
fort all their lives. Yet think we should
have heen moderately content il bis
choice had been 10 our own taste.
Why it had not been so was just a
myetery. E lith Falconer, whom we had
set our hearts on seeing Mis-. Gerald
Fame, was daughter Of the gods-tall
and divinely fair and it puzzled Us to
know how his heart or his hand could
have travelled toward daughter of a
French Canadian, when our letters were
constantly full Of Edith's beauty and
Edilh's goodness, and when he had made
point of diIating on be. attractions from
morning till eve whenever be was at
home.
Edith was with US when the letter came
bidding Us welcome bis wife legibly writ.
ten in her beautiful blae eyes.
Not that Edith was really 10 love with
bin. hut she had al ways fel, an enormous
interest in the brother of her dearest
friends-sn interest which We had fully
thought would ,ipen into love.
IL shall bring her to you, my poor lit.
lie Stephanie. She would be q1ite alone
in the wide world now il it was not for
me! We were msrried beside the death
bed of her father, and she was scarcely q
wife before she was wholly an orphan
with never q relative on earth have
promised ber so much love from you
both that she will not, | know, feel the
loss OF mother and sister, who were
drowned on their way out TO America
while l shall Gil the place Of all others
father, brother, husband T"
As we read this we telt convinced how
liz was tha, Gerald had married her. II
was from sheer pity. We fully decided
this point and it did not make US feel
more pleasantly on the subject, Tor we
were sure that poor Gerald had been VIC
timized, etc.
We went about our preparations how.
ever for their coming, furnished the rooms
newly aud prettiiy, and did our best to
insure comfort to the bride, but it must
be confessed our hearts were not in our
work.
On the evening they were expected We
bad no one at the house, thinking Sie-
phsnie would prefer having it 30.
That is, we only had Edith Fslconer,
but then she was just one Of ourselves
Gerald looked hBndsomer than ever as
be spraDg out Of the carriage and rushed
up the steps and with radiant face kiss
ed ne both.
Then he ran down again and lifted oul
q tiny figure which he bore in his ar ms
as il it had been child and placing it
before rs said:
"Here's my darling; the Seetest little
darling that ever trod the earth /"
He vent then to attend to the luggage
and she made sort of movement as il
to rush after him, hut stopped abruptly.
Then, with quivering lips, she lifted her
glance toward rs with helpless, wistfu
look; hut presently softer light crep'
into her great, dark. wild-lookinq eyes.
and she clasped our hands and bent and
kissed them
After this we took her into the draw
ing room and introduced her to Edith,
and l saw her queer, dark little face
brighten up strangely as Edith greeted
her afectionately.
"Please call me Ste, and not Mrs.
Fame" she whispered in low, frigh,en
ed voice; "my heart yearns to be called
by that name. Papa loved itp and tur-
ming her face away she sobbed once or
twice. Gerald came in just then and,
shaking hands with Edith, went over 10
his wife at once.
'Come. nv bird. you had better le,
nv sisters show you to your room go az
you can trim your feathers q little," ht
said, lovingly stroking back the soft
fluffy dark hair gently from her brow.