Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-05-08
CHAPTER XIV.


word that passed between Pauline and
myself, but if wrote them they would
DO sacred from all persons save two
my wife and myself
If my situation was an anomalous one
1t had at least certain charm 1t was
new wooing, none the less entertain
ing and sweet because its object hap
pened to be already my wife in name
1t was ike 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 a JOY greater than l
had ever pictured, her laugh reyela-
ton. To gaze into those bright uu-
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 the time came / should be given
not only wife, beautiful in my eyes,
above all women, but companion and
a sympathetic friend-how can 1 de-
scribe my rapture?
Yet it was rapture not unmodihed
by doubts and fears. 1t may be that
Shaid StOi ldChtu thai Wei soCAuA
trait called by some self-contidence,
and by others conceit. The more +
saw to love and admire in Pauline, the
more | asked myself how could dare
to expect that so peerless creature
would condescend to accept the love
and the life l wished to offer herr l
was rich, it was true, but was sure
that riches would not buy her affection
| I {oII ha,- hot ba,-
own wealth was swept away, she fam
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, L had nothing to offer
her which was worthy of her accept
| ance.
quite dreaded to look forward to
the moment which must sooner or later
come-the moment when l must, ignor
ing the past, ask her once more to be
my wife. No wonder 1 decided to
postpone the ordeal until l 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 l aimed at, l grew
quite humble and depreciatory of what
merits l may have possessed. No Won
der that at times | wished that l were
gifted with that pleasing assurance
which sits so well on many men, and,
time and opportunity being given,
seems to 60 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 Devonshire
lanes, with their luxuriant banks of
ferns on either side. We climbed the
rugged tors We tished with more or
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.
1t 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 it to her. Per-
haps it was the idea which at times
came to me, that Pauline remembered
more than she would own to, kept me
steadfast in this resolution.
1t was curious the way in which she
at once fell into friendly, unconstrained
intercourse with me. We might have
known each other from childhood, so
perfectly natural and unembarrassed
was her manner when we were to-
gether. She made no demur when l
begged her to call me by my Christian
name, nor did she object to my making
use of her own. Had she done so, l
can not think in what form l should
have addressed her. Although l had
instructed Priscilla to call her Miss
March, the old woman stoutly objected
to this, and compounded matters by
, speaking to and of her as Miss Paul
| inc.
The days slipped 6y-the happiest
days my life had as yet known. Morn,
noon and eve we were together; and
fear were objects of great curiosity to
our neighbors, who no doubt wondered
what relations existed between me and
the beautiful girl at whose side [ ever
was.
soon found that Pauline's natural
disposition was gay and bright 1t was
too soon yet to expect it to reassert
itself, yet l was not without hopes that
before long that look, telling of sad
memories, which so often crossed her
face, would fade away forever. Now
and again pleased smile lit up her face
and merry words slipped from her lips.
Although when reason first returned to
her it seemed as if her brothers death
had occurred but the day before, l felt
sure that, after a while, she understood
that years had passed since the fatal
night. These years were to her wrapped
in a mist; they seemed as dreams. She
was trying to recall them, beginning at
the beginning; and need not say with
what alacrity lent my aid.
By common consent we avoided the
future; but of the past, or all the past
in which | was not concerned, we spoke
freely. All the events of her early years
she now remembered perfectly; she
could account for everything ur t. the
time when her brother was s. ruCk down
after that came mistiness; from which
she emerged to find herself in strange
room, ill, and being nursed by strange
nurse.
} Several days passed before Pauline
questioned me as to the part l had
played in her clouded life. One even
ing we stood on the top of a thickly
wooded hill, from which we could just
catch glimpse of the sea, now red
dened by glorious sunset. We had
been silent for some time, and who can
! say that our thoughts were not more in
unison than any words we could have
spoken whilst our strange and uncer-
tain relations continued. l looked at
the western sky until the glowing tints
began to fade, and turning to my COM
panion found her dark eyes gazing at
me with almost painful earnestness.
Tell me- she said, t'tell me what l
shall find when that lost time comes
back to me?' as
Her fingers, as she spoke, were play
irg with her wedding ring. She still
wore it, and the diamond keeper l had
placed above it; but she had not as yet
asked me why it was on her hand.
''Will it come back, Pauline, do you
Think" / asked.
Il hope so-or stay; should l hope
so? Tell me, will it bring me joy or
sorrow?"
who can say-the two are always
mingled"
She sighed and turned her eyes to
the ground. Presently she raised them