Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-27
But be failed.

some plhSteI1ng auG paint ana paper,
ell and bigger fire. We must Keep
George warm and comfortable I'll not
forget it,
George made desperate effort to get off
his chair, mumbling loudly and Sarah fol-
lowed the Judge to the door the tears in
her eyes. she was stunned into silence
by the sudden splendors opening before
her.
" Paintn paper, NpaperT' she said I'M
der ner breath, forgetting to courtesy and
bob until he had gone down the lane, when
she hastily began and kept il up until he
was out Of sight.
Mrs. Ferguson was alone in her own
room that afternoon, when she heard her
husbands foot ON the stairs She was
sewing on dress for her married daugh-
ter's baby II was only natural that She
shonld care for the child; but there was
always 4 kind of impotence, an anxious
haste in her love for it, as if she hoped to
find something in it which her life had
lacked which her own children and hus-
band had not given her. She was Il
small woman, with a peculiar, sensitive
face; singularly quiet woman as far as
talking went. But there was something in
her eyes which showed that the live crea-
ture within was not quiet, nor satified with
its position. Her daughters faces were
covered with Il thick ivory skin which
somehow indicated their calm self-poise :
but the color came and went on Mrs. Fer
guson's thin cheeks increasingly. Ii rose
and faded now as she heard the Judge COM
ing up the stairs, and she moved her foot
nervously. Bnt she looked up calmly
smiling, when he came in.
All, is that you? | have not seen YOU
| before to-day, Mr.. Ferguson"
had business out of town. Mrs. Fer
guson." The Judge always gave her the
conventional title, which she preferred of
late years. with an inward groan He
stood uncertain by the fire moment
warming his hands.
Margaret
Something in his voice startled her.
Her work fell on her lap she turned.
viii you come and take drive with
me? | have something to say to you
alone; and-l want to show you some
thing"
Very we'll"
She put Oh her bonnet and wraps
quickly, her hands trembling little as she
tied the strings The Judges old fashioned
buggy was at The door. and he helped her
into it. They both remembered, perhaps.
how he had bought the clumsy old thing
with the fee Of his first large case, and
what : triumph it was, and how often they
had driven through the quiet roads in the
| country, with the children hcaped on their
laps, scrambliag and singing and laughing
together. Different drives from the state
progress now. with coachman and footman
to keen guard
They did moi speak 10 each other while
they drove through the city. Mrs Fergu-
son had fallen into a habit of silence OF late
years, and the Judge was in no mood to
make talk.
At last they turned into quiet lane
which led between some of the rich pas
ture farms of Delaware county. The sky
was covered with low driving clouds, the
sun bursting out cheerfullv now and then.
lighting up the stubble fields into slopes of
shining bronze; the leafless woods rose
an airy, black tracery against the horizon :;
here and there a maple tree famed out a
golden light, or the Virginia creeper covered
the fences with blaze of crimson. But
apart from these sudden flashes. the dav
was sad and somber, as if it waited, John
Ferguson fancied, for some fatal word that
should be spoken.
He looked anxiously forward from time
TO time, to the spire of little country
church that stood between the hills in
lonely place.
What is ?" said his wife, who was
watching him.
mere 10 sOiuttuiiit5 that L must snow
you yonder.'
He glanced down sideways at her face
which was unnaturally quiet, as if she had
put on a mask. He knew that when she
had heard what he had to say it would
wear that look to him always. He would
be done with Margaret forever. He
ought t. be thankful if she would then
keep up the decent appearance of civility
before the world. But now-if she would
only speak to him, and laugh once, like the
old Maggy But once-betore she heard
He watched ner. But her face was quiet
as if cut out of stone
They reached the stile leading to the
church. He stopped, fastened the horse
and helped her to alight. A bit of woods
lay between them and the church ward
She passed through it hastily before him
the dead leaves crinkling under her feet.
He took her hand as it hung by her side,
but it was icy cold, and dropped out of his
as if she were dead.
When they came to the little gate of the
churchyard, he stopped her. There were
few bare trees inside; below them, the
graves covered with the brown leaves
Over some of the marble headstones and
monuments vine, with scarlet stem and
leaves, climbed. A squirrel darted along
the fence and up the trunk of a neighbor-
ing oak
await a moment, Margaret !" Now that
the time had come, the honest old fellow
Numbered into his story in his usual stu
pid, commonplace fashion. There is a
woman lying yonder, under that haw-bush.
| wanted to tell you about her, beside her
grave, so that you may believe every word
say. l could not lie to you about her,
you know, beside her grave"
1t may have been only a womanly inn
pulse of kindness toward a human soul in
dire straits, but she suddenly took his hand
and held it between hers, looking breath
lesSly into his eyes.
You could not lie to me anywhere
John, she said.
Well, l thought OF doing it. That is,
there is a woman vino would have told YOU
the truth, and thought of removing her
so as to hide it. But it would have been
cruel-damnable SO I brought you here
to have it out
go on"
at is something | should have told YOU
before married you. But was a coward
Now, come
He pushed the gate back and hurried her
across the little field to grave in the cor
ner. The bushes had grown across the
headstone. He kneeled and pushed them
aside with shaking hands.
" Do you see ?"
Her eyes were on his face, not on the
craven words.
Can't you see? Virginia Ferguson,
aged 90 She was my Wife
know it, John"
He staggered to his feet. You-how
long have you known it?'
g For five years. Your brother told me
the whole story"
They stood facing each other. silent. The
Judge at last cleared his throat and straight
ened himself with an odd feeling that he
had gotten down into death and must pull
himself up 10 life again.
1t was Virginia that has come between
us, then, all these wears? If YOU had
known her, Margaret, you would have
known you had no cause for jealousy"
1t was not Virginia. She caught his
arms, looking up passionately into his face.
" 1t was secrecy. 1t was the hiding it from
me- l was not your wife when this thing
Lay covered between US. You've told me
now. It's all over. John joint"
All over The Judge caught his wife BY
the hand; then he paused and led her
gently away.
He could not tell her how dear she was to
him, and what il had cost him to lose her
all these years, beside the grave of this
other woman, who had not been dear, and
whose loss had been a relief 10 HIM
4