The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-18
OPHELIA'S VALENTINE,
Which She Pretended Came From
Another WOman's Husband.

w AiSh O4lO OIOl4AONA NSbA44O l. I'LL
Another WOman's Husband.
1t was a dreary night, dark, cloudy
and windy. Bertha Westervelt sat be-
side the window looking ont upon the
passers-by, envying them their erect
carriage and strength rs they hurried
along. Then, with piteous sigh, she
cast her eve downward upon her own
frail form.
At that moment the door opened and
a lady swept into the apartment. To
very near where Bertha sat, the lady
drew a chair and dropped into it.
"How very melancholy you look in
this dim twilight" she said, softly.
..Do I?' questioned Bertha, absently.
Eyes, indeed. do wish you would
lie more cheerful for | am sure it must
lie very depressing to Godfrey. l know
he feels il, he wears such 4 somber air
when he leaves you. 1t is very unfor-
tunate for him that YOU should become
an invalid so soon after marriagem
Very" responded Bertha, tremu-
lousy. surely l will get my strength
soon now?"
For a moment. in profound silence,
the lady regarded Bertha.
'.Do you believe so, Bertha Wester-
welt? Why, Thought you knew better. "
''I-I-what do you mean, aunt?"
she queried, pitcously. Her heart
seemed to stand still; what new horror
was to descend upon her now?
why, | am sure Godfrey knows it,
and thought, of course, you did. You
have ALWAYS been delicate, and now
the physician thinks you are troubled
with hip disease. There is no perma-
nent cure for that complaint; you 90
from bad to worse, as it is vulgarly ex-
pressed. Poor Godfrey
Bertha threw up her thin, white
hands as if to ward off a blow; but she
uttered no word, gave vent to no cry.
Uncomfortable, from the death-like
silence that her speech had produced,
the lady, after fidgeting a moment,
arose and left the room.
At that moment Bertha'S eve fell
upon her husband walking brisklv up
the street, his cousin, Ophelia Brent,
beside him. She was radiant brunette,
sparkling and vivacious in manner,
though there was something in the eX-
preston of her greeniSh-hued eyes and
around her mouth that made Bertha in
stinctively distrust her.
''She is the one he loved before he
met me-" she groaned, land whom he
would have married. And now | am
n cripple-perhaps for life. God help
mer'
Her head dropped upon her hands;
her cup of grief was full to overlooking.
Il have just left Bertha asleep said
Mrs. Brent, in a low tone, to Godfrey.
Il think you had better not disturb
her"
Godfrey opened the door softly and
pcered in. The room was so dark that
he could only see the outline of his
wife in her chair by the window; as
she did not speak he concluded she
must still be sleeping, and so closed
the door softly.
Il am in hurry to return to my
office" he observed, $50 will have din
ner now. Explain to Bertha when she
awakes why did not wait for her"
He ate few mouthfulS in silence
anu lGltu ltll tllt liOuNT. Ills W liC
heard the door close behind him and
watched him hurry up the street.
mo wonder he avoids mel" she
thought, bitterly. What am l to
do?''
The next morning dawned clear and
bright. 1t was Valentines Day and
the poStmen were darling hither and
thither with their precious missives.
Ophelia and her mother sat in the
room with Bertha, toying with some
worsted work. The very sight of the
two women made her nervous and
wretched, but they told Godfrey how
much care they took of his dear wife
and kept her from thinking of her i'll
ness. so they were welcome guests.
Miss Ophelia Brent" the postman
said at the door, and the maid brought
the misSiye in.
"a valentine for me-" Ophelia ex-
claimed, with delight See, Bertha,
what it is not be married.
She tore the envelope open, read the
contents; then with profound sigh she
replaced it and put it in her pocket.
Bertha thought no more of the little
scene, until few hours later she saw
Ophelia's little pug playing with it
under chair. She went over to rescue
it from him. In taking it from his
mouth she recognized her husbands
well-known chirography. She looked
at the envelope moment; a great de-
sire took possession of her to know the
contents.
at surely can not be wrong" she
whispered to herself, and flushing with
conscious shame, she pulled the neatly
folded sheet out.
my lost darling" she read, ''lost by
my own mad folly. can not restrain
the desire to take advantage of faithful
Valentines Day, to tell you how dear
you are to me still, and how much hap
piness your simple presence gives me
in my miserable home" The flush
died out of the wronged wife's cheek.
and was succeeded by an unnatural
pallor, as she continued: 81 have to
keep my passion concealed for fear of