The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-04-15

who should have been the girls pro-
tector, but who was completely fasci-
mated by the lovers attention to her.
self.
Mark said but little to me, but /
knew that he suffered keenly. He
made some inquiries in the city about
Henry Parker. and was convinced that
he was an advcnturcr. think my
brother could have borne his own bur-
den better if Alice had chosen man
worthy Of her love. but he feared for
her future happiness, thinking her
betrothed had dazzled her imagination,
rather than won her heart.
When we received cards for the
wedding ! thought Of refusing to at
tend, but Mark decided to 60. and we
sent our wedding gift, and went up to
the city to be at the ceremony in the
church and the dress reception, after
wards. 1 could not wonder then
when | saw Henry Parker that he had
won Alice's love. He was superbly
handsome, and had the winning man
ner calculated to change her timidity
into trusting love.
And he took the love and the trust
to betray both, to change the love and
10 shuddering horror, the trust to q
shrinking fear. Little by little the
poor girl reused To the fact that her
husband dcspised the very gentlcness
he had SO often praised, and the charm
of a tull purse was what attracted him
TO his wife. Probably q father or a
guardian would have protected Alice's
fortune after marriage, but it was in
her own control, her mother being her
only guardian. Aud Henry Parker
spent it freely; at first in a profuse
style of living, in Injuries his wife
could share, but later in gambling and
low vice, travelling the downward
path with fearful rapidity.
Six years after his marriage he de-
serted his wife. who returned to her
mother. ard year later the news
papers gave her the account Of his
meath in bar-room. where he was
shot in schuflle.
II was after year of widowhOOd
that Alice Parker came once more to
Claymont. her sweet face pale ami sad.
and her blue eyes often drcamily
mournful. She was but little changed,
though older and gravcr. than
in her girlhood; for her timidity
was. if changed Al all, only increased
by the trials of her married life. She
was SO nervous that an unexpected
sound made her start in positive terror,
and where the pretty fitting color had
been in her cheeks, there was only an
J.,I .,,I,n he So Wt1n A
The free country life. the pure air
and quiet seemed to help her in re.
gaining something Of her chcerfulncss-
and Miss Arnold astonished us all by
her tenderness. She treated her nice
like a sick baby, anticipating lee
wants. coaxing her appetite. and bring.
ing her curt sentences, that were usu-
ally like pistol-shots, down to tones or
cooling gentleness.
1.-The poor darling!' she said to me,
with tears in her hard eyes. ''How
could anyone have the heart to say a
rough word 10 her? could as soon
strike an infant as trouble her, the
pretty dOve"'
But what was the best medicine for
Alice was soon apparent to me. She
had learned to value such love as
Marks, and she understood at last
what his attentions meant. For seven
years he had kept her image in his
heart, and when once more he could
honorably WOO her he made no secret
Of his devotion. She frightened visi
bly,. the shy, blue eyes looking more
frankly into Marks than they had ever
- x,nsnn 1rnosspu
its quivcf when she spoke to him.
Very gladly did | hear that my
brother had won the heart he coveted
and very sure was that it was all his
own, with far truer, more womanly
love than Alice had given in her girlish
lnfatuation to Henry Parker. And l,
who knew Mark SO we'll, knew thai
each Year would but add to his affec'
ton and that Alice need never know
again what it was to fear her husband
The long bright summer passed hap.
lily. and iii September Alice was to re-
turn to her mother to prepare for .
quiet wedding and an extended foreign
tour.
1t was the evening before she was te
leave us, that Miss Arnold invited
Mark and myself to tea. We were al
in the parlor, early in the evening
when a gentleman asked for Mrs. Par
ker and Alice turned very white as sh,
introduced Mr.. George Parker.
My husbands brother" she said
aside TO me. HE was always yer,
kind to me-"
For a few moments after his intro
NJ.
silence. Then he said very suddenly
II do not know whether my new
will be good news or bad news to you
Allie. come to tell you rs soon a
possible after hearing it myself, tina
Harry is not dead.
Alice did not faint nor scream
White rs death she said steadily:
.'Why did he conceal it from me?''
He did not Intentionally. He wa
left for dead, and SO reported, after tn
trouble in St. Louis, but he was onl
horribly wounded. Somebody tool
him to hospital, but as he got bette
in other ways, the doctors found hi
brain was weakened. He Was sent +
an insane asylum, and it was only tw
weeks ago that he recovered his SAINT.
| enough to send for me. Invent to min
at once. and brought him to my house
He asks every hour for you, but ough
IL warn you that he is still very queer
| The doctors say he is harmless, and q
he wanted very much to come to me
took him out. l should not have LEI
him in pauper asylum at any time
but | very much fear he will have to 9
to private insane hospital befor
long. He is strong and well, and ma
live for years.
Yes. | shall 90 to mothers to-mol
row." Alice said. will you brin
him to me?,'
There seemed no question Of he
duty in her pure heart, but the hope
less misery of her fair face was heart
breaking to witness. Mr.. Parker LEI
in time for an early return train to tn
city, and Miss Arnold took me to he
own room to look at some lace.
.Let them be alone, she said to me
| at il for the last time / know Alice