The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-05-07

said; ''the remembrance of my blinl
jealousy always brings pain to me-"
ut brings pleasure to me. William
for it seemed to me that needed tina
proof of your trastfulness. am, in
deed, happy woman. happy beyont
the power of words"
81 am blest in your love, my dar
ling"
for it hourly and daily"
In this way, without one discordan1
element, the story of those two live.
passed rapidly before the dreamer. HI
saw them in their youthful welded
days, contented and blessed. Years
passed swiftly over their heads. and
children grew around them adding t.
their happiness. Every day was not 8
day of joy. Sorrow and sickness came
to them as to others. and he beheld
them weeping in the chamber of death
over the lifeless form of one of theil
children. gathering consolation in theiI
bereavement from their natural affec.
ton, and from their firm belief that He
whose all-seeing eye watches equally
over all would. in His own good time,
bring their darling again to their arms.
And SO. through the valley of the years,
he followed the record o ftheir honored
lives until they were gathered to the
fold of Him whose children live through
all eternity.
Again he heard the voice of the spirit
shadow: '.Such lives as these are the
reward of Faith and Love. Doubter Of
what is most holy and beautiful. behold
what shall spring from the seeds you
have allowed this night to be set within
your HEARTH
Again he saw his home and farm,
but, ali. how changed! Neglected lay
the rich fields around his homestead;
and in his garden overrun with weeds,
stood Laura, looking out upon the
landscape. Could this be the Laura
whom he loved? Although the familiar
features were there, the expression of
accustomed unhappiness upon them
struck him with fear. Presently his
second self came toward her; bu: she
was not, SIS before. taken to her hus-
bands embrace, and he made no re-
Spouse to the yearning look with which
ever and anon she raised her eyes to
his. In silence they walked side by
side to their house.
"Who has been here, Laura?"
No person. William"
You are sure of thatr'
Indeed. indeed" she replied. with
a heavy sigh, "there has been no per-
son here"
He received her assurance with a
sheer.
ave men are not a match for you
fair womenI'
She turned from him, sobbipg, and
William recognized that an unhappy
home was here before him, darkened
by doubt. gloomed by mistrust. Love
did not illumine it: faith did not sane
tify it.
In the evening, tie wife crept hum
bly,. bcseechingly, to her husband $
side
. William" she said, timidly, sis
this to go on forever"
:. 1t is for you to decide" he replied.
morosely.
What can I do?" she cried ooh.
what can doe Why do you still con-
tinue to doubt me?"
Why do you give me cause?"
Heaven knows l do not! You
have an evil spirit in your heart. and l
am weak and poweriess against it. BY
the memory of our dead child / have
been true and faithful to you in deed
ard thought. o William, our past life
has been very very miserable. Let it
go. and all our misery with it. Do not
darken the days to come, there is no
cause-indecd. indeed, there is no
cause! Cast from your heart the doubts
that beset you. and do not entirely
wreck our future. 1 love YOU still, de-
spite your unkindnesS.n
.'Of course" he said. bitterly: "my
unkindness-throw i: all upon me.
Like all YOU women. But am not
vet quite blind. Stephen Winkw orth
was right-you are all false alike
William, William!'' she cried, tears
of anguish in her eyes, '.you have
broken my hearth
But he left her abruptly, without re-
ply-left her to weep over the cold
ashes of her love.
Thus passed the yesrs. Thinner and
paler grew the wifc-more morose and
haggard grew the husband-until the
hour arrived when she lay upon her
bed of death, her wan face looking up
to his, while the angel of love and the
demon of doubt still fought their battle
within his soul.
kiss me. William" she said, slowly
and painfully. II am sorry, yet glad.
to leave you. Our life has not been
what hoped it would be. How hap
py we were before we were married
in the dear old days! How bright the
future was. But all my dreams died
years. long years ago. 1t is too late
now to endesvor to bring them to life;
but We shall meet again--in the Here
after, when all doubt is cleared away.
In that good time you will know me
better, and will love me again, "a 10
the old DAYS, will you nots
He choked back the spasms that rose
to his throat. and, in 3 sudden agony
Of remorse. knelt by the bed and laid
his hand in hers.
THANK Godr' she said, with glad
light in her voice as she held his hand
to her wasted breast, and then raised
it feebly to her lips. 1T is all over
life was very hard to bear without your
love. 1 gave you all Fay heart, William;
but you took yours from me-and it
was my life. my life! When l am gone.
think of me sometimes. with love in
your thoughts. Look, William, look"
she rose in her bed. and pointed ont
of the window-..there IS fathers
house! The snow is falling-is it
Christmas, then. Beautiful shadows
are moving all around. Kiss me, Will
lam, for the last, last time. All, my