Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-07-05
ms WIFE.
Ri MRS. +. ! uRKR COLLINS.

lifted bis hat with courteous salute;
then after on instant's hesitation heli
cut his hand.
"Elainsl Miss somers, this is quite
a surprised"
murmured some conventional reply
and was about to turn aside and enter
the hotel, when q slender figure in q
gray travelling dress suddenly appear
ed-a woman with q beautiful childish
lace, innocent blue eyes and waving
golden hair.
Jacks face grew a triee paler, or l
fanced that ii did, and he said hur-
Iriedly.
miss Somers. allow me TO present
Iyou to my wiiep
His W fel l 70 und myself repeating
the words in my mind, with vague,
bewildered fSclihg stealing humbly
over my heart. His wifel
Well, he hRd q right TO marry
Hwhomeyer he pleased as far as was
concerned, but all the same, the an
procurement struek'to my heart like q
fierce sudden blow,
When wonan has loved man in
secret and silence for long weary year
la man, who, although he has never
asked her to be his wife, has shown in
Ievery way possible his love for her, in
levery way but words such an
Inouncement is rather crushing.
But am accubtomod to self control,
Rand ! found myself greeting Mrs.
Rutherford without an outward tre-
Imor. She sank into seat which
Istood nea and lltted her childish blue
leyes to my face. .....
80 you are Tho Miss Somers of whom
Jack has spoken 30 oftenl" she cried.
"Strange we should meet so soonl We
Iare on our wedding trip" she added
with swift glance into my face-a
lglance of such sharp scrutiny and
penetration that changed my mind in
fregard TO her childish naivete. She
was not es shallow as she appeared.
"School teacher, aren't youH" she
continued suddenly, and somehow
never in my lie did l feel so out OF
conceit with, my time honored profes-
Ision as when JACK Rutheriord's wife
looked at me with those big, innocent
Ieyes, and spoke those words in her
soft, sweet, sneeting voice.
"That 10 my Occupation, returned
Ishortly, and then seeing friend ap
, preaching l excused myself and hast
ened away.
}, "Thank heaven! myAvacation will
Isoon be over" l said TO myself, as
gclimbed the warisome stairs to my
broom: II should die if were doomed
to endure the company OF Mira. Jack
Rutherford for long"
But the wonder of my heart was
this; Why did he marry herr This
babyish, ClinginB little creature, with
doll face and sho wy toilets, her soul.
lessness and lack Of mental capacity.
She was no fit mate Tor him. But
since that day l have encountered SO
many similar marriages that | have
ceased to wonder.
One thing l re- Ilized; that was that
lall friendly INTERCOURSE with Jack, my
Told time friend, was done with tor.
lever. His wife watched him with
Jealous scrutiny; and at last 1t became
positive pain tc me to meet Jack
| Rutherford. l avoided him as much
as possible-he had been too dear to
me for me to stand in the way OF his
Happiness now. Better to sacrifice my
Town pleasure than to cause him pain.
One moonlight night shall never
forget that night until l die-I was
standing alone upon the hotel veranda,
Il gazing out upon the long white beach
where old ocean was surging in upon
the shining sands. | was thinking Of
old times; of the long sails in the
moonlight which Jack and had taken
many time and oft, of strolls through
wooded solitudes with only the birds
land bees and flowers for company, OF
hours passed 10 the dim twilight, or
under the sweet, silVery light OF the
moon, while we talked OF our future;
and though he hid neversaid Elaine,
III love you," what need is there OF
words when heart speaks to heart, and
eyes smile TO each other an unspoken
lover only knew that | was salts
| fed, and my heart rested in calm con-
tent. Then we had parted, Jack 60
ing to distant tpwn to live. Letters
Lad followed, and the correspondence
had continued tor SIX months, when it
Tended abruptly. My last let er to
Hack remained unanswered; but after
la time | wrote again, only to have the
letter returned with line scrawled
upon the envelope to the effect that
MIR ]. Rutherford had lett Wsrrenton
forever, his destination California.
After that had given up all hope OF
Injecting him again, and in few weeks
left my native to wn for theI great me-
Itropolis near, " Iere coon obtained a
position at my old occupation-te
ling. This SUMMER l had treated my
self to q vacation at watering place
Ia quiet, lovely spot-and here | had
Unexpectedly encountered Jack Ruth
Q ford.
was thinking of it all as l stood
! one in the m bonlight, when all al
once hand was laid upon mine and a
pair of gray eyes SO sad and sorrowful
met my gaze. 'Elaine' Git was
! Jacks voice 10 " and hurried) for
lgive me-but rhust know the truth
salthough ii can DO no good nowl Why
did you not ansWer my last letter."
"Why did you not answer miner"
returned, trying to speak lightly and
force smile. His face grew very
Ipale.
II replied to every letter that have
ever received fro IN you, Elainel" he
said eagGrly-'te very onei And when
I failed to hear from you, | wrote you
again and againl Elainel God help
us bothl there has been foul play
somewhere, / svT ear to you"
He broke of hort, his eyes dilating,
his face full OK worldleBs anguish.
Right before us n the shrubbery. be.