West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-10-05
DIVORCED, OR ONLY 4 TEAR.

1
who had been man and wife. They
we're parted thro6gh the hachina
tions of a Jealous woman, who, fail
ing to inspire a love in the husband,
had set herself towork to make them
unhappy and succeeded. The meet
ing was strictly u business one that
brought them together. Some legal
papers assuring separation had to
be discussed and signed by both per-
sons s'nE3ikoini i1 80
There was wild,imploring glance
in his eyes when they fell on his
wife's face, but she did not seem to
notice it. She seemed nervous and
dispirited, and the white hands trem-
bled visibly, and she did not dare to
raise her eyes to his for some time.
She was ITCHY dressed in plain
black velvet, that, set off her superb
figure. She was much his junior,
but woman in the prime of beau
ty's summer. '7'Hl
He thought Of his lost happiness
with many pang; this woman he
could never call by the sacred name
Of wife again. A harsh decree of law
had snatched her from his side for
ever inoiu 40 Grad .d3aij
This stately. beautiful lady was
"Mrs. Jernyngham'' now, for him as
for all others. He had no right to
take her hand, or clasp her in his
arms He must still the beating Of
his aching, and agenized heart, and
address her as, he might address the
,eriest stranger of her sex, ls, ,,ar
1t was terrible effort. But he
made it bravely, and succeeded in it
far better than he had hoped. 80 ''
She looked up. with a start of SUR
prise, as his cold and measured tones
fell on her ear, She turned deadly
pale as she met his eyes; and then
the color rushed back to her face in
an overwhelming tide of crimson.
She took the chair he brought her,
without q word, and leaned her head
upon her hand for few moments.
Presently she looked. Her eyes
avoided his. But her manner was
perfectly quiet now, and her face was
calm, thoughpale. 9sogml oi igse
I'VE will go, on now with our bur
siness, if you please, sir,"@she said,
in voice as measured as his own
had been. ID
He bowed low, and drew chair
near the tabisswfiere s6Swas seated.
Spreading two formidable looking
documents out on the table before
her. he began examining their na;
ture and contents as calmly as if he
had been some smoke1dried lawyer,
and she his client only. -, Il,
She listened in silence. Nh.
You fully understand the nature
of this deed-Mrs.-madam" he
said, when he had concluded. E.g
II do" i'~' i.,.......,..
"Are you satisfied with the proyls-
ion herein made your future? Can
anything more be done? Can / be"
His voice 2faItered little and
broke. Her hand, lying on the edge
of the legal instrument, trembled
Slightly. '--'' ,t ....,,. d,,5,,
Il am perfectly satisfied, sir,''' she
answered at last. .;,.,.l go
"Then will you have the goodness
to sigr your name within that
blank?" u.yy VI
A pretty, fancifdI tinkstand of
malachite and ormolu stood on
marble slab at the further end of the
room. .........
He rose to bring it. Her dark
gray eyes followed him-was it with
look of yearning love? If so, he
knew it not. ... 80
Returning, he placed the open
parchment sheet before her and
pointed to the blank. - "a "a 80. =
She took up the'p pen. ft--.,
What namep" she said in a low
voice, and again that crimson tide
surged up over cheek and neck and
brow.
"Your-your own, madam" he
answered, coloring painfully in his
turn.
"Alexia Jernyngham,"
She wrote i. calmly, in full, free,
flowing hand. And helooked on the
while, thinking of other days when,
in their own home, he had often
watched her proudly and fondly, as
she signed another name
Throwing down the pen as the
last letter was formed, she rose to
her feet. .- 4
"Farewell-madamr' he said, in
broken voice. And again the dark,
blue eyes were bent upon her down
cast face with passionate, despair
ing love. Oh, why would She not
raise those proud, yet loving, gray
ewes and meet it? -
Her breast heayed tonvulsively
once or twice. She put her white
hand suddenly up to her throat, as
if snmefhin6 had stonned her breath