Daily Republican., 1888-02-04
n MAD MARRIAGE.


that he did. He explained to her ono
day his views. He said he wanted to
marry TO have some one 10 entertain his
guests and as n companion and ffiend.
They were suited TO each other in
tastes, and IA neither was capable OF
falling In love there WAS no reason Why
they should not gss along very well tU-
gether These were the ter u1s on which
be asked Hester 70 become his wife.
Her tistsr Christine, who had mar.
Fitd for pure love, urged her to rtjset
such a strange proposal, bat to every
ous's surprise Hester accepted Paul
aud Ali bis curious conditions. So this
strange couple we're M arfied and LIVED
together more like friends than man
and wife.
They were uuhspry from the start,
and Paul was the hrst to notice how
pale and hsggaFd his wife was bacon.
Ing since the marriage.
He ackno wledgtd one day thAs they
had made . great NJ mistAke and that q
separation might be the beat thing for
them after al, but REretd - wal. aud
see how things turned on! for q whi Q
longer.
When Hester was alone and her hus-
bstd had gone out, saying he ~nutd DO
late that night, shs gave herself up to
p sinful thought.
All her attempts to make Panl happy
had been vain, all her efofts to win his
love futile. Ttough hs hAd asked her
not TO st up for bls return, she had re-
solved to do so Her memory went
back to her sittsr's marriage, which had
besn msdr for love alote.
Hester WAS not Rivea TO weeping, but
In those lonely hours ahe cried long and
/ miseTabi y. strive al she might TO win
his love, Paul did bat grow more weary
Iof her-thAt IVES tie butdea OF her
lsrisf.
Tue clock ftrlking twelve reused her.
Would shs be fair Ia Pau's sight with
her eyr'iis swollen with shedding
tebL2 ghe ran upttAira and batbed
them, then resrra1Red her hair, con.
o. aliog, ss far AS possible, the traces OF
her HsitAtion w..
"RoR late he Ll Where has be
gon,?" she asked herself. "He tells
me more Of bis sdoiIgS-DeihapB even
lost- than he did wbeu We were only
friends But I'll be ra ient, and surely
me day 1 shall bS re warded."
OIe U'cloct, and he hal not come
She was b ginning to feel seriously un
eaty. Sons accident must have be
fallen him, OF he would suEely not ST )
leu: 30 lAte Aud her flnoy drew her o
lpicture OF her hus band, blCelinK and
nalf dead, being carried TO \ hospital.
Two O'clock. Certainly some desper
ia'e tbiogts had noticed that no carried
watch, had followed AMI Iurprisei
him, and on his resisting had thre WI
Ibiu 10 the Rrcund, tu ljSclirg him tt
savage kioxs and most brutal ill-ugRge
She Went TO tbs window, opened II
licked out and listened There was thl
Isteaiy tread of the p9l.oama an on hi
bea', but no other sound. Every hoas
looked b!snk, and dark, and dead.
When 3 struck sbe WAS stan ling a
her front door, listepln6 with s,raine,
senfee, while before her loomed llk
sems dtesi spec re tho Vision Of fntur
without Paul. Oh. for some klrd sou
to apeak 70, Home one who would suR
Igest cheering possibilities to account 70
hits absepoti
She went In again. 60 unnerved Wit
Idrtad that ber snado =, oass by the lam
utah on the wall, made her start an
tremble.
II Atlas, A step coming eoun th,
deserted street which was lot the D.
lioeman's regular tramp-And yet /
did not sounu Ike PAul's brisk tread
Would 1t pas the house? she presse,
ber hands 10 her breast IS 1t DIRE,
near,r Mol Itere Was the CLICK &
tbe gate latch. IL vas he, for he shu
! tho gate after him. Tsen came th
sound of the key In the door.
Hester stood by the table Ateaiyir
herself With one hand. her faos iii
!. | white marble, when Paul came In,
v Il ha tai
Ispfapg fJraard, for he saw that sh
JEayed and corli scarcely stand. Sh
tiisi to speak, bnt vAlnly, Grd her heA
fol- forward on his shoulder.
Whtn she came round she was lyin
On TIE sofa with her husband bsthin
her face with cold water. She sat u
and lookei at him anKInusly,
'Ol, Pau" Hhs sad with SOD. 81
was beginning to thiuk pometainR lei
, Iii6le had happened to yCu, WIN
kept yon so latt2
"Reot mt7 have bsen walking
that is all. Why did ycu cit up2''
HssteI's eyes were still intent Oh hi
featuIeg.
's1methlps Is the matter. Arc SC
well, Pau
1 He shook bis head. He was still oI
lone knee beside her, and sho laid he
hard, that tremblsd, ON lii thouldsr.
II am Jour wife, dear" she eaid
! with strange ttmidity. ''If you hav
any trouble, on2hA To krow."
Never mind me, he returned
Were you really 81 anxious, Hsstel
am glad"
TELL me-" she en- reated, more ear
ntstly, without needing his intsrrup
ton, what does IL mean, Paul. VIII
: did you go and walk AbJut all thes
honrs, until you are qu.'e worn oul?"
II WAS worried" ne said, abruptly
and tried 10 rise, but his wife hsld hin
hy his arm,
Il, 1 must know, she p rsistad, ap ez
cited fash tinRing her cheek. EAR
/, Iyou uuhsppy?"
II A light cleaned into Plul's mind
! Was it possible that he had been agaii
! ssmistaken? He locked eagerly into hi
wife's face, which was fall OF lovinl
0 anxiety.
Have US been at cross-purposss al
this time? Hester, havs been driver
half mad to night by an idea that An
ashamed to confess. love you m,
dnrlins; and you'-
III you never let nae guess It," Heste
i lead, "a his arm stole round her, ''or
should have l,ng ago owned that
4 loved yon before we were msrfied.''