The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-06-09


"Now, can manage it II she only cares
Tor him, and II she does not, she shall, will
bring 1t about warrant"
True to her purpose on visiting her old
friend, my wife led the conversation to Rev.
Hardy, and found that Mrs. Gettenbergh
was laboring under q total misapprchension
of the cause Of his departure from her nota-
BILE house.
II liked him much," she said, quite
frankly, land was surprised and grieved
that he should go away SO abruptly. There
Is u certain restraint over us wherever we
meet, which can not account for, but
often think 1t Is because he learned from
some one that had deceived him regarding
my relations meant no HARM" she said
with a sudden burst OF tears, "but he is so
honest and above board himself that he
might not excuse my silence about such an
event Ihave so wished to explain it TO him,
but he never gives me the slightest oppor.
tunity.n
My wife's offer was then made to her, and
with great gladness she accepted 1t, not
knowing who were to be her fellow voy.
agers but because of her love for my wife
| and her desire to have tho benefit Of this
rest and change.
The days passed by swiftly Mrs. Gotten.
bergh was ready before the appointed time,
her, in matter of course way, the day be.
fore we sailed, that Mr. Hardy was to be q
fellow voyager.
"In fact he is, 1 believe, an old college
chum Of my husbands"
She looked distressed.
II thought 1T best to tell you at once"
said my wife, "but of course, it can make
no difference to you"
"Not unless he cares. I should be sorry
! If spoiled his pleasure" she said nerv.
ously."
"A fig for his pleasure" said my wife.
| "We will let nothing spoil ours"
But had not dared to reveal to him my
treachory. He did not see her until we were
out several days. Perhaps she purposely
avoided him. But one morning she sat or
| deck with my wife. He was saunterinR
| along in one of his meditative moods, past
| the groups of people, when, stopping to say
| "Good morning" to my wife, his eyes fell
upon her companion, who arose with some
| timidity to greet him.
It was hard ordeal, but he displayed re,
| markable self-possession. felt proud OF
| him.
Had she not been greatly pre-occupied she
would have seen his more than common in.
terest in her, but hers was one of those
charmingly unseltish natures that never
|
to be inherent in themselves. After very
short conversation he disappeared. found
| him a few moments afterward below.
| whittier had followed him.
'.How could you do this, joint"
'Do what2"
"Why, bring us together again after had
almost fought it out of my heart Tho bat
tie has all to be fought over again. / found
that my first thought was positive and un-
bounded delight for two weeks of unavoid-
able companionship, but how is life to be
made endurable after that."
told him then that she turned out to be an
old friend of my wife's, and was travelling
in our company.
"Then that accounts for her speaking to
me at ELL" he groaned. 81 had observed
long ago that she tried to avoid me, but
here am forced upon her against her WILL"
He said this bitterly, turning little away
from me.
"See here Hardy, said, taking him by
the shoulders and turning him fair about.
"begging your ministerial pardon, you are
too innocent to live. Why can you not-''
Horror-struck, he turned upon me without
giving me time to finish my sentence.
"Do you forget my duty, and her own to
her husbandi" he asked, angrilv.
ibid you ever see her husband!" asked,
meekly.
"No; but what difference does that make
Should I be less true to my brother whom l
have not seen than to him whom have
| seenr'
"Who ever told you that she possessed
| that appendage called husband"'
He looked into my eyes, and his own be.
gan to dilate
''They said"
"Who said2" The idea had never entered
his monks cowl to question the truth Of
''They said"
had the pleasure of telling him then her
history from beginning to end, and of watch
ing the changes that fitted over his eX-
pressive face, and when ended my story
by the words: "And Julius, it is my belief
that she loves you," what did the dear boy
do but fall on his knees then and there,
dragging me perforce, along with him. and
-''Thanlk the Lord" Inever felt quite so
near Heaven in my life before.
"Now, see here old fellow" I said, though
the tears were in my eyes as we arose,
"You are all wrong. You have thanked the
wrong party. You ought to have thanked
me!n
"Our lives are in His hand, he said, with
solemn gladness but nevertheless he threw
an arm about my neck and gave me q broth
er's embrace.
There was a wedding in Liverpool, de-
lightful summer of travel, a winter of
pleasant Interchange Of visits; and now,
Dick, 1 invite you, on my good wife's motion,
to dine with us tomorrow and meet an old
%,,,., O.,