Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05


She got no further. He had been
holding little gold and jeweled cane
her gift-within his hand. Suddenly
it was flung. Splintered and broken. at
her feet.
Thus do / break the hateful bond
that holds me, degraded and humili-
ated, not as your husband. but Your
slave! A man must have neither self
respect nor soul to endure the life YOU
lead him. Keep your house-yourself-
your hateful wealth. Would to God |
had had no part in eitherl
My friends" turning suddenly to
the confused and startled guests, .'you
have witnessed the insult my wife has
put upon me-the last of long and
bitter series. Witness, also, the solemn
oath take To leave her here and now,
and never, of my own free will. to meet
her in life again. Mr.. Lester" to Flor
ence's former guardian. Il will meet
you more than half way in any meas
ures to restore this lady's freedom.
Me she will see no more. Farewell,
Florence, once my wife. Farewell for
ever"
He turned and went out from her
presence and their midst without an
other look or word.
Florence's white lips moved dumbly.
She stretched forth her arms as he
passed from her side, and made a step
forward as if to follow him; then with
a painful gasping sigh she clutched
with both hands convulsively at her
heart, and fell to the ground like one
dead.
''Oh, if it could only have been death
indeedr'
This was her cry when consciousness
returned, and showed her the reality
of her misery. The idol of her pas
sionate young heart was gone, driven
away by her own cruel words. life and
the world were left unto her desolate. y
Let me die! Oh, pitiful Heaven. let
me der she prayed.
And for while the prayer seemed
likely to be granted.
Then suddenly Hope stepped in,
and whispered blessed little secret to
her heart that gave her courage to live
on.
Thank God!" she cried, with stream
ing eyes and clasped hands. Il shall
win my darling back some day! | shall
win my husband backln
There seemed but little hope of it as
time went on. Clarence went back to
the old work-a-day life that had been
his before love and marriage gave him
fortune, and for little time, whiel
hurt pride and consciousness of injury
sustained him, found consolation, even
for the loss of love, in the recovery of
his independence.
But this could not last long. AS soon
as the bitter feeling of dependence up
on Florence was removed from him,
the memory of her love. her goodness,
her beauty, and true worth returned;
he began to see the past with clearer
eyes; he grieved for his lost and ruined
happiness; he took, in his own con-
science, his full share of the blame.
Il should have been more candid
with my poor impetuous darling!
should have shown her the power she
had to wound. How happy we might
have been; but it is too late now-all
too Iater'
For pride had him still in its control
In his deep heart he quite forgave his
wife, loving her, longing for her often
oh, how YEARLY! But his resolution
to keep away from her prevailed. The
insult he had suffered had been too
public to be condoned. Nothing but
death should re-unite them.
Months went by. Many II tender
pitiful appeal-only that he would see
her, only that they might mcet-had
come 70 him vrr4 I2ii,,..es4oo-- 1;,1itn i'm
vain. 1t seemed as if they were be-
coming hopelessly estranged, when one
day a messenger brought him word of
his wife's serious illness-pcrhaps her
approaching death.
Mr.. Lester was that messenger. He
entered with stern indignant face,
that changed and softened as he met
the look of weary pain in the eyes of
the self-tortured, unhappy man, who
for pride and anger's sake had shut
himself out from happiness.
You wife asks for you," he said,
briefly. Come with me to her bed
side. if, by Heavens mercy, you may
find her yet alive"
Oh, the SORROW for the true heart
that had left h:r in passionate anger,
vet never ceased to love her-that had
crushed that eager craving down-to
realize that return to her was now be-
coming impossible; that death would
claim the treasure pride had thrown
away. Little could pride do to console
the anguish that brought him to weep
and kneel at her bedside.
Forgive, forgiven she whispered,
faint and low, lying white and sweet
as some fair ruined lily.
Forgive mel" he groaned. 1.-The
fault was mine, and | have broken
both our hearts. Oh, love, you must
not die. | cannot bear it,''
And then he paused in wonder. She
looked on him, through happy smiles
and tears, like one TRANSPORTED. A
tender rose bloomed in her pale thin
cheeks; a glorious light of love, and
hope, and joy shone in her eyes. She
put out a little, snowy, trembling
hand, and raised one corner of the Gov
erlet.
Look" she whispered, breathlessly
Trembling, wondering, almost fear
ing, he arose, and looked into the
snowy nest. Oh, the precious bird
that lay there, sweeter than Noah's
dove of old, that brought back the
promise of peace.
With cry of mingled love and joy,
and shame and penitence, he bent
above them, and clasped them to his
heart together, the mother and the
child.
And stern old Mr.. Lester, closing the
door upon them and moving quietly
away, with tears in his own eyes the
while, murmured softly:
"A little child shall lead them
back to happiness, | trust. Amen!