The national leader., 1889-02-09

ly the scenes of the morning again came
before me. / moved restlesSly upon
my pillow. In moment Jean stood
by my side,
"Mr. BayardI" 1 questioned.
"Where is he?''
''He sailed. dear, on your wedding
day three weeks ago to-day. His busi-
ness was imperative, and so he left you
in our care, You have been very Iii,
Kate, and must not excite yourself.
When you are stronger there is note
from him We were to give you, Try
and sleep again."
/ heard her words with scarcely a
sensation, unless one Of relief, and
closing my eyes was soon lost III dream
land.
Between sleeping and waking, in a
sort OF stupor, the hours glided into
days, and the days into weeks, during
which, gradually the strain upon my
brain relaxed, and strength crept back
into my frame.
Almost a month passed before his
letter, In obedience to my request, was
in my hands. l broke the seal with
languld Indifference. and read the lines
his hand had penned:
imperative business, dear Kate. de-
mands my departure, but | leave you
in the hands Of those who will take
every care of you. You Will find at my
bankers unlimited credit, and / beg
you will use freely the funds | have
placed at your disposal. Make for
yourself home where you will, and
say to your father it is my desire your
sister Jean should be your companion.
l ask only that you may be happy.
Your husband,
PAUL BAYARD."
AS | read, there crept over me only
the sense of freedom-that l was unfet-
tered to dc as l would. Eagerly call
ed Jean, and said:
Your every wish, darling, shall be
gratifed, so that some day, when you
meet your tate, young and handsome,
whether he be rich or poor, you shall
have no need to question.
Two years gilded by. My every am
bilious dream was realized. Some
times, in my own house. surrounded by
guests, sense of the strangeness of
my position would steal over me.
Without thodght ran into my draw
ing room, and stood amazed.
A gentleman, with hair Streaked
with gray sat upon the sofa and rose
upon my entrance l bowed as to a
stranger. "Kate," 1 heard voice
say, and in another moment had rec
ognized my husband. l welcomed him
as warmly as could. but it all seemed
SO strange, SO new, l could not tutor
my lips to say all wished they might
utter. Yet in the months that follow
ed, found him no curb to my freedom.
My wish seemed his law. He never in
tr6ded his presence upon me. and |
grew to watch for his coming, to see
him mingle among our guests with a
gracious word for all, with pride.
Miss Raymond was the belle with us
that summer. Tall, elegant and grace
full, she queened it royalty. AT first 1
watched with pleasure the sparkle in
her eye, the flush upon her cheek, as my
husband approached. Talking togeth.
er. they would seem TO forget our very
existence and live i'll world apart; but
gradually another and a different feel
ing took possession of me.
| grew to watch them with feverish
eagerness, and now and then to steal
beside them, and kneel, perhaps, at my
husbands feet, to listen while he told
her some tale of adventure or travel.
At such times he would always pause to
give me smile of welcome, or pass his
hand through my hair. or in some way
give me token that he knew l was
near. One day, laughing and talking
with Mr.. Coburn, one Of my husbands IS
friends, he turned suddenly, and said:
"How much we shall all regret when
Mr.. Bayard leaves usI How can you
let him go?
A hand of Ice seemed clutching at
my heart as | answered, as indifferent
ly as 1 could:
''He does not, I believe, talk of leav-
ing shortly? l have not heard him ex-
press any such determination"
'sIndeedl Then I fear l have done
wrong in telling you. He told me this
afternoon he expected to sail next
month for Europe, to remain Indefinite
ly. I presume he dreaded letting you
know his determination. | regret ex-
tremely | have unwittingly done So"
AS soon as could escape unnOticed
left the room. / returned, shifting
and opening the hall door, stepped out
upon the lawn. The grass was heavy
with dew, the night air damp, but had
rain been pouring from the clouds ]
should not have known it, when sud-
denly a voice called my name. My
husband stood beside me.
kate, what are you doing, child,
out in this damp air? Are you Sc
wretched that you must wander of
alone by vourself2 Poor little grip
At the sound of his voice courage
came to me. l sprang into his arms,
and laying my head on his breast, Sob
bed out:
paul, do not leave me again. Take
me with youl''
''My wifel Do you mean it?"
"Indeed, indeed | do. My life has
been SO empty all these years, though
knew it not. know that am but a
child. but you shall mould me as you
will: only try to love me again, only
take me wherever you may CO.
Closer and closer felt myself drawn
into his embrace, while upon my lips
fell the first kiss my husband had ever
imprinted there.
..0n vour wedding day Kate. / over.