Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-10-16

Nor"
-You must have some great sorrowf'
'Very great.
what is your manner"
Flora Cleveland, she said. simply.
The man looked bswildered.
"Will you tell me where you liye?" be
asked.
plicity and perfect indifference. She /
she was saying.
-Ahl just below here,' said the off,
Ger.
EYES," she rejoined.
will you take my arm?"
She did so quietly, and they started
slowly down the street.
Eugene had Just reached the house, and |
heard with stupehed surprise, from the
lips of the lady's maid, the details Of his
wife's mysterious disappearance, when the
bell rang violently.
He rushed out and met his wife on the
stairs. She had somewhat recovered her
calmness, and as he interrogated her with
a searching glance, made aghastly effort
to smile.
Il was slightly ill and went out lit
tie" she said. Il walked too far and am
somewhat tired"
Notwithstanding the improbabiIity of
the explanation, he did not hesitate. He
murmured few soft words ofHeprorch
and placed her in the hands of her maid,
who removed her wet garments.
During that time he called the officer,
who remained in the vestibule, and close
ly interrogated him.
On learning where he had found Flora,
Eugene knew at once and fully the whole
truth.
He went directly to his wife. She had
retired and was trembling in every limb.
One of her hands was resting outside
the coverlet.
He rushed to take it. but she withdrew
it gently, but with sad and resolute dig
nifty.
The simple gesture told him they were
separated forever.
By tacit arrangement proposed by her,
and as tacitly accepted by him, Flora be-
came virtually widow.
| He remained for some seconds immova--
BILE, his expression lost in the shadow OF
n curtain; then slowly left the chamber
The idea of lying to defend himself never
occurred to him.
His line of conduct was already ar
ranged-calmly, methodically. But two
blue circles had already sunk around his
eyes, and his face wore waxen pallor.
His hands, joined behind his back,
were clenched together; and the ring he
wore sparkled with their tremulous move
ment.
After half an hour he stood in the door
Of her chamber.
-Flol" he said.
She turned her eyes cleaning with
fever upon him.
Flo, / am ignorant of what you know,
and shall not ask you," he continued,
as he stepped into the room and ap-
preached her bed. Il have been very
criminal toward you, but perhaps less so
than you think.
Terrible circumstances bound me with
iron bands. Fate ruled me! But seek no
palliation. Judge of me as severely as
you wish; but beg of you calm yourself
preserve yourselfl
aYou spoke to me this morning Of your
presentiments of your maternal hopes.
Attach yourself to those thoughts, and
you will always be mistress of your life.
As for myself, | shall be whatever you
will me--a stranger or friend. But now
feel that my presence makes you i'll. |
will leave you for a time, but not alone.
Would you wish Mrs. Morgan to come to
you?"
"Yes," she murmured, family.
Il shall go for her; but it is not neces-
sary to tell you there are condolences one
must reserve from ones dearest friends.
Except motherf" She murmured the
question with supplicating agony, very
painful to see.
He grew still paler. After an instant:
Except motherl" he said. BE it sol"
She turned her face and buried it in the
pillow.
-Your mother returns tomorrow, does
she not?"
She made an affirmative motion of hel
head.
"You can make your arrangements with
her. I shall accept everything"
"Thank you," she replied, feebly.
He left the room and went to find Mrs
Morgan, whom he awakened, and briefly
told her his wife had been seized with {
severe nervous attack. the effect of chill
The amiable lady ran hastily to Flor'
and spent the night with her.
But she was not the dupe Of the ex
planation Eugene had given her. Womel
quickly understand each other in thei
grief.
/ Nevertheless she asked no condolences
| and received none; but her tenderness tt
the stricken one redoubled.
During the silence of that dreadful
! night the only service she could rende
i her was to make her weep.
Nor did those laggard hours pass les
J bitterly for Eugene Cleveland.
He tried to take no rest, but walked VI
! and down his apartments until dayligh
in q sort of frenzy. The distress of thi
poor child wounded him to the heart.
The memories of the past rose befor
him, and passed onward in sad process
sion. Then the morrow would show hin
the crushed daughter with her mother
) her loving mother. Mortally stricken il
/ all her best illusions, in all her deares
0 hopes, in oil connection with the happi
d ness of lifei
t He found he had yet in his heart livel.
Q feelings of pity; yet some remorse in hi
conscience.
: Strange to say, this weakness irritate
{ him, and he denounced it to himself.
: Who had betrayed him?
: This question agitated him to an equa
degree, but from the first instant he ha
8 not been deceived in this matter.
!. The sudden grief and half-crazed con
viction of his wife, her despairing att
1 tude, and her silence, could only be ez
Q planned by strong assurance and certai
d revelation.
After having turned the matter owe
q and over in his mind, he arrived at tn
conclusion that nothing could hav
d thrown such clear light into his life say
J. Clara's letters.
He never wrote to Mrs, Elliston, bu