The Columbus journal., 1891-04-15

as you in such a manne Oh, my own
loved one, what are We to do? You
have every reason for o divorce. Get
one, and let ME make you my own loved
and honored wife,"
How I was tempted at that hour no
one will ever know. l told him it was
impossible. How could l tear mp all
home life at my age and start out
fresh and new? Things went on for
several days until finally one evening
he pleaded with me as I never heard
him plead before-as I did not think q
human being could plead. This plead
ing went on for a long time. 1t was
terrible.
On one side the man you loved more
than life, more han all else. on the
other the training of a lifetime, old
faiths, old habits to be uprooted, all be-
liefs given up, custom and society tram
pied on alike. What was l to do? He
did not force his opinions on me. but he
was pleading for his life, his all, and T
knew it,! Finally I told him 1 would
think it all over and let him know inj
the morning. In that hour l more than
loved him. As l left him l looked I'M
his dear eyes, ard then-well, l gave
him q kiss such as l never thought to,
give any man living. My soul was. I'M
it. for l almost felt it would he ou1
fatal parting. His face flushed, he,
trembled violently. and gently pushed,
me. away, saving: $50, my darling.;
leave ME now, and in the morning tell
me you will be nv own cherished wife
as soon as You can" And. L left him
and went to my room.
No human soul will ever know what
l suffered that night. My dual nature
was at war. On one side every fiber Of
being shrunk in adherence from
the man the law called my husband. I
knew if I tried to he divorced society
would raise its hand against me as
something too bad to he allowed to en-
ter its sacred portals. l was a proud
woman. loved the world. / revered
its customs. l knew its laws were as
unalterable as that of the Modes and
Persians. Ii l married this man l knew
it meant ostracism complete and entire.
Then l tried to reason out why l loved
the man. He was far from handsome,
slightly pale, of medium height, not
very talkative, and still l loved him.
that was the sum total Of all my reason
ing. That was all / could make out.
Suddenly, without any warning, l felt
the blood rush to my head. / could
feel it begin at my feet and rush up, as
if in waves, to my head. The pain was
terrible. As the agony became unbeara-
BILE l fell PROSTATE on the floor and be-
came unconscious. :
= =
1 was aroused by hearing voices and
the remark: is she not beauti. ul as
she lies there? How sad that she should
have died so suddenly: and, worst Of
all. her husband away from her! We
have telegraphed to him at several
places. In the meantime, however. she
had been prepared for her long rest"
The whole thing rushed Over me; I
had been found, to all intents and pur-
poses, ~lifeless On the floor after that
night of suffering, and they were now
robing me for the tomb. l tried to crN
out, but my voice was dumb. l tried to
speak, to stir; but in vain. l was in
deed dead. For q moment l thought
my brain would turn, and then l grew
calm. l thought of him. l knew how
he would sorrow for me. That seemed
to be my greatest grief. After awhile,
when they had decent!v composed my
limbs, drawn. down the blinds, and
placed a few sweet flowers in my folded
bo,l, kboy Joft mo olopo ~, Z, opUu;Sh
1t grew dark, and l knew ! had been
dead a night and Il day. Slowly thu
shadows fell over the tired world, and.
strange to say. instead Of feeling wild
with horror, l grew calm, and lay there
thinking of him.
Thought over my past life, regretted
bitterly that l had ever spoken an un.
kind word to my husband--regretted,
as all OF MS must do, that l had been
unkind to any one; but. perhaps, o
that l had died SO suddenly, they would
forgive me. ! think then l must have
lost myself in sleep. for l was aroused
by hearing yoices-horror stricken
voices-sa, ing to each other that on re-
turning home and hearing the fata'
news of my death my poorhusband ha6
fallen with a stroke of apoplexy.
Ny husband dead! Thank God, he
was spared this living death. And
then it all rushed wei me how 500 }
would be placed in the casket. the LID
fastened down, and then -then l almost
groaned in my agony, butt did not.
! could zeal the happy birds singing to.
each other outside the window. the
rustic of the leaves as they whispered
together, and the swaying of the
branches. Presently the door opened
and four men came into the ROOM. |
could distinguish them by their voices.
They bore with them my last resting
couch. | think that again / must have
fallen asleep, for when l. came to l