Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-06-27

expression Of utter misery; her step was
slow and feeble, aand she trembled as If
unable 70 support her own weight She
seemed to have aged years in that one
hour of anguish passed in the room en-
tered with such light step and happy
heart
Slowly she went to her own room.
Baby Bertha lay in her dainty cradle
sleeping profoundly in morning nap,
and the young mother, sinking upon her
knees beside her, found some relief from
her agony IL u pass.on os tears and sobz.
Again and again her husbands name
mingled with the means wrune from her
white, quigering lips, till the violence OF
her grief waAcncd the sleeping child.
who broke into wailing cries. For a
moment the mother forgot her OWL grief,
as she soothed the little one with all
loves tender caresses, kissing the velvet
cheek, and whispering soft vorls of af-
fection.
But When tie child lay ouitel in her
arms, the shadows fell again over Isau-
ra's face, and her tears dropped fast upon
the little face nestled against her bosom.
The burden OF grief was not lifted,
though the first wild paroxysm was over.
Isaura Gardiner WAS a fair woman t.l
but slight, and possessing much beauty,
of a purely blonde type, ripping, golden
hair and blue eyes, with a soft delieate
complexion Her disposition was oentle
and lovinr IN \ remarkable degree SIT
ing well the exquisite bcautl of face Il.
| FORM
It is no exaggeration to say that she
actually lived in her affections, and these
were centered absolutely in her husband
! and child. Orphaned when only ten
years old, she had been under the guar
dianship of her aunt, passed from one
boarding school to another, spending
! even her holidays i'll the care of her
/ teachers, unless invited to visit a fellow
pupil.
1t was during such visit in the vii
lage that was to become her future home
that she met Julius Gardiner, and her
heart, starving for sympathy and COM
| pansionship, sprang at once to answer
| \ al nf
She had never known what it was to re-
ccive such affection as her love: gave her,
and she gratefully returned it. And il
her love she had found only happiness.
! It was julius who had consoied her when
her aunt died, leaving her alone in the
world Julius who had urged a speedy
marriage, that he might have the right
to comfort and protect her. Julius who
had made bridal tour OF his long busi-
ness journey and given her every leisure
hour to explore all the sights Of the many
new places in which they sojourned
julius who had watched her tenderly
when her life seemed going from her
after baby came, and gave her new life
by his loving voice and gentle carcss.
She had thought their love perfect
as strong in his heart as in her own. But
on that June morning, al this happy Ger
talnty had gone from her, aud her hear
seemed breaking at the loss. She tool
no further interest III the exploring .ex
petition through the old house upol
which she had started 50 merrilv, ba
rocked her baby in Der arms, and muse,
over the one appalling discovery she ha'
already made.
julius found her so when he came i!
to his dinner, and az xiously inquired th
cause Of her woe -bcgone face and re-
eyes. But for the first time his tendc
sympathy met a rcpulsc; not al an9r
one. but one that was equally puzzlln
to him, it was so full Of mute reproacf
and no entreatics could give him any es
planation of the cause.
For days, this atmosphere OF glool
. and mystery hung about Isaura. ST
+ neglected all the little household dutie
G in which she had delighted; she woul,
t sit for hours in silence and idie1ess, he
face white, her eyes fixed mournfull
on vacancy.
Julius was distracted. Loving h
I wife with oil the fonincss of tende
, true heart, be was grieved and angere
to see her frettiny constantly, yet refu
: ing to give any reason for such excess
sorrow.
J, In vain he tried By every tender d
. vice to win her confidence. She on
i kept more profound silence, while !
e most evidently doubling the sincerity