The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-21

Inv Il1tICI WIS tctticu IcsteTNly.
Tho very mayor who married us
eight years before pronounced us d.
vorced in the came room and before
The game witnesses. My wife was ac-
compauicd by her father, her mother
and two friends, while my two old COM
radcs, who had assisted ut the tying OF
my pretty love knot, came with sad
dGacd iaccs to witness the sevcrins Of
the bond.
4 still bow, exchanged at the begin
ming and tho end OF the ccrciuony. was
the only farewell between two beings
who for years lad never had thought
that was 10. shared. We cat ON Il
bench, whore fvn minutes before, had
beer = smiling bridal pair, aud iclt
within inc en- agitGtion that was painful;
.herc scc,ncd 10 be tension at my
heart ia Il my whole being was about 10
be racied with torture Was itpossiblc
That my companion and Contidant, the
Moman who had c0nSoicd and oiicour-
aEcd me N all my trials, the woman !
had loved so long and so dearly, could
witresS without regret, without 4
thought OF the swccs past, the Gunde--
.nS OF the bond that had united US.
Ny glancc, wandered round the room,
from the ugly mo!ding OF the ceiling to
tho pictures oil the wall, but suddenly
it rested on Il graceful head. with Its
soft, dark hair, which | mad not seen
for four months, and, through the
mcshe' OF my wiies veil, l saw two
sparkling tear drops.
"Shc, too, remembers and regrets"
l thought; 'spcrhaps she could forgive"
Alas, if we two could but have been
alone at that moment! But close be-
side her was the pale, stern face OF her
ia.hc. and the determined one OF her
mother; those two had. from the very
beginning OF the trouble. watched her
jealousy. had tried every means OF
having an interview with Helen, but
my letters had been intercepted, my
messengers turned away, and our only
meeting had been in the presence OF a
magistrate, IN utter stranger, who, with
the best intentions, had by his cold for
mality made matters even worse.
Since that day have not entered my
home. But now, on leaving the mayors
Office, / went TO the house to pack up
my clothes. | knew that | could not.
live there alone among the memories OF
my vanished happiness, SO l resolved
to travel, and thus to fly from all that
could remind me OF my wife and home.
A mutual friend arranged the details
OF the matter: was 10 spend the night
in the house, and the next morning
Babctte, my only child. would be
allowed to come and breakfast with me.
Ats o'clock was to leave; at i Helen
would come TO take away her belong
ings; and rwenty-tour hours the house
would be 40 Let" party OF work
men would come and put it in order ior
the next tenant, and then it would be
lett, empty and desolate, an image OF
my life.
l stopped in the midst OF my packing
to order breakfast such rs would
please my little Babette; held 4 con.
sultation with Lucas, my old servant,
and We chose those dishes that the
child was fond OF. also put aside for
her two little trin!Scts, IL pretty porto
bonheur and u lockct containing my
own likeness.
Poor little Dabcttc! She was blessed
with the happy ignorance OF n child OF
seven, and yet she was prccocious
enough to understand, in her own way,
that there was something serious the
matter between papa" and mamma"
AT 10 o'clock precisely she came, 'ac-
companicd by mymother-in-law's maid,
who said she would return for made
moisclle at in the afternoon.
Who can say where and how little
girls acquire tact? They must be born
with = germ OF it, and, when developed,
il makes them either women OF the
world, capable OF reading ones secret
thoughts, OF. else gentle, patient nurses
for tho sick and wounded. Babctte
asked me ito questions, but kissed me
rather gravcly; sat OH my knee before
the fire, MS was her custom, and, when
gave her the loclict pressed my like
ness to her lips. and hung it round her
neck, whispering:
Il will kiss it every morning and
every night.
When We had finished breakfast, how
ever, she said, abruptly;
''Do you know mammals coming hero
at i ocloch?"
"Arc you not going to wait and GAY
Goodby to hcr?' she asked, and after IN
instan:'s hesitation said:
81 cannot. | have to leave the house
at 8. The train will not wait ior me"
"Why can't you take another train ~
she persisted.
"Bccause-bccause I have promised
TO 90 by that train, and ! must not
break my word, you KNOW"
Then, forgetting her presence, I add
cd half aloud: And yet, ii | could but
see her alono!'
Babettc said nothing more, and while
| continued my preparations Tor going
away, she wandered all over the silent
house collecting her playthinss, coming
back occasionally with doll or a little
box OF treasures, and looking unusually
serious.
Her behavior wounded my paternal
love, for it seemed as ii she were already
Indifferent to our approaching parting:
All too soon tho servant came to take
my darling from me, and needed all
my fortitudc when we kissed each other
for the last time. Never never should
We meet again in our home! The time
dragged after she had gone; but at last
the clock struck three. Then sent my
servant Tor carriage, and while he was
gone went into tho bedroom and stood
looking vt portrait OF Helen, painted