Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-03-11
THE EBONY BOX.

Could | help it that | was young and
fair, and she faded and past her youth
and never pretty?
l had no idea of doing her any harm
when / came to her fine mansion tC
spend summer month with her.
She told me that she was engaged TIC
BE married, and wanted me to meet
her betrothed husband. 1t was all he1
own doing.
| came, we saw each other, and be
gave me his heart on the instant.
He had never given her that; hel
money had won him, but now his pas
sion for me made him feel that it was
worthless.
One day he told her all. | had fled
back to my home in terror, thinking
that when she knew the truth she might
hate me.
1t seemed so treacherous to come as
her guest and rob her of her lover.
felt that if she struck me, or ev> killed
me. she would only do what was just
and right. But shortly Edwin wrote to
me:
'Mv Darling Bella-Miss Esther
Winthrop is the best and sweetest OF
women; an angel could not have been
kinder.
"'Bela is much better suited to you
AIdn L dIu, SDG NI1NS IICI III '
love. and tell her [ hope you will be
happy. | have long felt that, though
we may ALWAYS be friends, we were never
meant for lovers.
The letter had much more in it. but
nothing that need to write here.
was so glad that she had forgiven
me, so thankful, for now | could begin
TO forgive myself little; and yet had
done nothing but be what Heaven had
made me, and the sort of woman Edwin
Hunt liked.
| had not made an effort to win his
love, only when it came to me, like
dew to the roses in the summer eve,
could not refuse it. We were lovers
now, we were happy.
| tried TO make myself believe that
Esther Winthrop was happy also, but
she looked pale and worn.
When | met her in the street he1
eyes had sunken look and she seemed
lost in reverie; yet when she saw me
she smiled and took my hand, and told
me that | must ask her to my wedding
At least, however, she would have
been strange bride for handsome
young Edwin Hunt. Strangers might
have taken her for his mother. She
was one of those women who, as soon
as early girlhood is past, look hard and
withered. Yet knowing that she had been
so kind and so diligent, so fo-giving to
me, said TO myself that | would never
Judge any woman by her face again, for
Esther Winthrop deserved to be the
loyeliest of living women.
Oh, what blind idiot was l I! Saint
Jy forgiveness never gave such cold
evil light to a Woman's eye, or wrote
such tigress lines about a woman s
mouth
But believed in her then-I almost
worshiped her. When she babe me
come to see her [ went timidlv. WON
<dering always at her sweetness and
courtesy, which never seemed to fail
her.
She came to my wedding; she gave
me the handsomest of all my presents.
She won golden opinions Of all who met
her.
The night of our wedding we spent al
a hotel in the city; on the following day
we were to take an ocean steamer.
There would be a large party to see us
off. and Esther had promised to be one
of them.
Tomorrow How lightly we utter
the word, never thinking what it may
bring forth, or that We may never live
to see it.
That night messenger brought a let
ter to Edwin He read it with smile
and took up his hat.
"You must suffer from curiosity unit
I return" he said, laughing, as he
kissed me. "As they say in novels
the secret is not mine but another's."
Then he ran gayly down stairs, whist
ling as he went. All night | waited hi
return. In the morning he was still ab
sent He never came again. Where ht
went, why he went, what fate had be
fallen him, remained q mystery.
Those were not wanting who nodded
and shook their heads, and said tina
murder could not be hidden SO com
pletely. That any accident must hav'
been known, and that he who had jilt
ed one woman might be untrue t
another.
He had broken his engagement will
Esther Winthrop to marry me. And
tale was told of how he had been seel
with beautiful Spanish girl the da
before, and that both seemed agitated
"Lies! p | cried. "False tales tina
have no foundation; whatever ma
have happened, he was never false t
me-"
But the days passed on and tn
months and years, and nothing wa
heard of him, and surprise gave way t
hopeless misery.
| had impoverished myself in fruit
less feeling of detectives, in useles
journeys to and fro. My parents wer
dead; L was quite alone in the worlc
and then it was that Esther Winthro
came to me.
My big house is a very desolat
place." she said; perhaps two forlor
women can make each other happier
Will you come to me? | ask it as fl
yor to myself"
For awhile I deliberated, then / az
cepted the invitation.
Everything was at my command. n
one could have guessed which of us Wa
mistress OF that elegant abode.
Esther was unutterably generous, bl
soon found that she believed the tale
they told of nay husband. | taxed he
with it.