Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-06-12

fection.
But when the child lay Quilted 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, tall
but slight, aud possessing much beauty,
of purely blonde type, ripping, golden
hair and blue eyes, with soft, delicate
complexion. Her disposition was gentle
and loving in remarkable degree, suit
ing well the exquisite beauty of face and
form.
1t 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 in the care of her
teachers, unless invited to visit fellow
pupil.
1t was during such visit in the vii
lage that was to become her future homo
that she met Julius Gardiner, and her
heart, starving for sympathy and com
pansionship, sprang at once to answer
his warm avowal of deep, sincere love.
She had never known what it was to re-
ceive such affection as her lover gave her,
aud she gratefully returned it. And in
her love she had found only happiness.
1t was Julius who had consoled her when
her aunt died, leaving her alone in the
world. Julius who had urged speedy
marriage, that he might have the right
to comfort aud 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 sojOurncd.
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 caress.
She had thought their love perfect
as strong in his heart as in her own. But
on that June morning, all this happy GER.
tainty had gone from her, and her heart
seemed breaking at the loss. She took
no further interest in the exploring ex
petition through the old house upon
which she had started 50 merrily, but
rocked her baby in her arms, and mused
over the one appalling discovery she had
already made.
Julius found her so when he came in
to his dinner, and anxiousIy inquired the
cause of her woe-begone face and red
eyes. But for the first time his tender
sympathy met a repulse; not an angry
one, but one that was equally puzzling
to him, it was so full of mute reproach,
and no entreaties could give him any ex-
plauation of the cause.
For days, this atmosphere OF gloom
and mystery hung about ISaura. She
neglected all the little household duties
in which she had delighted; she would
sit for hours in silence and idleness, her
face white. her eyes fixed mournfully
on vacancy.
Julius was distracted. Loving his
wife with all the fOndness of tender.
true heart, he was grieved aud aDgered
to see her fretting constantly, yet refus-
ing to give any reason for such excess of
sorrow.
In vain he tried by every tender de-
vice to win her confidence. She only
kept more profound silence, while yet
most evidently doubling the sincerity of
his professions of love and regret.
At last, the result Julius dreaded fell
over Isaura, and she was prostrated by
low nervous fever and became very ill.
The physician hinted at some mental dis
turbance, and prescribed quiet; and the
husband, thoroughly aroused by fear, ex-
erted his authority with some show of
harshness.
"You are nursing some chimera, A" he
said to poor, pale Isaura, land l insist
upon knowing what it is"
"Ob, Julius, don't be augryl" she
moaned, pitifully. "Perhaps may die,
and then you eau marry Magdalene.
"What upon earth are you talking
about1 'Magdalenep Who ia Mag.
dalene1'
"The woman you love. I am sorry.
Julius, thai have stood in the way so
long. 1t would have been better to have
been frank with me and told me the
truth before we were married."
"she is insane" thought poor Julius,
bursting into cold sweat of horror
"she has been nursing some delusion till
it has turned her brain and made her a
monomaniscw
Ali anger was gone fiom his voice as
he bent low over his wife.
Darling he said, "do not think of
such things. You cannot doubt my love
for youl"
The blue eyes that had grown dim
with excessive weeping searched his face
eagerly. Then, as il nerved to a desper-
ate effort Isaura took a folded paper