News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-12-10

| IOOIll, w JIdCe HeTSell Ill UIle ildlluS Vi
her maid.
Surprised at the unwonted request,
she turned and entered with him the
room designated.
81 have decided, Florence, to return
for a short time to Calcutta. / shall
sail next week, but have made every
arrangement for your comfort during
my absence. My uncle and aunt will
make their home with you. You will
have unlimited credit at my bankers
and it is my pleasure that you should
deny yourself nothing"
As he spoke, uttering each word
slowly and distinctly, his eyes never
for moment left her face, but fasten-
ed there with a hungry greed, as
though he would penetrate the fair
mask and discover what feelings they
had awakened; but save a faint sur
prise which swept over her lovely face,
all was calm as moonlight upon Il
silvery lake.
$50 soon, Malcolm? What has
caused so unexpected a decision?"
Hardly unexpected, Florence. |
have been anticipating it for some
time, but thought it unnecessary to
| tell you until had resolved. The time
of my return will be indefinite, but
probably within a year. If you need
me, send for me-"
Then, as she left the room, his calm
outward composure suddenly gave
way, as the ice beneath the sunbeams;
grOan burst from his white lips and
he bowed his head upon the table be-
1 fore him.
mot a sigh, not a word" he MUIR
INJURED. "She could not even give up
the gay world for these last few even
ings we shall spend together Had |
asked her, she doubtless would have
complied with myrequest; but urged,
it would have lost it's charm. Oh,
beautiful piece of marble, what mad
ness ever made me hope that could
warm you into life?"
But upstairs, her maid with skill
full fingers arranged the golden mass
of hair and draped the exquisite fig
ure in its matchless toilet, the young
wlfe's thoughts had forgotten even
| her presence, and instead of the beau
| tif1l reflection in the mirror she saw
a ship riding "a stormy ocean, and on
its deck one solitary passenger, alone
pacing up and down, whose eyes,
scanning the rapidly receding land in
4 the distance, were those which had
| looked so calmly into hers when he
had announced his decision a few
moments before. For her comfort he
| had been thoughtful as he ever was,
| but suddenly there rushed over her
| the sense of her life's emptiness, the
| the many days and nights she must
pass with hundreds of miles between
them, the solemn VOWS each had made
| to the other before Gods altar. In
| what had they failed? Had she done
| her part? Had she found time for a
wife's duty in this weary whirl? Had
| she been mad that only through suf-
| tering she had learned the truth-the
truth in heart as we'll as in name she
was tie wife of the man who so cold
| ly had avowed his determination of
leaving her? Suddenly dismissing
the maid, regardless of the rich drap-
| cries clinging so gracefully to her
| form, she sank on her knees and
prayed as she had never prayed be-
| fore, then rose with a sudden resOlu-
ton shining in her eyes, and mo-
ment later, with a Goodnight !"
to her husband, swept out to her car
riage. No whisper of her unexpected
resolution passed herlips. She watch
ed all his preparations with similar
calmness, saw him put his house in
order as though he expected never to
return, while her heart seemed break
ing that no outward sigh of suffering
| escaped him.
Two days before he was to sail he
left her, as he had business at the
port from which the ship sailed. She
stood in the library, where he had
told her his decision, awaiting his
! farewell. He entered, the door closed
and they two were alone.
Goodbye, my wife," he said, in
tones which sounded cold. "Remem-
Der, if you need me, send for me. /
will come. God bless you'll"
Then for one instant she was folded
in his arms, kisses strangely in con-
sonance with his words, mad with
passionate pain, rained on cheek, lip
and brow, almost roughly she was
thrown from him, and he was gone;
but his lips had told her what his
words had failed to do; had lent fuel
to fire; had given hope that the love
she felt for him might in time awaken
it's answering love. 1t was busy
scene, full of sadness as well as amuse-
ment, as the brave ship weighed an
chor and, to the sailors rough music
of "Heave ho!" started down the
stream. All seemed to have some
friend, some one near and dear to bid
them "Godspeedl" One man alone
had none. The picture Florence had
seen in her mirror was verefied, as
with sad, straining eyes she watched
the fast receding streets. She, who
should have been there, was absent; 4;
he would have none other. 1t was
over nOw-the necessity for conceal
ment there was no one now to dis
cover traces of care or burrows of
tears. 1t was over! How could he
live? he thought, as, with but one
desire, to be alone with his soul s
agony, he descended to his state
room. Opening the door he started,
and had almost fallen. Misery had
conjured up ghosts. KneeliGg, her
face buried in her hands, was a wO-
mans form. None other on earth
with that same peerless grace.
Florence!" he said, and his voice
sounded strange and husky. "Flor-
ence!" now entering and closing the
door. "Thank God, darling, even
your spirit has visited me "
But in another moment he knows
it is no spirit Two loving arms are
clasped close about his neck, a beau
tiful golden head is pillowed on his
heart, and he hears his wife sob out
her words of entreaty:
Il could not help it, Malcom. Do
not, oh, do not send me back | will
do anything, go anywhere, but do
not forget am your wife, your right
ful shelter, your breast! Perhaps in
) time YOU will learn to love me. Let
me try to teach you"
"To teach me? Florence, are you
mad, or am |? Darling, did you not
f know you were the one love of my
life, and that | left you only to free
my Gagged bird, to thus give you hap
pinessl Oh, my own, if thisis dream
] ing, let me dream on forever, lest the
waking kill"
! But Malcolm Hayes dream is life
long, growing in beauty with its
growth; and when, their voyage over,
. they return once more to their charm
p ing home, as well in crowded ball
, room or in the sanctity of their own