Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-22

1eeunSS or the woman Z called VIE.
For a few short, blissfuI weeks she
seemed happy in her quaint nest of
a home, and gave him back love for
love. Then she began to fret a little,
only a little, at first; but day by DAY
the plant grew stronger, till it broke
into an open murmur; and the love
she had feigneu to feel-perhaps she
had felt il for the time Was cast
aside as a child might fling toy it
had wearied Of, with no more care for
the pain she was inficting than if the
quivering human heart had been, in
deed a senseless plaything. She was
but a spoiled child, after all; and Like
one, she sighed after forbidden pleas
ureS.
In the dreamy little fishing village
she had Admiration, it is true, but I'M
expressed, and of coarse, rustic quail
ty; and pleasure, in the sense she
read the word, was a thing u1drea med
+, of there. The people, as she knew
them, were simple, and hospitable,
and kindly-natured, but they lacked,
one and all. the hard surface-poGsh
: that gave such brilliance to her Lon
don world. Their life was not her life,
and she would not fit herself to it.
Her husband saw this, and in the
plentitude OF his love forgave it, and
tried to forget the cruel things her
unrest gave his faithful heart. He
blamed only himself, not her; and
oil off 70
willful woman who was his, and yet
a stranger to him, failed, he did what
his own honest nature tod him was
best to be done-he spoke openly to
her, and asked her if it was indeed
true that his love had ceased to suf-
fee her.
Within the last few weeks Paul
Lennard's pale grave face had aged
whole years in it's appearance, and
the rare smile that made the dark
eyes so wonderful, and the whole
face bright, had not once crossed it.
Mrs. Lennard stood and leaned her
forehead against the glass, while her
fingers turned the gold circlet round
and round, and now and then nearly
drew it off altogether. Her husband,
standing a little way behind her, saw
the movement and sighed; it was 50
like the restless toying of the captive
with his chain.
Pauline" he said, abruptly, urged
to speak, as it were, by her dreamy
unrest, you are not happy, 1 can see
Tell me what l can do to make you
so?"
: She turned round quickly, and re-
piled:
You don't want to make me happy.
You don't care how / am"
Il care so much" said he that
your unhappiness is my torture. i
would do anything. l would lay down
my life almost to see you content
II do not want you to lay down
your life" she replied. 81 only want
you to do a very sensible, pleasant
! thing"
''What is that, lover" he asked.
Leave this place, and go to Lon
dom said Pauline.
She had drawn closer to him as she
spoke, and her sunny head almost
touched his shoulder The spell Of
her loneliness was stealing over him,
as it had stolen once before
''My precious darling, l can not he
replied; ''my home is here, my duties
lie here; it would be worse than be-
ginning life anew to go. You must
see this, Pauline, if you consider one
moment
She flung herself out of his arms,
and her sobs ceased, as they had be-
gun, on the instant.
81 see nothing but that you are I'M
kind and hateful she exclaimed Il
knew you would do nothing I wished
you"
Hateful, Pauline?" said he; that
is a strong word, think you can not
mean it."
Il do she answered, sullenly, her
beauty under a cloud.
II can not be so hateful to you, you
know, if you ever loved me-" said
Paul, and he tried to smile, but it was
a faint mockery, and his very lips
white.
Il never did love YOU she replied.
Il only thought l did"
''Pauline!' said her husband
She answered nothing, but her an
CRY eyes turned restlessly from the
set face before her
you thought you did, Pauline?''
said he. 'Who made you think soi
Who made you?" he repeated when
she did not answer.
You, l suppose with your talk, -
said Pauline. You said l should be
as happy as bird in your country
I home" she said; and the tears bega q
! to flow again, plainly showing the dis
appointment.
: ''And / thought you would" he
/ said. Heaven knows. Pauline,
i thought you would when 1 said it
But it has been a mistake from first
! to laSt-whoSe the fault | dare not
think"
| Il know whose fault it was,' she
said, flashing up; ''it was yours. And
now you will not even do what you
can to mend it,
Il will do anything and everything
you wish, except leave this place fol
/ London" he replied. You shall live
there. if you like; and I will go with
you, and stay till you are settled
;, The doctors voice vas steady
enough, but his face was a sickly