Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-09-15
THE DIVORCE.

THE DIVORCE.
They had been "divorced'-that
handsome. aristocratic looking couple
divorced for two years after ten
years of happiness within their beauti-
full and luxurious home. And now, for
the first time since the words had been
pronounced that made them two. in
stead of one, they met once more, by
mutual consent and appointment, in
one Of the private drawing rooms of the
great st. Nicholas Hotel. For no in
terchange of forgiveness, with no pur-
pose Of reconciliation, had they made
this tryst. It was to be their last meet
/ ing on earth. Each fully understood
| this. Each was willing that it should
! be so. And the meeting was one of the
| strictest business character. Certain
/ legal papers were to be presented by
| the former husband and signed and ac-
knowledged by her who had once been
his wife This accomplished, they we're
free to 80 their several ways, never to
look upon each others faces more.
The man was the first to arrive at the
place of the meeting and the waiter,
who of course, knew nothing of his
business. escorted him civilly to the
blue drawing-room" and left him
there.
q will take your card to Mrs. Jer-
nyngham, sir, he said, as he closed the
door.
The gentleman started and bit his
lip. He was a tall, handsome man, ap-
parently nearly fifty years of age, with
a magnificent head and brow, fair COM
pleXi0n and serious, resolute blue eyes
This man could love as few love
Years before he had flung his pride and
his heart together at the feet of the
beautiful and graceful woman whom he
called his wife For a time their home
was a paradise. But the serpent enter
ed at last, rs he always contriYes 70 en-
ter an Eden. A woman. who was a dis
tant relative of the husband, dwelt near
the happy pair. His face Won her from
her allegiance to her own husband.
But when she would have transferred
that allegiance to am he repulsed it,
which she never forgot nor forgaye.
Finding it utterly impossible to make
any impression on the heart so truly
devoted to his wife this woman took adj
vantage of his absence from home. and
while he was doing the work of his
country in the halls Of Congress, the
sighted beauty, by false representa-
lions and forged letters, succeeded in
convincing the proud and jealous wife
that she had been secretly wrOnged by
the husband whom she id0lized for
years.
When the Senator returned at last
from Washington it was to silent and
deserted home. So cunningly had his
enemy laid her plot that he was power
less in her hands, since his wife reso-
lutely refused to see, to listen or to for
give him.
And now, after a lapse of two long
years. that had been to him a century
of passionate remorse and longing, the
husband and wife were to meet. for
few brief moments only, on matters Of
business, and leave each other as stran-
gers.
This man had loved his wife, dear
reader.as few women are happy enough
TO be loved. He loved her still, and IN
his very soul hungered and thirsted for
her affection in return. And yet, as he
stood there. with his heart torn by a
thousand conflicting emotions Of pas
sion and of pain, he seemed a stern, re-
served and silent man only.
There was a rustic of sweeping silk
in the hall-a few words spoken outside
in a low, sweet voice, whose well re-
membered tones made the blood leap
wildly through his veins, though he
was pale and silent still.
The obsequious waiter opened the
door, and closed it again upon the lady
who entered.
The husband and wife were alone,
His eyes were fixed upon ners with
wild, imploring glance, which she did
not see. Pale and agitated she stood in
silence; one white and slender hand
resting, as if for support. on the back Of
a velvet chair; the Other-on which
still shOne the plain gold ring he had
given her twelve years before-played
nervously with a slender chain that
encircled her neck. She was, by many
years, his junior The cheeks and lips
were touched with a rosy bloom. Those
rosy lips closed almost as firmly as his
own. and the chin. rounded, yet slightly
prominent. gave a look OF unusual de-
termination to the otherwise youthful
and sunny face.
His wife? No, The law had come
between them. and snatohed away for
ever all the dear delights that were
once his.
His wife would have met him, after
This long separation, with kiss and
tears Of JOY.
But this stately woman was Mrs
Jernvngham. He had no right to take
her hand. or clasp her in his arms. He
must still the beating Of his heart, and
address her as he might address the
yeriest stranger.
II was a terrible effort. But he made
it brayely.
She looked up with start of sur