The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-08
ONE YEAR MARRIED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY BURT ORLANDO BRUCE

william Meadows dropped the evening
newspaper on the floor beside him, and
sat for several minutes gazing thought
fully into the fire. The night was cold
and stormy, and the fitful blaze of the
Goals seemed to have a certain fascination
for him that was hard to throw off. AT
length he turned to his companion, and
rousing himself, said:
'In that paper just now l saw the no
tice of the death of an old acquaintance
of mine, and for a moment l was carried
back to the time when she was bright
young .gIrl. Well, it's queer world we
live in, and hers was a sad, very sad, life.
you're writer, and maybe you can
make something of the story. Twenty-Five
years ago, when 1 was young fellow,
just1out of college and travelling about
the world bit to enjoy life, met gen.
tleman and his wife at one Of the resorts
visited, no matter where, and happened
to be of some service to the lady shortly
after we met. she was very youngiand
light hearted, while her husband was q
man some years her senior. They had
been married only a few months, but
already it was plain to be seen that they
were not suited to each other. He was
morose, morbid, self-contained man,
who, though loving his wife in calm,
intense fashion, seemed unable to enter
into her life and adapt himself to their
position. She was full of life and health,
and fond Of everything that was bright
and cheerful. 1t was always source of
wonder to me that she married him, but
that she loved him faithfully no one
could doubt.
II saw good deal of botho them for a
while. and then we parted and heard
nothing of them for about year. When
next l met them / was startled at the
change in the woman's appearance. She
had lost that bright, honest sparkle from
her eyes and her face wore look of self
repression and regret that baunts me
still. Her husband spent most of his time
away from her. travelling about in an ap-
parently aimless way. and coming home,
without notice often, to leave again in a
few days. l had liked her when knew
her before, and 1 felt sincerely grieved
that she should live such a lite. On one
occasional happened to call at the house
and found her husband just returned. He
was unusually talkatve that evening, and
during the course of conversation, while
his wife was out of the room. undertook
to speak about his frequent absence, re-
marking that he must miss the home
comforts and pleasures greatly and gent
ly limiting that the lonely life she was
leading was telling on his wife. He looked
at me search.ngly for an instant and then
said, gruffiy, that his interests demanded
| that he pass much of his time away and
| that MS wife ought to be able. certainly
was able, to satisfy herself for any loss
| she might feel.
II left the house shortly afterward and
| did not seeSher again for a month or
more, then one evening felt irresistibly
drawn to her. She was alone. as usual,
and the change in her manner and an-
pearance was greater. HWe began to talk
of the early days OF our acquaintance and
| soon she spoke of her husband. She
showed that her love for him was as
| great as ever and that only his constant
| and inexplicable neglect caused her grief.
| AS she talked she grew more broken
| spirited and sobbed and cried as though
| her very life was brokgn. l did what
| could to pacify and cheer her and in my
efforts took her hand in mine and bent
! over her. There was sound at one OF
the French windows opening on to the
veranda at that moment, and. starting,
we both looked up and saw ner husband
watching us. Before either OF us could
| sneak he was gone and careful search
| through the house and grounds failed to
reveal him. When / could 1 left her,
| promising to call in day or two. The
| next morning | received note from hel
saying that her husband was compelled
to remain away fer some time, but that
he would send her something Dy express
the ncxs day. This was the day befor.
the anniversary of her wedding and thu
| next day 1 went to see her.
''She was happier than had seen hel
for months, and could talk of nothing bu
the present hel husband was to send her
As the evening went by she got more ant
more excited, until finally I exerted my
self to the utmost to keep her mind from
the subject. / looked at my watch ant
found that it was growing late, but sn'
would not let me leave, so I talked on
racking my brains for some topic to in
terest her. Just az 1 had succeeded II
gaining her attention and she had smiled
once or twice in the old way, there wa
noise outside of wagon approaching
and stopping at the house, and the mex
moment the servant gave entrance t
two burly expressmen, bea ring a larg
wooden box like packing case. oh
1t has come; my dear husband has no
forgotten me-, she cried. and before
could stop her she had begun to pull an
wrench vainly with her hands at tn
heavy boards. / procure Ratchet an
while she dismissed the servant an
closed the doors, pried off the top Of tn
box. A peculiar odor at once filled til
room, noticeable on the sheet of pape
lying on the top OF the contents. o.
. which was written her name. A horrihl