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


bitter. She had married the young
doctor for change, at a time when
she was weary of her London life.
Now she had wearied of him as size
lad wearied of everything in turn.
from the time she lay in her white
satin crib, and played with her silver
bells and coral. She was going back
to town in search Of fresh changes,
and not ole womanly instinct whis-
pered that such search was vain.
The afternoon passed, and DR.. Len
nard did not return. The evening set
in stormy, and the hail-drops rafting
against the kitchen windows were as
so many drops of ice falling on old
Judith'S faithful heart, as she sat by
the low fire and listened for her mas
ter'S knock.
1t was late when the doctor came in
pale and wearied, his thin summer
overcoat wet through and Through.
Pauline was sitting reading in the
parlor and she looked up from her
book with pout as he entered.
II waited dinner ever so long for
you she said. 'sWhere have you
been all this while?''
Il met Mr.. Gresham's man on the
Shore" he replied. ''He was on bis
way for me, and l had to go back
with him at once"
Mrs. Gresham was lady Of fashion,
and worthy Of interest, SO Mrs. Len
nard lowered her book again to ask
what had been the matter with her.
''Spasms," replied the doctor. 'She
was better when l got there"
He had crossed over to the fire when
he came in, and now he stood there,
Perhaps in the hope of receiving some
kind word, some little wifely atten-
ton; but none came. Presently she
looked up with a gesture of disgust;
the steam was rising from his damp
clothes, and had reached her.
do change that coat, PAUL.! she
said. you will give me my death of
cold if you stand there"
The pale face went a shade paler,
and a sharp spasm crossed it as he
went to his own room.
you will give me my death OF
cold" he repeated, bitterly. 'Al-
ways herself-never me- She spoke
the truth; she could never have
loved me-"
So it was in the young doctors
household. Day by day some little
grievance rose up that Jared his life
to the very center; day by day the
mask fell lower from off his bride,
and if she did not stand revealed as
a knocking demon" she most surely
did as a sculless, loveless woman.
DR.. Leonard kept his word. AS soon
as Pauline told him she was ready to
go, he took her to London, and saw
her safely settled with the lady friend
who had offered to receive her; and
then he travelled back to his drearv
home in Kenmore.
The people, always fond of the
kindly; handsome young doctor, whose
father and grandfather before him
had cured the sick of Kenmore for
years, were now doubly devoted to
him, and the brilliant young creature,
whose passing light had left such
deep gloom behind it, had many a
hard word and sighting speech flung
at her, though she could not know it,
and perhaps would not have cared if
she had known it.
For a month or so, Pauline was, per-
fectly happy, or nearly SO, and then
the restless demon began to gnaw at
Io,, 4
tent than had devoured her in Fen
more devoured her there.
When the first flush of her return
had worn off, she discovered that
Pauline Grey, possessed of fifteen
thousand pounds, and Mrs. Lennard.
possessed Of that sum still, but re
moved from competition by her mar
riage, We're two different beings, and
differently regarded by the world.
For the first time she saw, without
any gloss of passion or novelty, the
step down she had taken when sae
sight went very near turning ner
head.
By her wealth and her beauty she
managed to hold her own among the
fairest for a time, but the struggle
was wearisome, and then the longing
to return to Kenmore, where at least
she was somebody, seized her, and
she wrote and told her husband that
she wanted to come home.
The poor fellow went up to fetch
her in a tremble of delight, picturing
to himself the fondness that would
once more shine ON him from out her
beautiful eyes, and the pleadings she
would kill with kisses ere they passed
reality from what he had pictured it.
The woman that met him seemed
scarcely the same he had left behind
him the morning he started alone on
his homeward journey three months
before The bloom of her face had
faded with late hours and fretting
her red lips were drawn down, and
the whole charm Of her blonde beauty
was gone.
Almost her words were a complaint,
! and nothing the doctor could do or
say pleased her from the hour they
left London behind them till he
handed her into the bay-windowed
parlor Of her own house at Kenmore.
| There her fretful reached its climax,
and with a storm of hysterical sobs,
she told him he had blighted her
whole life, and made her miserable;