Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-07

and pretty, petulant ways alone had
had power to dispel.
Her obstinacy was inexplicable: his
feeling in the matter, the implied
breach of honor, did not appeal to her
in the least; she was consumed by a
petty jealousy and a desire to make
him yield. A lurking doubt as to the
success of the task he had set him
self in endeavoring to mold her light
and thoughtless spirit mingled with
the keen disappointment her inconsid-
crate conduct caused him.
He had walked on, dreaming, far
! beyond his original destination-the
/ coy set of rooms presided over by his
faithful valet. Suddenly he stopped.
with an involuntary exclamation. for
he stood at the very threshold of his
old home. What impulse had led his
unconscious footsteps along the often
traversed road he knew not. or how
he came to look upon the house he
had stunned since the day of mourn
ing. But having come he was glad
for the wrench of parting was not the
present pain; he was able to recall the
grim old mansions joyful. as we'll as
sorrowful, associations. For the first
time since his bereavement he felt the
desire and strength to seek the room
within that had been hers, unaltered,
as she had left it, till Cynthia, resolute
in her Punishment of rivaling recol-
lectiOnS, should careleSsly scatter and
/ rearrange.
The old housekeeper, startled from
her lethargy of idle caretaking, an
swered his summons with clumsy
alacrity, and soon he stood at the bed
side where some years ago he had
/ flung himself in an agony of grief and
/ sobbed out a last farewell.
/ A melancholy light struggled
/ through the curtained window, reveal
ing the dainty, familiar furniture; the
knicklNnacks they had purchased to-
gether in ODD corners of the world, the
pictures she had chosen her favOrite
chair, the couch on which she had lain
to please him, with thought of re-
covery. He saw through a mist of
tears, for a gnawing hunger had crept
into his heart in the chill and utter
loneliness of The room once frightened
by her dear presence How happy they
had been! There was no death for
such love as theirs. 1t walked and
throbbed in him again in this room,
where she had breathed out her blame
less life, and all that had come be-
tween them seemed like dream.
Cynthia was right; he must always
be making useless comparisons, for
something must ever be wanting in his
life something that could not be re-
placed.
His brimming eyes sought the spot
where her coffin had rested. He could
see her now, lying there, as he had
! looked on her for the last time, white
and serene, her folded hands full of
flowers; the eyes that had reflected his
loving gaze pitilessly sealed; a strange
smile ON the lips that often met his in
yielding sweetness. All. if he might
hear that low and gentle voice again:
If he might pillow that weary. golden
head on his breast, and, asking for
giveness for a fieeting fancy, repeat his
VOW with all the fervor of the past!
He sat down, hiding his face in his
hands. With the reopening of this I'M
healed wound came a reyulsion of feel
ing, reproach for the self-sought forget
fulness his want of fortitude had made
desirable, remOrse for the shrinking
from pain that made him swerve from
so dear memory, and for the wrong
he did Cynthia in clinging to it. But
he .hesitated no longer The silent
hour of retrospect had brought him
very near to his first love, and with
the bitter ache of longing came a
strange sense of security and rest.
Unchanged she awaited him, fair and
lovely as he had known her this dear
angel, speaking through the silence of
heaven, to hold him to his VOW
For Cynthia he had no fears. That
she had been able to make their en-
gagement conditional on this breach
OF trust led him to hope its dissolution
would cause her little suffering
parting pang assailed him as he
penned the brief message of farewell,
4" I'll OStN VI CllC CICCpIHS, SlOUliiS years
beyond which his brightest hope
beckoned, but he lifted the talisman
that welded him to his dead bride,
pressing it softly to his lips, and the
shadow fed.
Cynthia crushed the note in her
hand. She was hurt; she was indig-
nant; she was scornful; a hundred
sensations, mingled with no thoughts
Of surrender, struggled for mastery in
her swelling heart. But the faint, I'M
confessed regret that stirred beneath
the angry tumult, the feeling that lies
50 deep in some souls that only agony
may wiring it forth, the deadened wall
ing of love that will not be stilled-
these were among the bitterest tears
she shed.
THOUGHTFUL WIFE.