The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-09-10
THE DIVORCE


They have been "divorced"-that
handsome, aristocratic looking couple!
divorced for two years, after ten
years OF happiness within their beau
tiful and luxurious home. And now,
for the first time since the words had
been pronounced that made them two
instead 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 interchange OF forgiveness, with no
purpose OF reconciliation, had they
made this tryst 1t was to be their last
meeting on earth. Each fully under
stood this. Each was willing that 1t
should be so. And the meeting was
one of the strictest business character.
Certain legal papers were to be pre-
sented by the former husband, and
signed and acknowledged by her who
had once been his wife. This accom-
phshed, they were free to go their sew
eral ways, never to look upon each
others faces more.
The man was the first to arrive at
the place of meeting. and the waiter,
who of course. knew nothing OF his
business, escorted him civilly to the
blue drawing room and left him there.
The gentleman started, and bit his
lip. He was a tall. handsome man, ap-
parently nearly fifty years OF age, with
magnificent head and brow, fair COM
plexion. 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 entered at last, as he always
contrives to enter an Eden. A woman,
who was a distant relative OF the hus-
band, 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 him, he repulsed 1t, which she never
forgot or forgave. Finding 1t utterly
impossible to make any impression on
the heart so truly devoted to his wife,
the woman took advantage of his abb
sence from home, and while he was
doing the work of his country in the
halls of Congress, the sighted beauty,
by false representations and forged let
ters, succeeded in convincing the proud
and jealous wife that she had been sei
cretly wronged by the husband whom
she idolized for years.
When the Senator returned at last
from Washington 1t was to silent and
deserted home, 80 cunningly had his
enemy laid the plot and he was power
less in her hands. since his wife reso-
lutely refused to see, to listen to, or
forgive 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 a
few brief moments only, on a matter of
business and leave each other as stran-
seK H. man had loved hi. 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 thousand conflicting
emotions of passion and of pain, he
seemed stern, reserved and silent
man only.
There was rustic of sweeping silk
in~the hall-a few words spoken out
side in low, sweet voice, whose we'll
remembered tones made his blood leap
was pale and silent still.
The obsequious waiter opened the
door, and closed 1t again on the woman
who entered.
The husband and wife were alone.
His eyes were fixed upon hers with a
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 velvet chair, the other-on which
shone the plain gold ring he had given
her twelve years before,-played ner-
yously with slender chain that encir-
cled her neck. She was, by many
years, his junior. The cheeks and lips
were touched with 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 Gunny face.
t1is wife? No! The law had come
between them, and snatched away for
evor all the dear delights that once
ware his
His wife would have met him, after
this long separation. with kiss and
with tears OF JOY.
But this stately woman was Mrs.
Jetnyngham." 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
veriest stranger.
1t was terrible effort. But he made
it tageIy.
She looked up with a start OF sur
pi4Te, as his cold and measured tones
feH on her ear. She turned pale as