Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-11-05

now-and 2 where she was, fast wed.
ded and on her honeymoon in Switzer.
land with the irreproachable gentle
man, whose black mustache would
henceforth have to command her wifely
admiration. year after year, till it
turned gray. Somehow she had not
realized the weight and seriousness Of
marriage till It was consummated. She
had read many love stories, many love
poems in which all the heroes and
heroines raved and swore in exquisitely
choice language and ended by killing
themselves or somebody else with the
dagger, pistol or poison bowl, but the
even prosaicness of married life had not
been set before her in similarly graphic
style.
Now and then she was little afraid
Of herself-afraid that she was not as
happy as she ought to be. She could
not analyze her own feelings very well,
but occasionally she caught herself sigh
ing and murmuring uneasily, 81 won
der If really love him?" The doubt
made her uncomfortable, for she had a
tender heart and sensitive conscience.
The relations between herself and her
husband had up till now been more form
al than passionate, for among his 9TH
er idiosyncrasies Mr.. Allingham had
q nervous horror of ridicule, and in con-
sequence of this had endured positive
torments during their journey up the
Rhine into Switzerland. He suspected
every one he met of the crime of know
ing he was on his honeymoon tour,
and the unpleasant scowl he assumed
for would be friendly strangers fire.
quently remained on his brows for the
benefit of his young wife, who was
thereby rendered constrained and de-
pressed.
Arrived at the Pension Gutsch, he
adopted an equally severe and distrust-
full demeanor toward the good natured
landlord, who made dreadful mistake
one morning by becoming too friendly
and venturing to suggest drive, which
he humbly considered would be a
charming excursion for ''une jeune
mariee." Mr.. Allingham gave him a
look that ought to have transfxed him,
if looks had any such power, and told
him curtly that he did not care about
excursions, and that madame would
please herself as to a choice Of walks or
drives. After this the Inundated land
lord took care to avoid giving further
offense by any undue exhibition of per-
sonal interest in his best paying guests,
and the days rolled slowly on in long,
sunshiny stretch Of perfect calm, with
out any change to vary or break their
peaceful monotony.
Days of delicious weather they were
pure and balmy as spring, though it
was full summer-happy days they
might have proved to Rose Allingham
if they had not also been days of ever
deepening perplexity. She was a very
loving little creature-quick to respond
to kindness-and she troubled herself
desperately in secret as to why she 1ld
not, though she tried, be altoge .her
loving to her husband. Something held
her back from him-there was some
impalpable barrier between his nature
and hers that kept them singularly
apart, though to all appearances united.
The veriest trif1es helped to emphasize
this curious state Of things. One even
ing, strolIing together in the pine woods,
she began to think Of all the dainty love
poems she used to read and be so fond
Of, and bringing to mind their dulcet
teachings she suddenly took her hus-
bands hand and gently slipped it round
her waist, leaning her fair little head
confidently back against the shelter of
the arm thus encircling her. Then,
looking up, with shy, sweet eyes and a
ravishing blush, she said softly:
'There, isn't that nice?'
He regarded her with gentlemanly
amazement.
Certainly notl It is not 'nicer It is
anything but NIGEL I am surprised at
you, Rosel I really am. Suppose any
one were to meet us walking along in
this ridiculous positionl Why, they
would take US for Cooks tourists-a
Cockney AIRY and 'Arriet out for a
stroll! Nothing could be more vulgar
and degradingr'
He withdrew his arm in haste and
walked beside her stiff1y erect, scenting
the piny air in virtuous Indignation.
His young wife said not a word, but
walked on also, with crimsoning cheeks
and downcast eyes, her little feet NOV
ing somewhat YEARLY. Presently he
glared down upon her, with an air of
relenting condescension.
"Surely you know that demonstra-
tions of affection in public are very bad
form?" he inquired.
She looked up, her soft eyes flashing
for once with something very like scorn.
where is the public?" she asked.
1--WE are quite alone-alone with the
forest and the sunset and with Godl
But am sorry if my action offended
you"
Dear me, am not offended. Why
should I be?" he retorted pettishly.
"You meant it we'll, no doubt. But
wherever we are, alone or before wit
nesses, we must avoid even the appear
ance of vulgarity. And pray do not
quote poetry to me. hate it. Alone
with the forest and the sunset and
with God. What rubbish that isl''
"Is it?' and she gave a little sigh.
''It is not poetry at any rate. 1t is only
me-"
"Only you, he repeated. "What do
you mean?"
II mean that said it. They are my
own words, just as they came into my
head. Very silly, of course"
He eyed her with dignified wonder.
"Sillyp' he echoed. 81 should think
30 indeed. Nothing could be sillier.
They remind me of the style which the
newspaper critics condemn as 'forcibly
feeble. -
He smiled and stroked his black mus
tache. All at once she looked up at him