The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-09-23

mel hate him. OIL love hint
love him. and he IL ashamed OF mel"
Sic vas gleeiui as child when Basil
praised her dress at tea time. having.
at my suggestion. worn a soft. white
null. with scarlet flashing In her ietty
braids at her throat and belt. She
pouted a little. because ] would not al
low but one bright color. but was
obedient.
But after that. watching them both.
knew ttefe could be- 30 happiness In
the hasiy marriage The glamour was
gone from Basil's eyes. and he was
ashamed Of his wife. His love cooled
and his perfect gentleness and tender
care never deceived her for one mo.
mcnt.
l think n he had beaten her and then
earessed her she would have borne II
better than she bore his unvarylsg
kindness, after bis love was gone.
He does not love mel lie has
wearied Of my beauty. and had moth
ihk else 10 loFei
That was ever the refrain OF her
plteous plants. and Basil vainly tried
10 revive the dead love In his heart
she has but me-" he said 10 me
once. III made a mistake Il was nc
FAULT OF hers. poor darling. She shall
never know have one reEretl"
And he might as well have tried "a
hide a bonfire under a napkin. by the
Intuition Of love. Nell knew the change.
She had been a year married. wearing
herself out with her own yehemenee
when her baby came 10 her. hoped
motherhood would soften her. would
tame her. for she was Wild and beautl.
ful as a leopard.
With the same fierce. unreasonlng
passion that gave her life every inn
pulse. she loved her boy. a sickly,
feeble child. that she would almost
smother with kisses and caress so vlo-
lently that he would whlmper. as II
being hurt.
Every day she talked about the boys
future. the grand things TO be done
for him. the education he was to have.
that Basil might never be ashamed
OF him as he Is Of me-" Her whole
hope lay In the ehlld's life. and we
knew the feeble spark would never live
to be a bright light.
As the child dropped the mother
faded. She would be well soon. soon.
she told me every day. and every day
the little form lay more lightly upon
my arms; the little face grew more
plnehed and wan.
One morning she drew me down up
on the pillow her head had never left
since her boy was born. and whispered:
Basil kissed me with his heart this
morning. lie loved me In that kiss.
An. n could die now before he ceases
10 love mel"
She sobbed. not with the old pas.
sion. she was too weak for that. bat
feebly. as II from a breaking heart
"You do not wish TO die and leave
your boy" said.
Il would not leave him, lie would
90 with mel" she said. with quiet con.
vlction.
And We knew Il would be 20. There
was nothing TO build health upon. the
doctor told as. and Ellen faded away.
not quickly. but surely.
but. lying upon her deathbed. day
after day. she was intensely happy.
not with the htful fame Of old. but
with a calm. deep Joy Infinitely
pathetic 70 witness.
Basil loves mel"
That was the keynote 10 her happl.
ness. lie had never failed In gentle
ness. but. realizing that he must soon
lose her. his love came back TO comfort
her. lie could not have deceived her.
weak as she was. Only the true love
she had lost. the love that was her life.
could have answered the hunger OF her
heart. And Basil gave Il, kissing her
with his heart. as she told me. gently
smoothing the dark road she was tread.
ing by every loving device. seldom
leaving her. and never for any length
OF time.
He was holding the puny babe In HE
arms. close 10 the mothers white,
wasted face when the boy shlyered,
gasped and died. | looked In terror at
Ellen. but she smiled into my eyes:
"He will walt for me- she said. soft.
~. and nestled against Basil. as took
the little one away.
did not return for a long time.
When I did Ellens eyes were closed.
and her face had changed. with q
change that chilled my heart
"She II asleep" whispered.
"But will never wakenl" Basil said.
solemnly. and even before he spoke
knew the truth.
Basil mourned truly. blaming himself
bitterly. when held him blameless.
But he married again In two years.
and lives In his own home In the city.
could not let his wife come to Stony
Hill In Ellen's place though she ls
kindly welcome when she visits me.
she Is a lady. refined. educated and
very handsome. She makes Basil en-
tirely happy. having won his respect
a. well a. his love, love more lasting
because built upon foundations Of es-
teen. ] have no complaint 10 make.
and ! am glad. very glad, that Bat,rs
home IL happy one. but know that
never, never can my old heart take
Geneva Hill into that deepest, warm
est niche that Is filled by the memory
Of the impulsiye child. Basils First
Wife.