The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-09-08
A LIFE HISTORY.
BY JENNY WREN.

back over this long stretch OF years,
that L was not unjustly called the belle
of our town. 1t was quiet place dur
ing eight long months of the year and
/ found it dull enough, and wondered
why it WAS appointed that / must drag
out my life within it's limits, but the re-
manning four months saw it emerge as
the butterfly from its chrysalis, and
waken into sw,h fullness of action that
1T almost compensated. 1t was during
those periods that learned my beauty
entitled me to a wider sphere, or so
thought in my narrowness OF Judg-
emept; but when, at ball or reception,
saw men leave the richly attired women
whom they met the year round to seek
7an introduction to me, simply dressed
and the daughter of retired officer, IL
was little wonder that q blush OF con-
scious pride rose to my cheek, or my
eve burned with a satisfied vanity.
| was but 1S when l met Vance Will
anour. He was double my age, and when
he bent over me with the wonderful
grace of manner he so fully possessed,
Or let his eyes dwell on mine with an
impassioned glance, my heart would
throb as voice within would say:
'eThis is love-" 1t seemed as though an
emperor had stopped from his throne
to ask the peasant girl to share his high
estate when he at last told me of his
devotion and asked me to become his
wife. My father shook his head when l,
ioyously exultant, asked him to receive
my lover.
''He is not the man to make my bright,
ancaged bird happy" he answered.
"Take care, Madge. No matter how
brightly gilded the bars may be, the
mountain songster will beat out his
life against them in the struggle to be
Tree"
But to all that he might say my ears
were deaf. He could bring forward no
real obstacle, however, and so won at
last reluctant consent, and six months
from the day met Vance Wilmour
became his wife. At last | was to see
and mingle with the world. 1t was OF
this | thought, rather than the solemn
vows had just uttered, as side by side
we had babe farewell to the old home,
and were journeying to the new. Still,
all my heart was his, and had he cared
TO mold me he might have cast it in any
9orm.
was not long in finding the empti-
r Il hn
home to which my husband had brought
ME was perfect in its every appoint
ment. The suite of rooms he had had
prepared for me to my unaccustomed
eye presented vista of fairyland, and
for time 1 was happy. But then, as
my father had predicted, my wings be-
gun to beat themselves against the bars
learned to recognize that underneath
the velvet touch was the iron hold, that
I must stand ever ready with smile
faultlessly dressed, to receive him and
those whom he summoned to admire his
captive. No weariness, no fatigue gave
excuse. l learned then why he had
married me. Wealth, station, all were
his, but his pride demanded more. My
beauty he knew would reflect credit
upon his taste. was too young, too ig
norant to interfere with his pleasures
Or assert my rights as a wife. So he
reasoned, and his Judgment served him
well.
For year there was little to mar thu
scene; then my health failed. Excite
nrent and constant gayety did theil
work. Nature demanded rest, and ever
he was Obliged to recognize the neces
.sity. Then followed months in whicl
/ scarcely saw him, when he hardly
found time to come to the couch OIL
which / constantly lay to inquire If
were better or worse; and when in m,
impatence l would greet him will
words of reproach or anger he woult
silence me by some cutting words o
:scorn, which would leave their stini
for days behind. Twas utterly unable t
cope with him, and when in the sprin!
three years from the date of our maj
riage he was induced to join hunt
ing excursion on the western plains
bade him good-by with scarce q feeling
of regret.
Six weeks later / was one day sum
moned to the presence of gentlema
who told me with trembling voice an
pallid lips that was widowed. Thei
party while hunting had been attacke
by party of Indians and Vance ha
fallen in the field, while they, to say
their own lives, had been unable even
rescue his body. The shock proved mol
than | could bear, and for months the
thought would not live; but as healt
:and strength crept slowly back VOL
-derful softness had taken possession
my heart, and / mourned him with
tender pity, burying his faults in h
far-off grave,
AS soon as was able to bear the jou
Dey / closed my house and turned n
face to the old home with great co
tent nesting in my spirit, that the qui
had once despised again was to
mine. My dear old father met me Wi
open arms, and felt when pressed
his breast as though / had gained
haven indeed after my long and storm
voyaging on the sea of life. Two peaC
full years passed away and my father
hair grew white and his form bent.
began to think of the time when
should be left alone in the world aloi
and desolate.
had kissed him good night one eve
ing as | passed out and wended my WI
70 the little village church. 81
thoughts had brooded in my memo