Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-07-08

when I was a girl-when you knew me
years ago-that there must have been
some good in me, or you would not have
loved me. OH! and she clasped her
hands and looked at me with soft, wet
eyes, 'if could only go back and be that
girl again.
Her voice thrilled to my heart. dared
not look at her.
."To go back said presently, sis i'm
possible. That is the worst of it. With
all it's mistakes and follies, it pushes you
on-on remorselessly. You cannot stay
you cannot return-you can only go for
ward, bearing the pain and the regret as
best you may"
"We," she said, ,humbly, shave had to
bear both, fear"
Then she rose and stood before me. Her
face was white and anxious, her hands
were clasped tight, and hung before her;
the folds Of the soft gray dress caught
light and shadow from the flames.
There was something" she said, and
her eyes looked at me piteously, like
child's. 1T was about-about myself.
have tried to remember, but cannot. I
can remember the girl you met here
know every walk we took. I know the
was bad them" and her voice grew anx-
ioux II did not mean to be, | know.
was happy, too, in way, and had faith
and hope, and life did not seem so hard
and sad thing. Now" and she put her
hand to her brow and pushed the loose
curls back, while her eyes grew clouded
-"now it is all so different. Yet cannot
tell why-I only feel as if my life had all
gone wrong as if, somewhere on its road,
/ had missed happiness; and, when long
for it there is gulf between-a gulf
can never pass"
The words, and the young, sorrowful
voice, smote me to the heart.
'My poor child" l said, brokenly, Il
would it were in my power to give it back
to you'll"
"Why should you care?" she said, and
half turned away. Il was not good to
YOU I have thought of that very often.
And I never cared about your feelings
my own seemed to fill up everything, and
when l did" Again the cloud came
over her face, Der eyes dropped, her little
hand moved with restless touch among
those soft white curls. when l did"
she said, sit was too Late
I was silent. I seemed to have too
many words to speak, yet something kept
me from speaking even one.
"In all my thoughts and dreams Of
you," she went on, 81 always knew how
good you were. II hope you believe
that. There are things I have told you
that 1 felt you did not believe. Some
times it Is so hard for woman to speak,
and when we feel we are misunderstood
it makes it harder. IL have often tried
to tell you of my feelings, but you chilled
me- You did not mean it, I know; but
always felt, as told you just now, that
you were so good, and so true, and so
strong. Oh, always-always | felt that!
And if could have come to you and told
you every thing, I know I should have
been happier
Perhaps" said, huskily, ''you can tell
me now"
She drew back from me, shuddering
and white. A change cam cover her, as
if some hidden hand had struck at her
swaying figure. She hid her face in her
hands.
II cannot" she cried, piteously; II can
not! 1t has all gone from me. Often and
often I have tried to remember, but it is
all dark"
"The light may come yet" said, eager
ly, for I knew we'll enough that, until
perfect confidence drew her heart to mine,
my dreams of happiness would never be
more than dreams, nor she, my wife, be
more than the shadow she had been for
those two years of suffering.
Her hands dropped. She looked at me
again.
''You are my husband" she said 81
remember you and remember what you
told me about love and trust. II lost
both, did I nst?"
was silent.
For few seconds the room was still as
death
eyes" she said, as I did not speak. 81
know it. But why have you come back?"
II have come back" I said, and my
voice was unsteady as her own, because,
after all, you are my wife; your sorrows
are mine; your troubles, too. l have left
them too long unshared. l have been
selfish"
'Youv' she interrupted, and looked at
me with eloquent eyes; ''you selfish! All,
no, no! you never were that"
''Yes," said, II was; and have much
to reproach myself with; but there is still
a future for us, and we must make it as
happy as we can.
lone can't call back trust" she said
sorrowfully. 'If it goes, it goes forever
And even If you loved me-
II do love you," said earnestly, touch
ed to the heart by the piteous sorrow in
her eyes.
She looked at me for moment as if in
doubt.
Until you love and trust me, too" she
said very low Eve Sha II never no hanTv
Between us, like cold ghost, there is
always that something
/ turned aside, sick at heart, but recog-
nizing emily too plainly the truth of her
words.
| went to my room, but was too rest
less for sleep. was racked with doubts
and fears, and an the sorrowful events
that had freshly come to my knowledge.
For long hours / sat there buried in
deep thought, when slight noise aroused