Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-08

be replaced.
May Harriott had regarded her hus-
bands love rs one OF the fixed polar
facts of her existence, and cool chill
crept over her heart when she fully
perceived that it was somehow slipping
away from her.
"Frcdcrick. she said one evening,
sitting opposite to her husband, "haye
| offended you"
He glanced carclessly up from his
hook.
Offended me, May? Why, what u
ridiculous idea OF course you haven't
offended me-"
IL Thought your manner some.
what different of late, faltered the
young wife. bending her head closer
over her embroidery.
lone cant keep on the honeymoon
gloss forever" said the banker, indif.
ferently.
Life is full of antitheses; and love
is the strangest completely in life.
For, as May Hnrriott grew strength
ened in the idea that her husband was
ceaSing to adore her after the old
idoatrous fashion, she began to fall
in love with the one she had married
for money
Frederick Harriott was not young,
but lie was in the prime Of middle age.
He was not boyishly handsome like
the wax heads May had seen in the
BARRIERS shop windows, but he had the
port aud mien of prince. All women
are prone to hero worship. and our lit
tie May was no exception to the
ordinary rule. For the first time in
her life she was falling in loye--and
with her own husband.
A few weeks only elapsed when
crisis inthe banking business rendered
it imperatively necessary that Mr..
Harriott should go to Vienna for two
or three months. Poor May looked
aghast IA her husband mentioned his
intentions 10 her in the same cool,
matter.of fact way in which he might
have criticised the weather.
Going TO Vienna" she gasped.
"Oh, Frederick"
My dear child it is mere baga-
teIle of u journey, One doesn't mind
travel nowadays. shall not be later
than November in returning
But i may go with you"
"You? Ny dear, don't think of it.
My travel will necessarily he too rapid
to think Of encumbering myself with
companion. must go and come
with the greatest speed"
May said nothing more, but there
was blur before her eyes, sicken-
ing sensation of despair mt her heart.
He cared no more for the society which
had been dear TO him once. Oh, what
had she done to forfeit the love that
had once been poured out so fondly on
her life?
1t was q rainy June twilight when
the banker, wrapped in deadnaught
coat, and with his traveling-cap pulled
down over his eyes, pacedup and down
the deck of the steamer Galatea, heed
less of all the tumult of weighing
anchors. Through the misty dusk he
tried vainly to catch the ghostly out
lines Of the city spires--the city that
held his young wife,
"!She will be happy enough without
me-" he told himself, bitterly. "She
has her mother and sister with her.
She babe me adieu without tear, and
it may be that my continued absence
will teach her to think less coldly of
me. Dear little May--sweet spring
blossom-my prayers may reach You,
if my love cannot"
And, as the steamer plowed her way
onward and the darkness deepened,
Frederick Harriott went below.
To his infinite surprise, the state
room he had engaged for his own be-
half and use was not empty. A lady
sat there. with yelled face and droop-
ing head. Frederick Harriott paused
in surprise the figure rose mp, and,
throwing aside its veil, revealed the
blue, starry eyes and pale cheeks Of
MAY herself!
"Oh, Frederick, pardon met she
sobbed, throwing herself into his
arms; "but I could not let You go
alone! love YOU, Frederick. can.
not live without Won! When I thought
Of you being alone, perhaps i'll, in
strange land, | thought should lose
my senses. Dear husband, tell me
that you are not angry with me?"
And she burst into food Of tears.
''My own May-my wife--my Lowell
Close, close to my heart for evermore"
And that was all he said.
May Haven bqd married for money;
May Harriott had learned the secret
of love.