Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-12-15
MY POOR WIFE.

BY J. P. SMITH.

Lel me bpeuk, let me hpVhh noW'
II will do me good and | VIII be silent
after that for the rest Of my life! Let
mo toll you the story OF the beloved
wife who lies here II will do me good"
Every well, my dear II II Will ease
your mind, l will listen" she answered
soothlngly, looking at her companion
with keen anxious glance.
TITS not long story and a com
mon-place one enough, She-that
Helen-llved up In the red house the
chlmneys OF which you can see smolt-
Ing among the trees, and she believed
herself beloved as that cross asserts
she was; but In q very short time she
found out her mlstake-found out her
husband had only married her out OF
plque and dlsappointment-'that he
loved another woman falrer than she.
Her rival came to stay In the house
with her; the wife was tried, tortured,
maddened to despair, and one day she
disappeared from her home, leaving q
letter saying she had gone never to
return. No trace was found OF her.
but after few days sufficient evil
dence was had to lend her husband to
believe that she had been drowned In
that river flowing there under the wall,
and her body ground to pieces In some
mill machinery half mile further
down."
What horrible storyl Poor soul
poor SOUL Was II proved to be accl-
dental or-or otherwlse2"
"That no one will know until the day
all things will be made known. They
have not judged her harshly here; lot
not us do otherwise"
"And the husband, sister,"
"He-the story says-went ravlng
about the country seeking her, at first,
as II he had lost the treasure OF his
life, and, Ave months after her death,
married her rival"
give months?"
give month. They live very happily
together now surrounded with their
children. That's tho whole story, and
1t ends in the orthodox style with
happy marriage, you see. Now let us
60, or we shall miss our train"
with glance toward the chimneys,
Sister Agatha put her arm within her
companions, and they walked quickly
and silently through the long wet
grass, over the old bridge above the
mill, to the station half mile away.
When they arrived there the up train
was slowly moving away from the
platform, and to their dismayed in
qulrles the statlon-master Informed
them there would not be another until
1:15. It was then only half-past seven.
Four dreary hours stretched before
them, to be got rid of-how? Sister
Agatha, who had been up the three
preceding nights nursing the sick, and
who had q week Of hard work before
her, prior to her departure for New Zea-
land, where she, her companion, and
three other nuns were going to found
a convent, lost no time In making up
her mind how to dispose Of the time
before them. Seating herself In q re-
tired corner Of the waiting-room, she
fell into a heavy sleep, after having
urged her companion to follow her
example.
Clothilde tried to do so, but 1t was
in vain, sleep would not come. Wis.,
ions Of past days, past happiness, hope,
and sorrow floated before her-volces
she had loved before she left the world
sounded in her ears.
When the last train from town ar
rived, the quiet station became a scene
OF hustle and -porters,
guards, passengers fitted hurrledly by,
doors were slammed; but Sister Agatha
slept placidly through 1t all, and her
companion drawing her thick veil over
her hideous funnel-shaped bonnet,
shrank farther into her corner. Two
or three travellers invaded the room
for moment, then hurried out, and
the train slowly moved on. Clothilde
had just pushed aside her sitting veil,
when the door opened again, and
plump ungloved hand, sparkling with
diamonds, thrust two children hastily
in, a gay, vibrating voice, that sent the
blood rushing to the nuns white face,
calling out
Children, stay there until nurse
comes to fetch you; don't attempt to
leave this room. Percy, take care Of
your sister, do you hear?"
Don't be afraid Cissy, I'll take care
of YOU" said the boy, beautiful child
of about five with golden curls falling
over his face, "The room is dark,
but"
"Who are you? What's you're name?
Tell me qulck-qulck-- must know"
The little fellow started back, threw
his arm around his sister, as he stared
awe-struck into the white face and
burning eyes of woman In a long
black cloak towering over him, a
woman he had never seen before, yet
whom he knew perfectly on the mo-
ment--the white witch Of Carving
Knife Cave who sucked the blood OF
crying children, that nurse told them
about when they were naughty.
81 am Percy Edward Stopford Den