Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-05-19
THE RETURN.

MI. -NnituN slowly slttftA inc Ftoths
The servant. In dress suit and white era
vat. had Opcncl the door without reoog-
nlzing him. lie was stranger In this
houSe. which sheltered his wife and his
daughter.
He lprk 4 around. sgitatcd In spite Of
himself lie recognized tire furniture, the
piano. the large easy chair, where his lit
Il, Queen, then only 4 or Z, who was TO he
married now, had slept in the chimney
SOrner.
He sighed
Ten wears had passed sincc he had en-
tered this house. since he and his wife had
separated They had bccn divorced fool
ishly.
The reasonY 4 peccadillo that she had
taken seriously. During this time he had
seen his daughter but once a month, and
he had never seen his wife except one
time NJ % distance.
Now that Queen was 20 be married.
he came o. lead her To the altar. The
room was fl,sd with flowers. Tho wed
ding presents were placed ON n table,
Mr.. Saulius turned round at the sound
Of footsteps His wife stood before him.
She was only "a little changed.
lie bowed tremendously. She returned
his sa,lutation, and, Offering him chair,
said:
"Quecn is almost ready. She will be
here i'm moment"
He seated himself. They began to talk
upon different subjects Then the scenes
of their former life passed before their
ewes. Mrs. Saulius, turning her head sud
denly, said:
Let us hope Queen will be happier
than her mother. She is good and gentle.
An unhappy marriage would kill her. "
She stopped abruptly, regrctting tho
words
Mr.. Saulius looked 1T her sadly and re
piled:
Yes"
"Mr. Guersac is charming man, he
said again after awhile. "Ho loves Queen
dearly. hear only the most favorable
reports Of him.
Yes" said Mrs. Saulius sadly; 1--WE
have no right to be too cxacting"
There was another silence. Then Mr.
Saulius Slid:
You will feel lonely now"
She bowed her head.
However, you will be able to sec her
every day, as she will continue to live in
the ncighborhood. "
at will not be the same. Ny homo will
not be her home, she said.
A cry u rcpruach escaped him.
what have | suffered, then, lwho have
seen her but once a month for the last ten
years."
Il have never denied you the privilege
of seeing her, " She replied,
YES; half days visit, brought by n
goverucss or IA nurse. Do you think that
Queen, little rs she was, did not under
stand: that she did not have the intui-
ton Of the injury that was done to mcf"
Mrs. Saulius exclaimed
All. Injury. You Cxaspcrate me.
However, you are right. y
She looked at him proudly.
with what do you rcproach mc'" she
asked
your lack Of heart For an error OF a
moment"
She interrupted him Indignantly:
"A friend Of mine! Whom you met
here in this room ut my house,
Yves, l did wrong, but it was only a
passing weakness In reality loved only
you, md You were without pity. You
broke two hearts but your pride was sat
isacd.
"Sir, You are mistaken"
He replied more coldly:
Il forgot mysrIf All is indeed lost "
"Oh, | pray you, do not pose as mar
tyr. If any lives have been sacrificed, they
are mine and nur daughter's.'
lit is true, said MIR Saulius, trying to
steady his voice. II continued in my
course, but did it for revenge. wished
to conceal my pain for you. wished 10
make you rs unhappy as you had made
me. tortured myself in vain, | under
stood that il YOU were 50 decided you Ger
tain'y no longer loved me-
~
Yves, and you joyfully seized this occa-
sion II regain your freedom
She sank into u chair, hiding her face
in her hands.
Then. suddenly setting his hand and
pulling him t. her, she gave expression 10
the feelings so long concealed adorcd
you she said I suffered thousand
deaths! If did rs you say, it was because
| thought you had ceased to love me. We
have both been deceived! We know it is
too late 1t would DO useless to attempt
to reconstruct the cdilco of our happi.
ness"
Mr. Saulius looked ut his wife intcntly
Her words Il adorcd you!' sent n thrill
of happiness through him and lighted fol
n second all his past lonely life.
you loved me; Is it possibc?" he
cried.
Yes" replied the woman in n broken
voice. You will never know how much! -
He pressed her hand gently My poo-
Madeline! l also have been cruelty pun.
ishcd "
ooh, If we had taken time to consider"
Eyes"
But now 1t Is too late, and our lives
are ruined, ruined forever My poor friend,
what shall We do nowy''
At this moment rustic of silk was
heard on the stairs, the door opened and
Queen, in her wcddin.; robes, u bouquet
of orange blossoms Mt her cOrsage, her
pretty face bcaming with happiness, en-.
tered and threw herself into her father
arms.
Father! My dear father! 1t is you
If you only knew how happy ami"
Mr.. Saulius pressed her to his heart
My child! My dearest daughter! God
bless YOU
Then, disengagng himself gently from
her embrace, he turned toward his wife,
and, smiling, said to her: what shall we
do now-watch the happiness of our chill
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