Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-02-02
MY POOR WIFE.

BY j. P. SMITH.

LET me speak. let me speak now.
1t will do me good, and will be silent
after that for the rest of my life! Let
me tell you the story of the beloved
wife who lies here; 1t will do me good"
Very well, my dear, II it will ease
your mind. l will listen." she answered
soothingly, looking at her companion
with keen anxious glance.
tits not long story, and COM
mon-place one enough. She-that
Helen-lived up in the red house the
chimneys of which you can see smok-
ing among the trees, and she believed
herself beloved as that cross asserts
she was; but in very short time she
found out her mistake-found out her
husband had only married her out OF
pique and isappointment-that he
loved another woman fairer 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 a
letter saying she had gone never to
return. No trace was found of her,
but after u few days sufficient evil
dence was had to lead 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 story! Poor soul
poor soul! Was it proved to be acci-
dental or-or otherwise?"
THAT no one will know until the day
all things will be made known. They
have not judged her harshiy here; let
not us do otherwise"
"And the husband, sister?"
"He-the story says-went raving
about the country seeking her, at first,
as II he had lost the treasure OF his
life. and. five months after her death,
married her rival"
Five months?"
Five month. They live very happily
together now surrounded with their
children. That's the whole story. and
1t ends in the orthodox style with a
happy marriage, you see Now let Us
so, or we shall miss our train"
With n 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
quiries the station-master informed
them there would not be another until
1:15. 1t 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 week of hard work before
her. prior to her departure fer 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 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-voices
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 excitement-porters
guards. passengers fitted hurriedly by,
doors were slammed; but Sister Agatha
4,
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 n
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. a 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 quick-quick-f 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 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