The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-17
His Wife.

gone dead lame; the girl TO whom I was
engaged had Tilted me; and. worse than
all, l had just made the startling discov-
cry that l was terribly involved in debt.
l could no chance of ever being able 10
extricate myself from my difficulties, and
l felt so peculiarly wretched that had
just begun to think that if I could hit
upon any easy. speedy way of making
my exit from the stage Of existence, 1
would-wheD the door opened and my
chun, Jack Holden, entered the room
and thus addressed me:
well, Ralph, old man, what's up?"
After telling my state Of affairs and my
gloomy prospects he exclaimed:
Why not marry an heiress?"
Thanks" I replied, bitterly. 1.-The sug-
mericaI"
Not so fast. Ralph" returned my
friend Majorie Vernum has come 10
town and Isaw her today. and from what
transpired during that interview I know
you can have her for the asking"
impossible 1 exclaimed and IT may
AKIN to repugnance from the idea of link
ing myself TO a woman who could suffer
herself to be won unsought
Now, see here, Ralph, my boy" he
continued, Il know what I have told you
TO be the case, and Majorie, though NOT
handsome, Is one of the best and incest
little girls imaginable But you know her,
do you not?'
Yes" I replied, st have met her In
Society, but I am bound to add that I
never noticed her, and no more did she
me-
There you are again. She admired you
particularly and for reasons of her own
is anxious TO marry now, and may be had
for the asking
Yes" I continued ''that is quite true,
but" But at the sound of that disa gree
able little conjunction my friend lost all
patience, and, rising, left the room.
OF course I did not think the matter
over, and, after the first shock had pass
ed, came to the conclusion that it would
be utter madness for a poor devil in my
position to throw such a chance away,
and it was my bounden duty to go in
for the heiress and win her If I could.
We were married in June. and when
once my debts were all paid I felt light
as bird and having always believed
that If wealth does not bring happiness
it at least brings an exceedingly good
Imitation Of it, 1 had no need TO change
my opinion then, when I found myself
the possessor of a charming house in
town and one in the country. with as
many horses as I liked to keep
My wife had her pursuits; 1 had mine,
and we followed them without interfering
with each other in any way Like two
parallel lines we moved along, ever to-
gether, burt ever apart-always near
never approximating; and beyond know
in gthat she ha dthe sweetest and most
amiable disposition in the world I knew
no more in the inner life of thought and
feeling Of my own wife than if she had
lived a thousand miles apart from me.
SStTa Vat WA irdaed e1-aT1
after having been a year together. But
as time wore on I found myself tremb-
ling at the sound of a certain light foot
fail and baushing like a schoolboy if my
hand came in contact with a certain
small. white one I at last awoke TO the
startling and painful conviction that I
was deeply, irrevocably, passionately IN
love with my own wife. , was bitterly
conscious of her Indifference Indeed, as
was thus fully persuaded Of her cold
ness, and too proud to beg for her love-
this state Of affairs might have gone on
forever had not an event occurred which
Interrupted the even tenor Of our ways
One day while out riding l was thrown
from my horse and so severely hurt that
my recovery was very slow; so slow that
that the doctors began to fear the worst
and at last Informed me that If wished
my days to be long in the land I must
80 SOuLH D6IOT6 Winter SET IN.
Well, the day came around when 7 was
TO go south and when I sailed did not
go forth alone, for my wife was with
me. That evening was very tired, but
the next morning as I lay awake on the
deck and felt the vessel bounding over
the glad, bright waters, the sensations I
experienced were pleasant beyound de-
Scrp1on. Then, too, there was the
charm Of being alone with her; at home
she seemed always in a crowd, but here
We were isolated sailing away and away
over the wide ocean together, where I
might always gaze into that sweet face,
which for months had been the only
face in all the world to me-
Thus time went on. until we had nearly
reached our destination, but the very
night before our expected arrival I was
suddenly awakened from my sleep, and
moment later Matorfe rushed into my
cabin, exclaiming breathlessly:
'For Gods sake-get up as fast as you
can, or we shall be too latel The ship
has Sprung a leak. and we are sinking
fast! They are making for the boatsr
Alas! She might as vel lhave asked
blind man to hasten. tried to do so, but
Il was in vain. At last, crawling onto
the desk. beseeched. nay. implored Ma
jorie TO leave me to my fate and try to
save herself, but, instead Of complying,
she turned to me with a look in her white
face and said: mo, nothing can induce
me- If you must die, I shall die with
you. You are my husband IN life or
death. I will never leave you again."
Oh, strange union Of two hearts 50 long
divided! Oh, strange destiny only to lift
the veil from those hearts when life was
over and the surging sea yawning to o.
gulf them!
put my arm around her and drew her
close to me. had sunk exhausted on
the deck and she was kneeling beside
me, and, looking into her face dim as the
light was, read such a revelation there
that for an instant I felt as II heaven
had been suddenly opened to me, and I
sped rather than said: "Oh, Marjorie.
my love. my dearest! II is-oh, Is It true?
Have you at last learned TO care for me?"
Care for you!" she repeated, that IS
not the word. Ny husband, I love you
have long loved you with my whole heart.
was too proud 10 let you see Il, or
''Oh, nv darling" I cried in despair
why did YOU not tell me this befo-e7
And how could you not see that f was
my love for You which has been killing
ne? And now + Is all too late!"
I folded her to my heart as I spoke,
and 50 absorbed in each other had we
become that for some time we did not per
ceive THAI We were now quite alone on the
deserted wreck, around which an orninous
8 snce Teignet. We climbed 10 the bow,
but * was both q painful and awful po-
sitinu 70 remain II during al the long
hours that ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS night.
However. when the morning dawned a |
'nvful surprise awaited Us. By some mis-
,alcula ION a most fortunate one for us.
we had been much nearer land than was 4
thought; 50 near that the people m shore /
>oud see the submerged wreck with their I
glasses and Immediately sent over a