Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-10-05
The Return.

Mr.. Saul1uS SLOWLY entered the room.
The servant, in dress suit and white
cravat, had opened the door without
recognizing him. He was a stranger
in this house, which sheltered his wife
and his daughter.
He looked around, agitated in spite
OF himself He recognized the furni-
ture, the large gilded armchairs, the
china vases, the pierglass, which had
SO often reflected his image entWined
with that of his wife; the piano, the
large easy-chair, where his little
Queen, then only six or seven, who was
to be married now, had slept in the
chimney corner, weary after her play,
the blonde curls making a halo around
her head
He sighed.
Ten years had passed since he had
entered this house, since he and his
wife had separated. They had been
divorced foolisbIy.
The reason? A peccadillo, that she
had taken seriously. Both their lives
ruined! During this time he had seen
his daughter but once a month, and he
had never seen his wife except one
time at distance, in the Bots.
Now that Queen was to be married,
he came to lead her to the altar. The
room was filled with flowers, white
roses, and boughs of lilacs. The we'd
ding presents were placed on table
in a corner of the ROOM
Mr.. Saulius turned around at the
sound of footsteps. His wife stood be-
fore him.
She was only little changed. The
features were trifle sharper, and the
hair, formerly a golden brown, was
now mixed with threads of silver, bu
her figure had remained slender, anC
her eyes were still bright.
He bowed tremendously; she re
turned the salutation, and, Offering
him a chair, said:
Queen is almost ready; she will bt
here in moment"
He seated himself They began tx
talk upon different subjects. Ihe1
the scenes of their former life paSset
before their eyes. At first smiling
joyous, brilliant with changing colors
Illuminated by the sun, then sad
gloomy, duh, and wretchedly dreary
Evoked by the circumstances tina
caused them to meet again-they boil
recalled the day when they were mar
red, and, Mrs. Saulius, turning he
head suddenly, said almost involun
tarily:
Let us hope that Queen will b
happier than her mother. She is goo
and gentle. An unhappy marriag
would kill her"
She stopped abruptly, regretting tn
words
MIR. Saulius ooked at her sadly an
replied:
Yes"
Mr.. Guersac is a charming man,
he said again, after awhile. He love
Queen dearly. l hear only the mos
favorable reports of him. One ca
only reproach him (if it be reproach
with his lack of fortune. But the Sc
Ting of young girl whose parents al
divorced is always difficult"
Yes" said Mrs. Saulius sadly, "N
have no right to be too eXacting."
There was another silence, then M
Saulius said:
You will feel lonely now"
She bowed her head.
However, you will be able to see h.
every day, as she will continue to liz
IN the neighborhood."
ct will not be the same. My hon
will not be her home she said.
A cry Of reproach escaped him.
What have l suffered then? l, WI
have seen her but once a month f
the last 10 years."
Il have never denied you the priv
lege of seeing her." she replied.
Yes! A half-day's visit, broug
by a governess or a nurse. Do y
think that Queen, little as she was, d
not understand? That she did n
have the intuition of the injury tn
was done to me? That she did 4
suffer from lt?''
Mrs. Saulius flushed, and rising, {
claimed:
''Ah! Injury! You exasperate n
However, you are right. Children
ways suffer for the faults of tn
fathers
He oo1dIIr norroatad bar. onf ~