Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-09-06
CHAPTER i
The Young wife's Secret.

| could never regret giving myself to
you. Are you sure that you will never
regret?"
Never, love; you are all the world
to me, an2 In 0ecomip wife you
have u "a the Aa man liv-
ing. / would not have -. - Sc
cret marriage of. you, Grazia, had not
the circumstances Of my life been just
what they are. | would have much
preferred to have welded you openly,
before all the world; but this sudden
summons to my fathers death-bed will
necessitate a separation OF several
weeks perhaps months; and somehow
| could not leave you without the
knowledge that you were wholly
mine"
oh, Lloyd, wish you were not go
ing away!" and the lovely girl--a per-
feet poem Of feminine beauty--clung to
her young husbands arm and looked
wistfully up into his face, while
shiver, as from sudden chill, shook
her slight frame from head to foot
Hearts dearest, do not grieve so
over it," was the tender response, as
the fond lover folded her closer in his
arms. II shall not be absent more
than three months, If, indeed, so long;
and when this weed question Of prop
erty is settled, l VIII return, and claim
you before the whole world"
But the tender words only seemed to
unnerve his companion the more, for
she dropped her fair head upon his
broad breast and burst into passion
ate weeping, great shuddering sobs
shaking her delicate form, as a slender
sapling Is shaken when furious tenn
pest breaks over 1t.
Lloyd Langham frowned slightly,
even while he held the form of his
young wife fondly pressed to his heart.
Fears always irritated him; 1t seemed
weak and childish in any one to yield
to them, and he had no sympathy with
such outbursts of feeling.
"Grazia," he said gravely, after a
moment of silence.
She hushed her sobs almost in
simultaneously at the unusual tone, and
lifted her face questioningly to him.
81 cannot understand why you
should be so excessively overcome by
this parting. which is unavoidable" he
said. II shall write to you every few
days; the time will soon pass, and
then We shall never be parted again.
Something in either his words or
tone of voice sent chill to che fair
wfe's heart. and she suddenly grew as
white as the spotiess dress in which
she was attired.
II am sure, Lloyd, l do not know
why | should be so completely un-
nerved," she said, trying to speak coll
lectedly, though her sweet lips qulv-
cred pathetically. Perhaps Il is be-
cause fear that may not have done
quite right in deeeivlng papa by mar
rying you secretly; but | have an UNI
accountable presentlment of some COM
ing evil. | hope, DEAR that we have
not made fatal mistake
''Fie. my darling; Danish all such su
perstitious notions from your pretty
head" the young man returned, with
playful Gliding, while placing one
finger beneath the white, dimpled chin
of his glrl-wife. he lifted her face and
hiSStu utT lips Win pdSSlOHdlo lcTNOT.
"of course we have made no mistake"
he went on; you belong to me heart
and soul; you would have married me
eventually. anyway. and your father
would have given you to me willingly,
as you know. when 1t came to the
question point-blank. We have only
taken time by the foreloek-I could not |
urtth Oh nla {t,Nl
sure: and when come back we will |
have public wedding. and no one
Will be the wiser"
III you would only let me tell papa"
Grazia began.
mot for the world. Grazia," hastily |
interposed the young husband; che !
would not be able to keep It from your
step-mother. who, as you know, is none
too fond of either of us. She would !
az once set me down as a fortune |
hunter. and would instantly raise
breeze. When return from the West |
shall be n rich man, then can bold |
~ claim you without the fear of being |
misunderstood"
swell, Lloyd. shall OF course do as
y
and uncomfortable until you come
back &c me-. Craig returned, with a
long-drawn sigh.
That will be very foolish, love" /
Lloyd Langham responded, with n
slightly impatient shrug OF his shapely |
shoulders Il am not going out of the
world; II anything very serious hap
pens. You have only to telegraph me,
and week viii serve TO bring me back
20 you. Now. love, let me see smiles
upon this face. which is dearest on
earth to me; do not wish to go away
taking with me the vision Of a Niobe,
dissolved in tears. nor with the echoes
OF heart-broken slghs resembling In
my cars"
At this fond command a charming
smile wreathed the little wife's beauti-
ful lips. revealing two rows OF small,
sncs-white teeth; but the look Of anx-
iety did not fade from her lovely eyes,