Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-07-17
CHAFTER XII.

Detter man lot tnlSs
CHAPTER XII.
In sunny Nice, by the blue Mediterran-
can, Margaret passed the winter, and
grew well again, and like her old self, or,
rather, like something better than her old
self, for the girl had never before known
what it was to be so happy as she was
now. The visible sunshine of the world
around her seemed to her only like the
reflex of the sunshine in her own heart
Was it not a thing, she asked herself
hundred times, to make her whole life
new to be cared for as she was cared for
now by Godfrey?
The weeks dregged their slow length
along, and at last, at the end of March,
the day fixed for their wedding came.
and they were married, and it was not
until the May of the following year that
they came home
In the month after their return a child
was born to them-a second Margaret,
whom, however to distinguish from its
mother, they came to call Rita. From
the birth of this child new era began
in Godfrey's life The year that he had
spent abroad with Margaret had not been
grets, for the dead level of her nature
had made his unbroken daily compan-
ionship with her often hard 10 bear. The
child, however, gave him the first sense
of returning mental health. He had been
for eighteen months like man living in
some unnatural. exhausted atmosphere,
the effect of which upon him had been
TO numb his feelings and paralyze his
energy; but the contemplation of Rita's
little strange unfolding face, and pretty
baby ways, and the touch of her small
clinging fingers round his own, stirred
a fresh well of life within him.
Godfrey established himself at Ivor,
settled down into a course of life that
gave him occupation and fair amount
of contentment. After his marriage he
relinQuished the intention he had orig
inally had of going to the bar, and de-
voted himself to literature. He wrote
an historical essay. which he published
when Rita was three years old, and
which brought him some small amount of
reputation; and this first publication he
followed, as time went on, with others
The little one had clear, small voice
that used to go singing through the house.
Godfrey would set his study door aiar
sometimes to listen TO it, not caring much
though it disturbed him at his work. He
used 10 wonder sometimes from what an
cestor either on his side or Margaret's
she inherited that flexible organ. with its
true, sweet tones; it was neither from
her mother nor from himself. Rita had
perhaps, never even heard her mother
sing. Margaret did not sing now-as
Godfrey reflected sometimes, not without
gratitude.
But Rita early showed a faculty for
music, and her father liked to listen to
the simple tunes her little fingers played
She was n small, eager creature, and
with mingled amusement and tenderness
he used 10 watch her as she spelled out
her scales and exercises. her whole heart
in the work. her lean legs dangling from
the music stool, too short by far TO reach
the ground Perhaps she may sing
some day as Joanne Beresford used to
sing" he sometimes thought. But no
one, il seemed TO him. had ever sang as
jeanne did in those old days.
He felt a curious sense of regret as
Rita's childhood began TO pass away; il
seemed TO him like the passing away Of
his own youth. There were lines already
In Margares's face. She led a placid life,
but her health was weak, aud she had
not the art of keeping young. There
were lines in her face and her hair was
getting quite thin and gray. She belong
ed to that class of women whose con-
stitutionS wear out early, with no appar-
ent cause beyond their simple want of Vi
tally. BY the time they had been ten
years married she looked older by a good
deal than Godfrey.
They used TO 20 TO London sometimes,
aud once or twice again they went
abroad. One summer, while Rita was
still a little child. Jack Dallas came by
chance into their neighhorhood. and be-
Ing invited by Godfrey, stayed with them
for two or three weeks, aud made him.
self very popular among them. Mr.. Dal-
las was unmarried stiil. and apparently
unlikely TO marry. lie was also SIN as
lrhf-heartcd Is ever, and almost as much
OF a boy.
I ought to settle down. you say. Why
should [ settle DOWN." he asSed Godfrey
IT don't know. for my own part, how
pe0E.v ever choose a wife. II there were
only one woman in the world l could
marry her with complete satisfaction;
ber when one knows hundreds OF women,
each one pleasSnter than another, II
seems 70 me clear inaRosSie3lity 70 make
up ones mind among them. Some day
mean 10 80 back and take another look
at VI Berestord. She was little beauty
wasn't sheg Aud whas dear people
they were, ] am always thinking of look.
ing them m again: bat one neve- does
anything enc Intends. | wonder how thai
fne old vicar wearS-and my friend Ill
liam
Lillian mrst have been married years
ago She was married. ] believe, a few
months after we were At brentwood,
Godfrey SAID.
"oh. yes dare say they are al mar,