Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-06
CHAPTER |.
The Young Wife's Secret.

Lloyd, [ love you so well, l am sure
l could never regret giving myself to
you Are you sure that you will never
regret?"
Never, love; you are all the world
to me, and in becoming my wife you
have made me the happiest man liv-
ing | would not have asked this Sc
cret marriage of you, Grazia, had not
the circumstances of my life been just
what they are. I 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"
ooh, Lloyd, I wish you were not 60
ing away" and the lovely girI-a per
feet poem of feminine beauty-clung to
her young husbands arm and looked
wistfuIIy up into his face, while a
SILVER, as from a sudden chill, shook
her Slight frame from head to foot
''HearGs dearest, do not grieVe so
over it, was the tender response, as
the fond lover folded her closer in his
arms 4 shall not be absent more
than three months, if, indeed, so long;
and when this yeXed question OF prop
erty is settled, | 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 delic2,e form, as a slender
sapiing is shaken when a furious tenn
pest breaks over it.
Lloyd Langham froWned slightly,
even while he held the form of his
young wife fondly pressed to his heart.
Tears always trritated him; it 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.
Il cannot understand why you
should be so excessively overcome by
this parting, which is unavoidable" he
said & shall write to you every few
days; the time will soon pass. and
then we shall never be parted again
Something III either his words or
tone of voice sent a chill to the fair
Wife's heart, and she suddenly grew as
white as the spotless dress in which
she was attired,
L am sure, Lloyd, [ do not know
why I should be so completely I'M
nerved," she said, trying to speak col
lectedly, though her sweet lips qulv-
cred pathetically. perhaps it is be-
cause | fear that l may not have done
quite right in dcCeiving papa by mar
rying you secretly; but l have an I'M
accountable presentiment Of some COM
ing evil. | hope, dear, that we have
not made fatal mistake"
"Fie, my darling; Danish all such su'
head" the young man returned, with
playful Gliding, While placing one
finger beneath the white, dimpled chin
or his girI-wife, he lifted her face and
kissed her lips with passionate fervor.
"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 forelock-I could not
Ieaye you without making my claim
snre; and when l come back we will
have a public wedding, and no one
will be the wiser"
IF you would only let me tell papa
Grazia began.
Not 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
at once set me down as a fortune
AhhbNIs anu w OAld instantly disc q
breeze When l return from the West
I shall be a rich man. then I can bold
iy claim you without the fear of being
misunderstood"
well, Lloyd, I shall of course do as
you wish, but | shall be very nervous
and uncomfortable until you come
back to me-" Grazia returned, with 9
long-drawn sigh.
That will be very foolish, love,
Lloyd Langham responded, with 6
slightly impatient shrug of his shapely
shoulders. I am not going out of the
world; if anything very serious hap
pens, you have only to telegraph me
and a week will serve to bring me bacl
to you. Now, love let me see smiles
upon this face. which is dearest OIL
earth to me; I do not wish to go ava,
taking with me the vision of a Niobe
dissolved in tears, nor with the echoe
of heart-broken signs resounding il
my ears
At this fond command a charming
smile wTeathed the little wifeS beauti
full lips, revealing two rows of small
snow-white teeth; but the look of anx
iety did not fade from her lovely eyes
and the quickly repressed sigh told c
a heart still i'll at ease.
1t would be difficult to find a NOR
striking-Iooking and attractive coupI
than Lloyd Langham and his beautiful
young wife, as they stood together be
meath the brilliantly lighted chande
lier in the handsome narlo. Of Nj. WI