Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-12-12
THE JOY OF
RETURNING

day, and ! realized after an hours
steady rowing that the charms Of the
riverside could be better appreciated
whom the hands were idle. Leaning
back in my cushions, / listened to the
drone of the bees and the musical lap
ping of the water against the sides OF
the boat, watching meanwhile the va
rying expressions which fitted over
ny companions face.
How sweet and peaceful it all is
here" she half mused. Just a day for
condolences. FELL me, Rose. have
ever kept a secret from youf"
Not to my knowledge" | returned.
"Well, there is one big secret which
] have always kept locked up in my
own heart. the only one, / think. that 1
ever refrained from condding to you.
l am going to tell you It now. How
long IS il since l first came t. live with
YOU"
Two years" | answered somewhat
anxiously, land the happiest two years
Of my life. Don't say YOU are thinking
Of leaving me yet awhile"
Did 1t never strike you as being q
strange thing for me to leave my home
and friends and come and bury myself
in the country like this.'
Il thought perhaps" | began blum
deringly, that you might have had
some isappointment-tha is
broke off in some confusion, and
my friend looked al me intently from
under her long fringed eyelids.
you were quite right" she said. the
smile dying away from her mouth and
a shade passing over her face. You
Well. there was"
Her voice sank as she made this con-
fession, and her eyes strayed away
over the water with the faraway ex-
preston which had become so famil-
lar. / looked at her silently. desperate
~ curious, as only u woman can be.
and yet not caring TO put any question.
Yes" she said softly. He was the
cause Of my going away. l loved him
too well to stay"
But whyY' I began impetuously. not
quite understanding this kind OF affec-
ton. Didn't he care for your"
Yes she said. That was the rea-
son why went"
..Was-was he married?" I asked
neryously.
Yes" she said bitterly. He was
married. and to a vain. selfish, worth
less woman. a woman who cared for
nothing but the indulgence of her own
inordinate vanity. What he suffered
through her no one knows better than
myself. In six months she ran through
all his money. incurred debts which
were impossible to pay and altogether
made his life a perfect misery. Rose
Rose. there never was a greater curse
10 man than bad wife"
"That must have been hard for you
TO bear" | murmured sympathetically.
But not nearly so hard as for him"
And do you think he loved your
IT am sure Of it" she returned. DO
you think my life these two years
would have been possible II had not
known? 1t was that that gave me the
courage to go away and 10 keep away
all through those terrible long months"
And row | began anxiously
staying the oars In their motion in the
water.
She dabbled her hands In the water
before speaking.
And now" she said, "I am going to
see him again"
She saw the look OF panied surprise
which came upon my face but did not
heed it, and went on talking as IL to
herself.
Il am going to meet him in the city
tomorrow. He viii be at the station
when my train comes In. | haven't
seen him for two whole years-for two
whole years"
Then his wife is dead" made re-
mark
No: she is not. Women Of that sort
do not die easily"
But demonstrated.
There are no butts about II" she
cried almost angrlly we have suf-
fered enough. he and I. and we are go
ing to pretend that the other woman is
dead We are going 10 forget all tile
misery of the past. lie Is going to take
me abroad. and we are going 10 start
life over again. II IS the thought OF
this which has kept me alive these
years"
You are a very foolish girl I said.
with some emotion. DO you think
happiness viii come at such a cost?
Think over it all again or you will re
pent 1t bitterly You have had courage
enough TO keep away so long. don't
spoil II all now. am pleading now for
his sake and yours"
She shook her head obstinately. and
her eyes shone with a light which was
truly maddening To me. Knowing her
as did. this weakening change in her
character surprised me more than l
dared 10 own. / looked ut her silently
and met her glance OF odd defiance
with sorrowful thought of what she
had been 10 me for the last two years.
Then found my voice.
But she did not heed entreaties and
sat half smiling to herself as she play
eel with the steering ropes.