Connecticut western news., 1902-01-23

rived. The news of what appeared to be total ruin reached me first in tele- gram which 1 found waiting for me a dinner party alone. my wifS having pleaded a headache and retired to her room early in the evening. l gathered up the letters which had come by the last post and carried them to my dress ing room, where 1 sat down to read them Imagine casting ones eyes on a bit of paper as the eyes of the owner of a million and raising them with the knowledge that one does not own a penny In the world! I sat long i'm movable, stunned with the suddenness of the blow.
 "How was I to tell my wifef How would she bear 1t, she who had mar ried me for the splendors which she must relinquish, the woman whose beauty, whose gentle If cold compan- ionship and perfect conduct toward ma and the world had bought with gold ? If she could not love me before, how bitterly would she turn from me nowi
 'I had sat for two or three hours mo- tionless as stone. The first gleam of dawn crept in at the edges of the blinds, and I stirred and wrfthed in my chair. The door opened, and my wife, in a white robe, appeared on the threshold in the gray light.
 "'What ails your she said gently.
 Nothing that can tell you at pres ent,' said. Go back to your rest
 "'Wil you not tell me what is the matterr
 Certainly. I will tell you tomor- row. It is only some bad news
 While was speaking her keen eyes caught sight of the open telegram and of the letters sprawled on the paper which spelled ruin. The next moment she was on her knees beside me.
 "'Oh, my dear, will you not share this trouble with mer
 "I was so stupid from the shock I had borne that the sweet words and pleading tone came on me like sec ond blow. The next moment was not sure had heard them, did not be- lieve in them. I answered cruelty, Unfortunately you will have to share 1t with me-
 NO, say oh. hhy love, my husband, am I so unworthy Must I be counted as a thing bought with gold, living on gold and for gold and cast aside when gold fails and love might well take its placer "'Is it not absurd I said, that you should imagine you could love me now when you could not love me through all the five years of my devotedness to your
 "She crept nearer to me and wound her arm around my neck.
 "T loved you she said. T loved you since the first day knew you But knew there was a plan made by others to force me upon you that your possessions might be useful to me and those belonging to me. The knowl edge of this paralyzed my actions, ever my looks. l knew you thought you were taking loveless wife, and seeing you were willing to take me so | wal too nervous, too timid, too proud, toc unhappy, to have any power within me to undeceive you. Now for the first time my heart has found a way tC speak. We will work, we will laugh we will be happy together
 "She frightened her sweet hold of my neck. My arms closed around her.
 He stopped suddenly. He had beer talking as if unaware of my presence There was a long silence and before 1t ended my hand found it's way to hls shoulder.
 "I understand now, old friend" said softly.
 He shook himself up and laughed . little bright laugh.
 "Yes." he said. q thought 1 should