Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-19

hapless husband AMI wife, l saw his
eyes fixed on me questioningly: but
no words crossed our lips.
Sir Rudolph seemed devotedly at
tached to his brother; the love that
should have been lavished on his wife
was given him. 1t was delightful to
see them together; he was so amiable.
SO attentive, Uric so bright and kind
ly. did not remember ever to have
seen her look so unhappy Uric
made no change in his treatment of
her. He was kind attentive and af-
fectionate to her Either he knew
her secret and thought nothing of it.
or he did not know, and retained his
old affectionate respect for her.
Mr., Culmore came to breakfast with
us the next morning, and was startled
at not finding his brother there.
Where is Rudolph" he asked.
He seldom takes breakfast with
u.s." replied Lady Culmore, her face
flushing painfully. And Uric, seeing
it, said no more.
So the days passed, and, though
Ulric's presence seemed to have
brought light and sunshine it wrought
no change in the unhappy relation
ship which existed between husband
and wife. He never alluded to it; he
seemed gradually to fall into our
strange ways. He was kind and low
ing to both, ignored the estrangement
as much as possible, took the part of
neither, and behaved as well as any
man could possibly have behaved in
the circumstances.
After a few days Lady Culmore re-
covered herself, finding that her
brother-in-law merely wondered and
looked puzzled
How am l to tell what next hap
pened? What words shall find sweet
enough, fair enough for my story? On
Christmas Eve, leaning over the stile
that led into the snow-clad meadows,
looking up to the night-sky where the
stars shOne, | had prayed heaven as a
Christmas gift to send me some one
to love me; and with the budding of
the green leaves, with the singing of
birds and the sunshine of May, my
prayer was granted.
| seemed to be standing outside the
gates OF some wonderful land, when
suddenly they opened, and the golden
light fell full upon me, binding and
dazzling me. At first | thought of
Uric Culmore simply as a scholar and
a gentleman; later l began to look
upon him as one of the handsomest,
noblest. most generous of men; finally
found that his presence greatly af-
fected me. Why should my heart beat
fast at the sound of his voice? Why
should my face burn at the sight of
him? Why did | tremble like leaf
in the wind when he spoke to me?
Why did every nerve and pulse thrill
at the bare mention of his name? My
heart told me that it was because l
loved him.
| gave him the whole love of my
heart, and | never thought of it's being
returned. 1t was happiness enough to
me to love him. 1 never thought of
past or future; the present sufficed for
me. Heaven knows that l was not
presumptuous in my love. To live
where | should see him, to do all in
my power for those he loved, to live
loving him, to die breathing his name
/ had no greater ambition, no more
fervent hope. To me he stood quite
apart in the world of men-there was
none like him, none equal to him;
that he should ever dream of placing
me by his side seemed most improb-
able So the lovely month of roses
came round while the heart of the
child changed into the passionate,
| loving heart of the woman, and | was
child no more.
! How | loved him! And it was no
wonder | had seen so little or life.
| He was really the first young, hand
some man | had known That beauti-
full June was the happiest month of
my life; not that l forgot the troubles
and sorrows of others, but that the
glamour OF loves young dream was so
strong upon me that my heart was
full.
Uric Culmore had come to Ulla-
| mere to study and to rest, yet how
often in the early mornings, when the
lake was like sheet of molten gold
and the rosy. light lay on the distant
hills, | found him in the grounds OF
down by the water side! And l had
not the faintest idea that he came be
cause he wished to talk to me- The
knowledge that loved him with full
and Derfect love that was To he nv
one secret in life, gave me, strange to
say, perfect ease in his presence. per
feet confidence while with him. Sc
we talked in the early morning hours
under the stately trees, and down by
the river side, the birds singing t.
us their sweet perfume, the sun shin
ing down upon us.
Mr.. Culmore liked talking to me
He always took breakfast with Lad.
Cullnore and me. He very often came
during the morning to read to us al
we sat in the shade of the grea
spreading trees; he followed us a.
, ways into the drawing-room after din
ner; he accompanied us in our walk
and drives.
) How much pleasanter house i
when there is 2 gentleman to take al
: interest in matters." I said one da
| thoughtlessly to Lady GILMORE I re
pented the words the moment | say
5 her face grow pale.
t One morning Uric and | were tC
f gether amongst the roses He p1ucke
r one and gave it to me: it was a Lowell