Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-04-23

A Broken Wedding Ring
ak
By Bertha N. Clay.

more,
And have not been six years my
wife!
"'Those two rosy boys in the crib
Upstairs are not ours to be sure!
You are just sweet bride in her
bloom,
All sunshine and snowy and pure,
AS the carriage rolls down the
dark street,
The little wife laughs and makes
cheer;
But 49,. wonder what day Of the
week?
wonder what month of the
Year,"
Lean listcnd attentiveIy.
ut Is very sad and very sweet,
Basil. All it Is terrible thing
death, 70 think that nothing in the
world can save one from It, neither
wealth, nor love, nor
Arc you afraid of death?" he in
Itcrrupted.
yes, am perhaps more than
most people When | was u little
child, was taken to Westminster
Abbey, and was left alone amid the
monuments until my friends came
back for me, One struck me so
much Basil ! forgot the name OF
the persons in memory Of whom IL
has been erected: ! remember only
n Al
wife clasped in her husbands arms,
and death, in terrible guise, trying
TO snatch her from him and drag
her into his hidcous don. was
greatly impressed with it, Child as
was, though how horrible, how
strong death must be. when even the
love Of her husband could not keep
wife safe in his arms. | think that
was the FIRST time | ever felt afraid
of death. Oh, Basil, now that | am
so happy | do not want to diet"
My dearest Leah hope there is
no question of it, What makes you
think and speak of DEATH when |
have come purposcly to tell you
about our hUmc?"
1T Is your fault" She replied, half
laughinsIy you would recltc those
lines, and You wondered which would
die first"
We'll If | am to blame, will
soon make amends by changing the
conversation,
She was looking at him with grave
sweet eyes
Basil she said, you tell mo
that In your fancy you saw me
moving about the rooms mt Glen. and
taIing my place in them. One
strange thing with me is that | can
mover do that can ever imagine
myself ut Glen, never go beyond
my wodding,day; the life that lies
| beyond it Is all dark and blank.
! think Of you, and of being with you,
Ibut | see no further. never behold
a future In which we are both here
at Brentwood or at Glen. DO you not
think It strange
You are rancifu, Leah" he re.
Ipliod. Yet her words touched him
is that 1t? have often wondered
in my own mind how 1t was. You
are sure 1t is fancy, Basil-not pre-,
lscntlmcnt?"
i He laughed at the idea that pos,
scssed her,
Il do not believe in presontiments,
Leah" he said; fancy and present.
mont are to my mind the same
thing"
Il DO not think So" she replied
II have hoard of SO many forobodings
that have been realized"
Has one of your own over been
roali2od?" he asked.
And she was compelled to answer
"No."
"Bcrore | mot you, Basil" she said
I"l did dream at times of the future;
now | have weird sensation that
the end of everything comes with
the evening of day, and the morning
begins new life"
Il was much amused, remarked
Sir Basil, Eat hearing thar Lady
prummond had curod her youngest
daughter OF n totGlhle loNSleNoF ny
the simple expedient Of giving her
worry difficult piece Of needlcwork &c
do | must follow her example II
this respect. Leah must give YOU
some problems in Euclid to solve,
some chapters of history To study
anytuing to clear these Cohwehs from
your brain"
"Thcre is one thing that | woul,
much ramcr YOU gave me- she said
shyly.
What Is 1t, Leah?' he asked.
There was no answer,
"Lcah, what is it," he repeated
And she looked up at him With {
beautiful flush on her face.
Il honestly believe you mean this,
he replied, bonding over her anC
kissing her lips. Did YOU mean that
dear
1T Is better than history o.
Euclid" She replied, laushiugly
And then the bright-hued birds anc
the fragrant blossoms were witnesses
of pretty little scene in which
sweet sunny laughter and tenderly
tN.ht.n,r,l yY,NrIc wppp int1rnNInpl