Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-05-19
THE HUSBANDS DECEPTION.

The minister gazed at the bereaved
husband compassionately. This is very
heavy affection, my friend" he said,
speaking with strong emotion. Il have
experienced the same great loss so re-
Gently that / can feel for you in this hour
of trouble. But, my dear brother, / can
tell you that peace will come to you.
Soon, very soon, you will understand
that this is not separation. Your love
for your wife cannot die, and you will
feel that she is near you in spirit and
you will still be one"
The younger man lifted his hand de-
precatingly. "You must not go ont is
a proclamation" he said brokenly and
looked at the minister with troubled eyes.
''You do not know-no one knows He
got up and moved restlessly about the
room. But win tell you"
He came back and seated himself be-
fore the minister and spoke with face
averted:
Il never loved my wife"
The minister started. "You-never
loved her!" he cried You cannot mean
that. You always seemed so devoted.
Why, a few days before her death she
told me how happy her married life had
always been. Surely, surely, you must
have loved herr" There was pleading
in his tone.
NO. / never did More than that, |
have loved another woman all these
years"
This is horrible!" cried the minister.
Il have lived lie"
The minister was silent, while a look
of rcpulsion grew upon his face
Now that you know the worst of me,
may as well tell you all about it." The
younger man spoke in a dull monotonous
tone. 1T will be a relief to let some
one know, after keeping it 10 myself for
twenty years.
You see, / made a mistake. and asked
the wrong girl to be my wife--it was
moonlight and she stood in the shadow.
| did not find out till it was too late and
she had promised to marry me, and had
confessed that she always had loved me-
Then, what could l do?"
why did you not tell her of your
mistake 2"
The younger mans eyes flashed.
What?-after that would have died
first. She was a nice girl, j respected
her, and ] could not break her heart that
way. So / never let her know, and we
were married, and all the time | loved
the other girl, and had to fight hard to
keep her out of my thoughts even during
the ceremony"
Have you seen her often sinee--the
other one?" The minister spoke with
constraint, his eyes turned away.
Never since that day. / left the town
and came here on purpose to avoid her"
The minister's eyes came back to the
younger mans face and did not leave it
again.
I'VE came here, and l worked hard to
try and forget. l did forget, in way,
but | never loved my wife"
You got on well together ?" the min
lister urged gently.
Yes, oh yes-there never was any
trouble. We were good friends-the best
of friends, in fact, and. as / said, re-
spected her and yes, liked her, too but
never loved her, And | deceived her
very completely" he went on bitterly.
"She never even suspected it. She was
not one of the exacting kind that require
constant declarations of undying love.
So did not have to tell her direct false.
hoods though l should probably have
done that if it had been necessary"
But why?" questioned the listener.
why. don't you see? She loved me
and II wanted to make her happy. |
couldn't endure TO cause her pain. Why,
when for any reason she was unhappy
it made me perfectly miserable. and !
could not rest till / had made her hapnv
again
And all ,ais time You were wretchcd-
| ~ unhappy yourself and longcd for the
other woman?"
No, to be honest, / was not unhappy.
After few years | seldom thought of
my real love. You see | have lived n
very busy life, and when was not work
| ing ! was doing all | could To deceive
my wife and make her happy. She could
not help loving me, any more than /
could help not lowing her"
And you think You succeeded in de.
ceiying herr"
Yes, perfectly. Why. in this last
sickness she told me that had not given
her u. moments mhappiness since we
were married. thanked God when
heard her say that, for | had tried so
| hard"
You did not deceive hcr!" The min.
istcr. words came clear and sharp.
The younger man started to his feet.
staring wildly at the minister. What
/ do You mcany" he demanded
! The minister arose also. He was smil.
ing. but there were tears in his eyes. 1t
was yourself Won deceived he said firm.
! ly. You did love your wife"
! The younger man shook his head.
No he said, sadly.
You did" persisted the minister.
You deceived yourself all these years.
| Moreover, you are heart broken at her
| loss"
Il feel badly-we were good friends
but have not shed tear Does that
look as if l were broken-heartcd '"
The minister grasped his hand and
| held 1t strongly, Listen to me" he
said. Il know men who profess TO love