Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-04-27

stone within, making a-metallic click,
tie way. l had never seen him 80 pale
before, or so determined.
Who are your he demanded, wild
ly. "NYhy cannot you leave me in
peace?" div d.
tits I. Gerald, your Madeline, your
own little wife"
And l caught from his hand the pls-
toll he was trying to conceal in his
breast and flung it out of the window.
Gerald, would you have left me?'
II would have escaped" he cried,
still half delirious, to all appearances.
'teDt, Disgrace, misery, her r~eproaches j!
Il would have escaped them ALL"
His head fell like that Of a weary
child on my shoulder. I drew him
gently to a sofa and soothed him with
a thousand mute caresses. For had it
not all been my fault"
And through all the long weeks that
followed I nursed him with unwaver-
ing care and devotion. l had but one
thought, one desie-to redeem myself
In his estimation; to prove to him that
l was something more and higher than
the mere butterfly Of fashion I had
hitherto shown myself!
Well, the March winds had howled
themselves into their mountain fast
dried IN the bough and spray, and now
the apple blossoms were tossing their
fragrant pillows Of pinky bloom in the
deep blue air of latter May.
Where were we now?
1t was a picturesque little cottage
just out of the city, furnished very like
a magniied baby house. Gerald sat
in a cushioned easy chair on the piazza,
where he could glance through the open
window at me, working a batch Of bis.
cults, with my sleeves rolled up above
my elbows, and the "g%old-thread" hair
neatly coiled.
What an industrious fairy it is"
he said, smiling sadly.
"WeI, you see, l like it. It's a great
deal better Than those sonatas on the
piano"
"Who would ever have thought you
would make so notable a housekeeper."
l laughed gleefully-I had all a
child's delight in being praised.
Are you not going to Miss Delan-
cy's croquet party?" he pursued.
mo; what do I care for.your croquet
parties? l am going to finish your
shirts, and you'll read aloud to me-"
Madeline, I want you to answer me
n question"
What is it?'
/ had safely deposited my pan of bis
cults in the oven by this time, and
was busting the flour off my hands.
What have you done with your dia-
monds I"
II sold them long ago; they paid sew
years rent here"
But, Madeline, you were so proud
of your diamonds"
II was once; now they would be the
bitterest reproach my eyes could meet.
Oh, Gerald, had l been less vain,
thoughtless and extravagant-"
l checked myself, and a robin singing
in the perfumed depths of apple BIOS
some above the piazza took up the
dropped current OF sound.
That's right, little redbreast," said
my husband, jokingly, talk her down.
She has forgotten that our past is dead
and gone and that we have turned over
a new page of cur existence. Madeline,
do you know how l feel sometimes,
when I sit and look at you?"
NO"
"yell, 1 feel like a widower who has
married again.
My heart ' a little superstitious
jump.
Like a widower who has married
again. Gerald?'
Eyes, l can. remember my first. q
brilliant, thoughtless child, without al
idea beyond the qualification Of present
whims-a spoiled plaything. Well, that
little Madeline has vanished away into
the past somewhere; she has gone away
to return no more, and In her stead /
behold my second wife, a thoughtful,
| tender woman, whose watchful love
surrounds me like an noble and devel.
ops itself Into new depth atmosphere
whose character grows and beau.
tiful every day"
was kneesing at his side now. With
my cheek upon his arm and my eyes
looking into his.
Aud whse,.s I'D you love best. Gerald
sa fss asssaa size I" /.
y think ~ kaah ana Yiaepitedea
u