Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-02-15
1 took her a wee, helpless babe, from

/ took her a wee, helpless babe from
our dying widowed mothers arms,
and gave that mother my solemn
promise to make the child my sacred
care while life lasted.
Only in one way can my last hours
on earth be smOOthed Of the intoler-
able dread for her future which now
Expresses them, and 50 1 have courage
to throw myself upon your mercy-to
ask you to make me this night your
wife, thus giving me the power to pro-
vide by will for my sisters future,
and then to go far away from here
until life shall have ended for me and
you are freed from the shadow of a
bond that will have existed only in
name. IT will be for such a little
time"
He wonders vaguely TO himself be-
ing so much moved, but with a strong
effort gathers his faculties and saws
slowly, but with great earnestness:
IL will do all you ask. 1t will not
be for long, but, please God, this good
action shall bear its fruits of right
eousness for you"
1t was a strange betrothal; but mar
rage there was, and as Clinton Ca
lorme went out at last alone through
the dewy, fragrant garden path, a
woman's kiss burned upon his Inns
and faint passionate whisper thrilled
upon the night air-the strangest of
all whispers to come throbbing I'M
from this mans heart, and yet it came
softly, reverently and humbly tender.
My wife"
Five years passed and Clinton Ca
lorme was still a wanderer over the
face of the earth.
Once only in all this time he had
heard from the woman whose Inns no
had once kissed in solemn acknowI-
edgment of vow the letter Of which
alone had been asked of him, leaving
the spirit all unpledged, and that once
the Paris physician had written him:
The case is not hopeless" And re-
ceiving this he had gone his ways
out Of civilization into the wilds of
Africa and far Arabia until there
came day on which he steadily set
his face homeward.
At the little questionable bathing
resort he comes to a halt. 1t is noon
day, but he takes his breakfast, and
then walks down the pebbly beach.
There are human sights and sounds
all about him, but Calorme sees or
hears nothing of it until the voice of a
woman's quoting, dreamily and low.
Barry CORVALLIS The Sea. the Sea.
the Open Seal! cuts through his rev
erie
1t is she-his wife! His lips tell 1t
again to the winds in softest whisper.
He sees the sun CLEAN upon the sill
ver-white crown. He knows that
some sweet thought is mirrored in the
holy eyes looking seward. He marks
that the white hands are no longer
thin and wasted, and that there is a
delicate flush creeping from the soft
cheek to the crimson tippit' ear and
then he walks across the sands. and
says:
Il am come, Agnace. 1 had learned
to love you from afar before you
brought me to you and bound me
with word. To you that nights
marriage was only in the name-to
me it was the wedding of soul and
spirit to the one fair woman of all the
world. VIII you now, this day, give
yourself to me to love, cherish and
protect until death shall part us? Can
you do it, Agnace?"
Yes, Clinton"
Then Clinton Calorme kisses once
again tenderly and reverently this
woman's lips, and there is the rellg-
ION Of lifetime in tho tones of his