Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1888 — TEARS TURNED TO SMILES. [ARTICLE]

TEARS TURNED TO SMILES.

BY JEFFIE FORBUSH HANAFORD.

Those little tiffs that sometimes cast a shade On wedlock oft are love in masquerade. “Once, and for all, Elsie, I can not go.” Boyce Lonsdale put down liis cup, not very gently, and glanced at his wife, as he made the above remark. They were seated in their cozy little breakfast-room, surrounded by all the comforts of a charming and beautiful home. Elsie returned his glance with a decided frown on her pretty face as 6he threw the letter she had been reading down on the table. “It’s really too provoking, Eoyce. You can not spare the time to go anywhere. One would think we had been married six years instead of six mouths. Violet writes they expect to have a lovely time. Ned isn’t afraid to leave his business. Ob, I want to go so much! lam sure you could arrange it if you were half a mind to.” Elsie paused for breath, and waited expectantly for .a reply, but received none. Kovce evidently considered the subject settled, and proceeded to finish his breakfast with unimpaired appetite. Passing up his cup for a second cup of coffee, he discovered his wife’s eyes filled with tears, and that 6he was eating little or nothing. “Do be reasonable, Elsie.” Eoyce spoke rather impatiently. “I would be very glad to take you if it were possible for me to get away this week. But it really is—as I said before—quite impossible.” After saying this Eoyce left the table and put his arm affectionately around hiß wife. But Elsie was in no mood for caresses, and snatching her hands away from him she suddenly left the room, with that inevitable slam of the door that is absolutely necessary when one is thoroughly angry. Elsie, when she quarreled with any one she loved, was bound to cry; so the next ten minutes were spent in tears. Eoyce, feeling very angry with everything in general, and his wife in particular, snatched np his hat and departed for his office.

Alter the lapse of half an hour. Elsie felt thoroughly ashamed of herself, and wished she had not let her temper get the upper hand of her: that she had not said so many unkind things to her husband. At that instant the little French clock chimed out 8 o’clock, and Elsie sprang to her feet, hastily opened the door, and hurried toward the breakfast-room. Eight o’clock, and Eoyce invariably left the honse for the office at quarter of 8, and now, because she had given way to her temper, he would, of course, be late. The door stood ajar. Elsie pushed it open and glanced in expecting to see’Eoyce sitting there in a dejected attitude. But instead the room was empty. Gone! Elsie could not realize it. Indsed, she would not believe it. But a careful search of the house proved that he was really gone. And without kissing her good-by. The first time he had failed to do so since their marriage. What should she do? Elsie was undecided.

The low French window opened on to a veranda that ran entirely around the house, and as it stood invitingly open, she obeyed a sudden impulse and went out. As she did so something white caught her eye—a letter laying on tbe steps that led down to the delightful little garden, where the roses, pink,white, and crimson, sent up their sweet fragrance. Elsie picked it up, her thoughts too busy with the events of the morning to wonder why it was there or who could have dropped it. Turning it carelessly over in her hand, her eye caught her husband’s name. With trembling hands she opened it out and read the following:

“Sept. 15th, 1887. “Friend Royce—Yourfi received, and I gladly undertake your commission. lam surprised at what you wrote. I will do my best for you. Ido not see the lady very often. The whole affair is quite romantic. I can remember the time when every one here expected you would marry her, and you surprised every one by doing nothing of the sort. She always appears sad of late, and, now you have told me the reason, I pity her. If she consents to forget and forgive, I myself will take a trip into London this week and see her safely to your office. Sincerely yours, “Kent Hallett.” Elsie read it through to the end. Her heart seemed to stand still. She crushed the paper in her tightly clenched hand, and trembled with excitement. Who was this girl her husband was so interested in? This, then, was the reason he could not leave his business. She understood it all now. What should she do? Her heart ached as young hearts onlv can ache. Again she read the letter, standing there on the broad veranda, the sunlight falling on her slim, girlish figure in its pale-blue morning dress, glinting like silver from her nut-brown hair, and falling pityingly on the sweet, pale face bent over that fatal letter. She could never be happy again. Once more she turned her attention to the letter and read it through for the third time. Then she quickly entered the house, and, changing her pretty morning dress for a dark street suit, was soon walking rapidly in the direction:of her husband's office.

Let ns now follow Eoyce. Before he had reached his office he felt sorry he had left ; home without bidding Elsie good-by. He blamed himself for all the trouble. If he had only explained to her why he conld not leave at this particular time, everything would have been all right. But he wanted to wait until the whole affair was settled j before he told her. “Never mind,” he said to himself; “I will go home early to dinner and make it all np.” Then his attention was attracted by a letter lying on his desk. “From Kent!” he exclaimed, as he ; quickly read it through. Then, taking up his pen, he hastily wrote the following note: j “My Dear Little Wife—Forgive me ! for going away without my good-by kiss. | I’ll be home early to dinner. Got some ■: good news for you. You may write Violet that we will join the party. Will explain more fully when I see you.' Your loving “Eoyce.”

Calling the office-boy, he sent him off with the note, just as the door opened to admit a gentleman, who* grasped Boyce’s outstretched hand as though he would never let it go. “Eoyce, old friend, how can I thank you for all you have done for me?” “By being true to yourself in the future, Arthur,” replied Eoyce, earnestly. Arthur Gwendon sank down into a chair and rested his head on his hand. “What of Millie? Tell me about my wife, Eoyce. Do you really think it possible she can forgive me, and that once more I shall clasp her to my heart, and we begin a new life together?” “Yes, Arthur, your wife has forgiven you, and is, even now, on her way here. I received a letter from an old friend of mine, Kent Hallett, this morning. She is in his care, and will soon be here. Hark!” as the sound of carriage-wheels sounded on the hard pavement, then stopped suddenly. “Eemain here, Arthur; you shall see her alone.” Saying this, Eoyce left the room, and met a lady and gentleman just entering the building. Millie Gwendon put aside her veil as she entered the hull and held out both her hands. “Eoyce, kind friend,” was all she could say. Kent Hallett, as he opened the outside door leading into the big hall, saw Eoyce coming forward to meet them, so he did not enter with Millie, hut let her meet Eoyce alone, while he remained standing on the marble steps just at the entrance. Almost instantly his attention was attracted by a lady hurrying toward him from the opposite side of the street. She did not glance at him, however, but pushed the heavy door open and entered. As she passed by him Kent caught a glimpse of a pair of big brown eyes, and the sweetest, at tbe same time the saddest, face he had ever seen. It was Elsie Lonsdale, and she entered just as Millie Gwendon had given both her hands to Eoyce. And she heard Eoyce say: “From now on, Millie, I hope your life will be a happier one.” Elsie waited to hear no more. She turned and almost flew out of the building; with so much haste, in fact, that she ran against Kent Hallett and nearly caused him to lose his balance and go down the steps too quickly for comfort. Eecovering himself, he was not a little surprised to see the lady who had entered a minute before leaving iu such desperate haste and evident confusion. Agaiu the door opened and Eoyce came out. Shaking hands with Kent, he happened to glance down the street. There, not a block away, walking very rapidly, was the familiar figure of his wife. “Excuse me a minute, Kent,” he said, hurriedly; “there goes my wife, and I want to speak to her. ” “Your wife,” exclaimed Kent Hallett in surprise; then he told Eoyce how the lady now fast disappearing in the distance had entered the door and came out again in such desperate haste. Eoyce waited to hear no more, but walked rapidly down the street in the direction Elsie had taken. As he came in sight of his home he caught a glimpse of Elsie’s dress as the door closed behind her. Hurrying forward he entered and soon stood at the door of their room. He hesitated only an instant, then softly opened the door. Elsie’s hat lay on the floor, and Elsie herself face down upon the bed crying as though her heart would break. “Oh, Eoyce, my husband, how could you deceive me, when I loved you so dearly?” In an instant Eoyce had her in his arms and was raining kisses on her neck and tangled brown hair. Her face was turned away from him. “Elsie, my darling little wife, do not cry so. I have never deceived you.” It was soon explained. Eoyce told Elsie the whole truth concerning Arthur Gwendon and his wife. I shall not go into details here, because, for both their sakes, it is best forgotten; and we have every reason to believe that their future life will be a happier one. Elsie’s tears were soon turned to happy smiles, nnd with a little exclamation of joy she nestled against her husband and hide her burning face. “My darling,” he murmured, and bis hand caressed her wavy brown hair with the most tender of lingering touches, while Elsie whispered: “I will never doubt you again, my husband; never again.”