The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-10-18
MrscNLLANx.
TIE MARRIED MANS STORY

| had been many years separated. We
had been mostly educated together, ba-
wing passed our boyhood II the same
school, our youth atthe same university:
but our fortunes were different. lie,
born to wealth, left college 10 mix with
the world ut home and abroad while !
turned 10 the profession | had long since
made choiro of, and began 10 lay my
weary way towards independence.
We were both a good deal changed.
NV friend had lost much Of the gay
b%novancy Of manner much Of The mer-
~ happy, careless low Of spirits for
which he had nee been remarkable. !
was less grave than | had been reckoncd
during my former acquaintance !; yet
am a man of business, and married. We
had much to say of the different chances
that had occurred to MS and | found,
that though altered in manner, in habits,
and in character, we met The same To
each other that we had parted. 1t was
getting late in the day, and | asked my
friend fine would 20 home 10 thu small
house | occupied, and dine quietly with
my wife and me. He agreed instantly,
shook hands with me III his own lively
way, as he thanked M for asking him,
and we turned into the street INTO which
I lived. must own | felt some lutte
uneaSiness at tbe thoughts ot introducing
my friend to my wife. | had otlenspo-
ken of him 10 her, and ] dreaded lest
she should 10 fluid the portrait faithful.
In fact | mistrusted my own Judgment
till it should be confirmed by hers not
that in words she would tell me that we
differed, but ! knew her too well in look
and manncr to be deceived. | did not
feel quite easy either at the idea Of pre-
senting my wife 10 my friend. His ad-
miration would in no degree alter my
SENTIMENTS towards her but | felt |
should be i'll satisfied unless he thought
her, in the course of one short evening,
all | had found her during The three hap
py years OF our union. My heart beat
as | ran up the steps. | colourcd as |
pulled the bell. The door was opened
by our only man-seryant, and | myself
ushered my friend up stairs.
MY wife was dressed with extreme
%neatnesS, though she expected We were
to dine alone and she was sitting as u
sual, at her workable, when the sound
Of my steps upon the stairs made her
raise her head. She came forward 10
meet me; and when ] named my friend,
she turned To welcome him with "A grace
and "A gaictv that made him sure OF a re-
ception. She placed him beside her on
tire sofa, and | was o at ease rs to
first impressions. W. bad not Gar to 90
10 dinner. The lower part nflhe house
being occupied BY my chambers Of bu-
%sincsS, our public rooms are confined to
a small drawing o ON the first floor,
and "A still smaller library opening our ol
it. In this small library we dined. The
dinner was ordered with nealness and
taste, and served without display IN IN
apartment simply furnished. NV wife
is not one of those who, To make parade
upon occasion, lesson the comforts oie-
very-day life. She has never since We
married, SET before me a dinner | might
NOT have brought n friend IN paItake Of
nor has she ever appeared before me in
a dress she could not have wofn on DC.
c%asionS of ceremony. Yet or expen 81,
do not, by any means, come up 10 oul
limited income. 1t is true, our want,
are few but wo increase our luxurie,
as we 90 on. We do not I've IN the
world, but we live very much in society
society that we like, aud that like ", y
assimiIales with ms. All this, and more
in the warmth of my heart, ! told my
friend over a bottle Of my best wine
when my wife rose and left us and w
were still upon the same theme when ",
Joined her again at tea-tahlr. lie be.
gan t. rally rs upon our WY Of life, am
he trlod 10 persuade her that, in tormel
days, | bad played the IBeonstant Il.
mong our circle oil beauties, being tonc
10 admire, aud tickle to change. | saw
that in his tfen mood it were vain fol
me to dispute his assertions so, To di-
vert the time, and, may be, to proven.
my wife from thinking Of any other, |
pleaded guilty to one serious attachment
and offered 10 tell my story.
Some years ago. said I, when i
first became the fashion To take shoot
ing-quarters in the Highlands, | formec
one of a large party who had engage
an extensive tract of moorland for the
season. The game-kaoper aud TIN
dogs were sent off early III July, and i
was settled we were %allsto dine together
At the farmhouse we rented with the
ground, upon the I0th Of August. Ny
friends agreed 10 proceed norlbwards II
a body; but as J dislike exceedingly ira.
yelling 10 that sort oicompany,E declined
forming one oft, aud set ont by myself
some weeks before, on "A tour lhrouei