Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-05-18
THE MARRIED MANS STORY.

Hau TIC pIcdsuTee JcW chSs nSO.
TO meet unexpectedly friend, from
whom was many years separated.
We had been mostly educated togeth-
er having passed our boyhood at the
same school, our youth at the same
university but our fortunes were DIFF
tcrent. Hc, born to wealth, left col
lege to mix with the world at home
and abroad whilc ! turned to the pro-
fession l had long sinee made choice OF
and began to lag my weary way to-
wards independence.
We were bot; a good dea! CHANGE.
sly friend bad lost rnuci, OF tie ga;
buoyancy Of manner, much oftlIe fEeT-
~, happy, careless flow OF spirits for
which he had once been remarkable.
was less grave than had be.n reck-
oned during our former acquaintance ;
get | arm man Of business, and mar
rieG. We had much to say Of differ
ent chances that had occurred to US ];
and / found, that thoig;, altered IN
manner, in habits, and in character,
wc met the same TO each other rs we
bad parted.
1t was getting late in the dav, and
asked my friend if he would go home
to the small house l occupied, and
dire quietly with my wife and me.
lie agreed instantly, shook hands with
me in his own lively way, as he thanked
me for asking him, and We turned into
the street in which / lived.-l must
own felt someslittlc uneas!ness at tine
thought Of introducing my wife. l
had often spoken ofhim to her, and !
dreaded lest she should not find the
portrait faithful. In fact, mistrusted
my own Judgment till it shouid:be con-
tirmed by hers; not that in words she
would tell me that we differed, but ]
knew too well in look and manner to
be deceived. did not feel quite easy
either at the idea Of presenting my
friend. His admiration 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 happy years Of our
union. My heart heat as ran up the
steps. Icolorcd as l pulled the bell.
'Phe door was opened by our only man
servant, and lmyselfushered my friend
up stairs.
My wife was dressed with extreme
neatDess, though she expected we
were to dine alone; aud she was sit
ting as usual, ut her work table, when
:he sound Of my steps upon the stairs
made her raise her head. She came
forward to meet me and when named
my friend. she turne. TO welcome him
with grace and gaiety that made him
sure Of his reception. She placed him
beside her on the sofa, and | was soon
at ease rs to first impressions. We
had not far TO go 10 dinner. The low
crpart Of the house being occupied by
my chambers Of business, our public
room on the first floor, and a still small
Ter library opening out Of it. In this
library we dined. The dinner was
ordered with neatness and taste, ard
served UP withou: display in an apart
mcnt simply furnished. My wife is
not orc of:bose WHO, to make Il parade
upon occasions. lesson the comforts of
our every day life. She has never,
since we were married, set before me
Ginrcr might rot have brought a
friend to partakc Of; nor has She ever
appeared before me in a dress she
could not have worn on occasions OF
ceremony. Yet our expenses do not
by any means come to our limited in
come. 1t is true our wants arc few,
but VIC increase our luxuries rs We 60
or. We do not live in the world, but
we live muc!, in society; society that
We like, and that likes US and assimi-
1atcs with Us. All this and more, IN
the warmth ofny heart. told my friend
over n bottle OF my best wine. when
my wife rose and left; and we were
still! upon the same theme when We
Joined her again at the tca-table. He
! began TO rally us upon our way oflite.
aDi he tried to persuade her that. in
former days. had played the incon-
slant amors: our circle of beauties be-
ing fond TO admire, and tickle to hauge.
i SAN that in his then mood il were in
vain 20: ne 10 dispute his assertion,
SO. 10 divert the time. aad. may be
10 prevent my wife from thinking Of
any other. I pleaded guilty 10 orc ser
ious attachment, ana offered 10 tell III,
story.