The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-03-19
The Truant Husband.


The painful vigil may / never know,
That anxious watches DER wandering heart"
Mus. TleuIE.
1t was past midnight, and she sat lean
ing her pale check on her hand, counting
the dull ticking of the French clock that
stood on the marble chimney-piece, and
ever and anon lifting her weary eye 10 It's
dial to mark the lapse Of another hour.
1t was past midnight, and yet he returned
not! She arose, and taking up the lamp,
whose pale rays alone illumed the solitary
chamber, proceeded with noiseless step
to small inner apartment The curtains
of his little bed were drawn aside, and the
young mother gazed on her sleeping
child! What a vivid contrast did that
glowing cheek and smiling brow present,
as he lay in rosy slumber, to the faded,
yet beautiful face that hung over him in
tears "Wil he resemble his father ~
was the thought that passed for moment
through her devoted heart, and sigh
was the only answer!
Ills his well known knock--and the
steps of the drowsy porter echoed through
the lofty hall, as with murmur on his
lip, he drew the massy bolts and admitted
his thoughtless master. "Four o'clock,
Willis, is it not p and he sprang up the
stairca5e--another moment he is in her
chamber--n her arms
No reproaches met the ruant husband,
none.-save those she could not spare
him, in her heavy eye, and faded check
yet these spoke to his heart.
Julia, have been a wandering hus-
band"
"Bul you are come now, Charles, and
all is we'll"
And all was well, for, from that hour,
Charles Danvcrs became an altered man.
Had his wife met him with frowns and
sulen tears, he had become hardened
hbertlnc but her allectionate caresses,
the Joy that danced in her sunken eye,
the hectic flush that lit up her pallid cheek
at his approach, were arguments he could
not withstand Married in early life,
while he felt all the ardor, but not the
esteem of love; possessed of splendid
fortune, and having hitherto had the entire
command of his own pleasures, Danvers
fell into that common error, of newly
married men-thc dread of being control
led. In vain did his parents, who behclt
with sorrow the reproachcs and misery
he was heaping up for himself in afte
life, demonstrate; Charles Danvers turnet
deaf car to advice, and pursued, will
companions every way unworthy of hi
society. the path of.foly if not absolute
guilt. The tavern, the club-room, thu
race-course, too often left his wife soil
tary mourner, or midnight watcher.
Thus the first three years Of their wed
ded life had passed-to him in feveret
and restless pleasure, to her in bIlghiet
hope, or unmurnuring regret But thi
night crowned the patient forbearance o
the neglected Julia with its just reward
and gave the death blow 10 folly in thu
9 bosom of Danvors. Returning with dis
gust from the losses Of the hazard table
her meekness and long suffering touches
him TO the soul; the film fell from hi
, eyes, and Vice, in her own hidcous dc
. formity, stood unmasked before him.
Ten years have passed since that sol
!, tary midnight, when the young malro
I bent in tears over her sleeping boy. Be
hold her now ! still in the pride Of won
anhood, surrounded by their chcrub faces
who arc listening ere they 60 to rest I
her sweet voice, as it pours forth to I'll
accompaniment Of her harp an cvcnin
song Of joy and melody; while mani
% form is bending over the music page
hide the tear of happiness and triumE
that springs from a swelling bosom
as he conlemplates the interesting grou
Youthful matrons ! ye who watch over
wandering, perhaps an erring heart