American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-10
From the New World
PRIDE AND TEMPER.


Caroline and Edward Spencer had been en-
gagged in marriage to each other from child
hood. and the period at which their union should
take place having arrived, they were united I'M
der favorable auspices. They were equally &C
coulpshed, in comfortable circumstances, and
possessed of similarity of dispositions and
tastes, which was particularly remarkable
They were, as it was observed, formed for each
other One single defect, however, on each
side married all, and rendered them supremacy
miserable.
Tho period generally known as the honey
moon had passed over without any occurrence
approaching to a direct misunderstanding, and
the young couple sat one evening in the enjoy
ment of the most pleasing "reminiscences. DO
YOU recolect,' said Caroline, the happy days
we used to spend together sauntering on the
banks of our beautiful river, and inhaling the
fresh air which lightly rippled its surface" Il
do, nv dear replied her husband. And do
you recollect when you said that if marriage
were half as pleasant as that time, you would,
when we were united, think yourself the hap
Dsiest of n,ottals'' 4 do 'And do you remem-
Ter the favorite songs we used to sIng' Yes,
Mind how Jealous you would be when | spoke
to that fop Norris NO, do not what! not
recolect that?' Certainly not; / never was
Jealous in my lfe.' We'll, but | am sure you
were' But deny it, my dear Now, you
know you were; come, confess It,, do you
wish me to confess that which know was not
SOY But let US quit the subject Have yon tried
either of those airs brought you yesterday
'Ah! you shan't escape me in that manner.
insist on t-you were horribly jealous of young
Morris, and every one saw it, i tell you
once more, Mrs. Spencer, was not. Have
100, ID tho ,;rs,1 mind the nirS NV
dear; [ wish to convince you that you were
Jealous. Do you not recollect the evening
when--' Edward rose from his chair
Madam he observed, if you insist on contn-
uing ubiect which, you perceive, is disagree
able to me, must leave the ROOM. But why
should it be disagreeable TO you? Just say that
you were Jealous, and shall be satisfied lie
made no reply, but Immediately left the room,
when his young wife perceived that she had
aone a little too far. 'FIe is so irritable, she
| said hut instead of following her husband, to
endeavor to soothe his irritation, she sat down
TO the piano to try the airs he had brought her.
| In the interim he had retired to the adjoining
apartment, somewhat convinced himself that
he had acted precipitately However, he
thought his wife would no doubt follow him,
anxious to just the little difference. He there
lore threw himself on a couch, expecting every
moment to see her enter the apartment. What,
then, was his surprise to hear the sound OF mu-
sic from the room he had left, and the voice OF
his wife accompanying, apparently in the most
! uncencerned manner, the instrument she was
PLAYING. Considering himself treated with
indifference, fnot contempt he put on his hat,
and walked out into the street in no very enyi-
able humor As his evil fortune would have
it, he had not proceeded very far when he en-
countered the arch tempter hlmself,in the shape
of a friend on his way to the club of which both
had been members, but from which Spencer, in
] the determination to lead domesticated life,
| had withdrawn since his marriage. In his then
state of mind, it required very little persuasion
to 90 thither, and thther he went, remaining
until early the ensuing morning, when he re-
turned home. His wife had retired to bed and
not willing to disturb her, he crept noiselessly
in. His rage had eyaporated; and had he found
her awake, the difference between them might
have been satisfactorily adjusted. She had,
however, after crying bitterly at what had oc-
Cured, fallen asleep. Pride kept her the next
morning from confessing that she had been at
all annoyed or grieved at her husbands abb
sence; and when he 'hoped that she had not
been very unhappy she replied, mot at all. =
This at once put an end to any explanation,
= and in the evening he thought that as Mrs.
ShSpencer felt SO happy in his absence, there
could be no objection to his spending the even
ing once more from homes
The club was again resorted to, and being
induced to engage in play, he rose great loser
He returned home chafed and annoyed, and in
no new mood to make concessions OF any de-
scription, far less to endure taunts IN quiet Il
hope you have enjoyed yourself at the club?'
said his wife to HIM as he entered the room.-
woman, leave me Alone he replied anglily.
You seem already to think marriage by no
means as pleasant as courtship.' Leave me
alone say, or shall make you What! you
will strike me too? Do SO, and crown your
ainiable and considerate conduct The young
man raised his hand as if to comply with the
taunt but suddenly checking himself, he again
took his hat and rushed hastily from the house
He hurried on through the dark and nearly de-
serted streets without an object, not knowing
or thinking what he intended to do with him
self. suddenly he stopped before large we'll
lit building; he surveyed it anxiousy, and then
seemed about to pass on; but apparently drawn
ran irresistible impulse, he at length went in.
u Vas the club once more--the place which he
had recently left under circumstances SO unfor-
tunate. He had still few pounds in cash
with him, and had determined to make one
more effort to redeem previous losses. In the
excited state of his mind, it is unnecessary to
uy that the effort was unsuccessful. He would
nave quilted at once, but friends were there to
wge him on, and to advance him money on the
security of his watch, notes of hand, &C. Mad
deued by repeated losses, he at length played
deeply-recklessly. When be left the house