The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1845-04-18

NJ - W. III W receive visitors; and befof
:. Charles len home for his daily business, b,
+ was expected to pass an hour with his in
= ,eres'ing guest, whom he usually Co,Ipr
. suppng her chocolate, with q rich yelye
dressing grown thrown over her pipb,
: dress, aud her stockingless fee, thrust into
: embroidered slippers. Sometimes half the
: morning was urconsciously loiiered away
10 Mrs. Wharton's room, and, perhaps
/ Lucy, while necessarily engaged with her
. Househould aud nursery, was glad to relin
quish TO her husband tho care OF entertain
ing her guest. Perhaps so.
Mrs Wharton liked Ills free and eusy
manner Of receiving her friends, but then
tho white curtains made her look so dark.
She complained to ChaI.es that the sight Of
such Geld looking d'aperies gave her chill
and accordingly an upholsleror came 10
take down Lucy's pretty curtains and re-.
place them with hansings Of crimson silk.
This was decided improvement, aud moth
ing could look more luxurious than tho ID
! dy end hor surroundings. She was an &C.
compIlshed musician, ard daily practice
was required to preserve her skill, but she
could rot subject herself TO the Intrusion of
visitors m the drawing room. She, there.
lore, suggested the proprieiy of fitting
cottage piano into The recess beside the fire
10 her pleassn t apartment, and 10 the course
OF few days her wish vas fulfilled. Ii
unfortunately happened that the tons of the
neg piano was 10 her ear far finer than thu
Qua 10 tho drawing room, and, of course,
she preferred playing On II. She frequen,
W spent whole evenings 10 her room on this
account, and as Charles had suddenly be-
como passlonately fond Of music, Lucy was
often Ieii quite alone in tho parlour, while
her husband @as enioy ing nc society OF hi.
Intimate friend owe, Der new piano.
Weeks passed on. Nothing happened
Of which Lucy al, she could complain wiki.
ou' appearing chiidlshly JEALOUS and exact.
'ng, YET circumstances were daily occur
ring 10 mar her domestic comfort. Her
husbands frsnk end open admiration Of Mrs.
Wharton, his uudlssuised attentions 10 her,
aud Bis bl'ud devotion to her wishes, seemed |
10 arse ironI feelings so independent Of bis
affection Tor hs gfe, that Lucy felt she |
had no real Cause for jealousy. Yeti tls
rather iryinF 10 soman, hU~aver rood
tempered she may he, to find herself al avs |
placed ia The second fsrk, because i, isl
perfectly Understood ,ha, she belongs to the |
FIRST. In other words, 10 be temporarily I
neglected because her husband ls so per. /
iccIly conscious that this ngec, does no,
grow Of Diminished affection. The young
wife began 70 grow very unhappy; she did |
not know how far this lnlaiuaIlon might be |
carried, and she began 10 bate Mrs. " har.
ton os much Is her gentle nature was capa
bic Of hartouring such feeling.
=" | am going TO srite to sister Mary, |
Charles" said she, one day. What time !
shnll fix for her visit? know she is
only waiting for my summons, and | can |
form 10 idea when Mrs. Wharton means /
10 CO."
81 presume she n i'll remain for a month |
or two yot. The delays Of the law mus,
regulate her movements"
" Must she stay here all that time !"
asked Lucy, IN u tone Of alarm.
." AN asiouished you should speak Of
" ~ htN'srfFSt hbNt bnv - uuSt
agreeable woman, aud the house had never |
boon half so lively as since she has been I
our guest. | am cure mover found the |
time pass so pleasantly. Tell Mary we
shall be glad 10 zee her some time in
April
4" shlll fad your friend bu, a sorry cub
SIi,n,e for my sister, Charles. Mrs. What.
tons msnrers are quite too fec 10 please
me-"
Your ignorance Of fashionable life 10
shown by that remark, Lacy. and beg
you will never again make such unchariln
bic illusions TO our friend She has
warm heart, and che has lived among those
who yield more freely TO their impulses
than we cc'd Americans. Her freedom,
as you term il, IS nothing but fraukness
and kindness. ladeed, wish you would I
try to resemble her litle more; you |
sometimes make ne appear very ridiculous
By your precise notions respecting married
life. As Mrs. Wharton says, you are as
dcmure as nun 10 society and any body I
would suppose, from your cold manners,
that you were kept under watch aud ward I
by JEALOUS husband"
For an instant Lucy looked indignant,
and then her feelings overposered her, and
she burst into tears. Charles, annoyed by
her emotion, which he understood as tncIl
reproach, walked out Of the room whisling
an opera tune, and she was left TO ponder
on his words. She was gentle and good.
nalured creature, but she had dcgtee OF
energy in her character which had never
been called out. She was tenacious OF her
rights, winch she now saw about 10 DO in
vuded, aud she was provoked that her pure
devotion TO her husband should now be
brought against her as a feproach. She
remembered how often Charles had waited
upon Nlrs. Wharton TO parties and public
places, while she remained a, home, as II
then seemed, from choice, but as II now np-
paared 10 her, from udrdh management
She did not believe thu Charles was in love
with Florence Wharton, bu, she thought