The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-11-14
St, JOhnsbury, VT November IA, 1916.

she WINS wont TO display, and her tone evinc-
ed how deeply she was wounded.
'IIe asks less distressing proof gaily re-
piled, and my voice sounded even to myself
discordant with sadness of hers; 'and now
good-by for awhile. We part friends, do we
not, Alice"
She bowed assentingly, without raising her
fearful eyes, and left her, | doubt not 10
weep bitterly. returned earlier than she
expected me. A flush ofpleasure Brighten
ed her cheeks as she rose to greet me, but
some unpleasant recollection seemed to come
back upon her and thought her sRlutation
cold How could it have been otherwise,
when i had so heartlessly repealed her ex-
pressions ofaffection, and with the hum of
mirthfhl tune upon my lips, so carelessly left
her to day of solitude and tears.
attempted to engage her in conversation,
but her replies, although polite aud respect
vi, were brief, and her tones measured. j
thought her offended without sufficient reas-
on, and therefore grew stern and Indifferent
felt when it was too late to rectify the error,
that she imagined her exhibitions of attach
ment annoyed me, and hence determined TO
repress them. Thus,were her emotions driv
en- in upon her heart, TO CONCEAL there. Days
and weeks elapsed without any explanations.
Twas grave and taciturn at home, aud fire.
quently absented myselffo the whole day,
and when did not, spent the hours in the
fields garden, generally, when in the house,
selecting the apartment in which my wife did
not happen TO be. An acquaintance of whose
society was fond occasionally visited me,
and he aud lanused ourselves MS we chose,
without any reference to the entertainment
of Alice. She neither sought nor avoided
my presence, performed her customary avo-
cations, and was quietly attentive to my wants
Il L 4
and pale, but her demeanor was calm and
selfpossessed. Her hours must have passed
more solitary than ever. One evening, un
evening shall never forget, although the re-
memberance brings anything but renorse
and wo, we were sitting alone together. The
rain had been falling all day, and had occu-
pied myself with writing nearly the whole
time. The gathering darkness obliged me to
forego my employment until candlelight, and
folding my arms on my breast | sat gazing
into the fire. There had been no quarrel be-
tween myselfand Alice, and the common
place remarks about the weather, roads, etc.
etc. had occasionally varied the silence of the
hours. She had been sewing, but had put
up her work. did not notice her appearance
but heard her sigh frequently. AT length she
rose from her seat, behind me, and, strok-
ing back my hair, elapsed her hands upon
mn forehead. felt that she considered her
selfin error, and wished 10 call forth some
on my part, by this tacit
towards former confidence. was
in maynard humor. She stood thus some
but took no notice; and presently
we have candles? want to |
finish writng?'
She rung the bell, and resumed her seat |
What would no; now give to recall that
evening! Those dear hands never again press
or nv Sln ntia.
wing that she was indisposed, and the next
morning was in high state of delirium. A
was despatched for her parents,
and for many weeks they watched with me
beside her bed, expecting every day TO see
her gentle spirit take its flight.
Very slowly and gradually she grew bet
er, and her anxious mother insisted on TAX
ng her home with her. Alice made no oh
ection, and her physician recommended n
change of scene and her native air.
Strange as it must appear to the reader
hat should have been so blind, must Inform
lim that never, for single moment, con-
lected the illness ofmy wife with my own
lemeanor. | had no sense of personal con-
lemnation. knew that l loved Alice more :
han my life, and was wholly unconscious
If being other than kind, indulgent and at
husband. ! had it is true, been
title veXed by her suspicious of my attach ,
nent bur her recent danger had banished
rom my heart every feeling unallied with
,ure tenderness. | was too wretched to at |
ect stoicism, and her parents believed me,
What believed myself the most devoted of !
They compared me with others
whom they knew, and they gained by the
ontrast. accompanied my wife 20 her ia
hers and remained with her several days, T
Iy attention to her was unremitting, and :
4 10 bo, inf IN
short time, her recovered cheerfulness /
1ade me hope that she was happy, and would
Don he well. ought TO have had some en- A
lanation with her ere we parted; for, al
1ough doubt not my devotion had proved ,
er best medicine, and brought back those q
canning smiles, which then imagined were II
allied forth by the scenes of her early years,
le wound in her heart was dressed without
eing first proved the dart was, therefore, I'M Il
xtracted, and left to corrode within. Hence,
ELECTION only infamed her suffering. At "
ne moment of saying 'adieu,' she trembled
excessively, but as she did not shed thars, T.
or express any desire for me to defer my
eparture, attributed her agitation to mo- r
lentary nervousness, and thinking left her
ecure oftrauqulity, pursued my Journey,
forwards learned that she wept much when
had gone; and her Bible, which, since her
scovery from that terrifying delirium, had Ii
cen her constant companion, appeared her
hief comforter Her friends believed her A
epression was the effect ofdebility; and hap
lily for their peace, were never better inform II
j.
Important business, at this time, required ~
~ presence at home, but / determined to N
,nder my stay as briefas possible. was
cry anxious about my wife, and from the "A
oment ofny leaving her, weight came up
I my spirits which could not shake Off I
have since regarded it as q foreboding of l.