Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-12-05
NO. II.

drawn them together, and these proved,
as they ever do, pc rmanent bonds.
Mary and Edith had retained tender
regard for each other, and met frequent
ly. But in all their intercourse, with
true womanly deicacy, Edith avoided all
allusion to her own unhappy state, al
though there were times when her heart
longued to unburden itself te one so tru-
ly sympathizing friend.
! One evening-lt was ten years from
the time Of Edith's marriage-her hus-
band came home in his usual cold and in
different way; and while they sat at the
tea table, something that she said excited
his anger, and he replied in most harsh
and cutting words. This was no unusu-
al thing Bat il SO happened that Edith's
feelings were less under her control than
usual, and she answered the unkindness
with gush Of tears. This. only tended
to irriate her unCee!ing husband, who
said, in a sneering tone, .....
"A woman's tears don't lie very deep.
But it's lost time 10 use it on me. III 20
where can meet cheerful faces"
And then rising from the table, he put
on his hat and left the house to spend his
evening, as usual, in more congenial So
ciety. . @1.3.1
Edith dried her tears as best she could
and going to her chamber, sought by dn
effort Of reason to calm her agitated feel
ings. But such an effort for woman,
under such circumstances, must, as in
this case, ever be frutless. Calmness of
spirit only comes after more passion
ale overflow Of grief. When this had
subsidized, Edith rendered that she had
promised Mrs. Erskine, who lived only
two or three doors away, 10 come in and
spend the evening. Had she consulted
her feelings now, she would have re.
manned at home, but as she would be ex-
pected, she rallied her spirits as much as
was in her power, and then went to join
her friend.
How different was the home Of Mary
to that Of Edith. Mutual love reigned
there. The very atmosphere was redo
lent Of domestic bliss. Mr.. Erskine was
away when Edith joined Mary, and they
sat aud talked together for an hour be-
! fore he returned. A short time before
Edith intended going home, he came in,
with his ever cheerful face, turned to his
wife, and spoke in voice so full Of ten
derness and affection, that Edith felt her
heart futter and the tears steal unbidden
to her eyes. 1t was so different from tho
way her husband spoke. The contrast
caused her to feel more deeply, if posi-
BILE, than ever, her own sad, hear!-wrung
lot. n~@s
Rising suddenly, for she felt that she
was losing the control Of her feelings,
Edith excused herself, ard hastily retir-
cd. Mary saw that something had affect
ed her friend, and, with look, made he r
husband comprehend the fact also. He
remained in the drawing room, while
Mary passed with Edith into the hall,
where they. passed for a moment, looking
into each others faces. Neither said u
word but Edith laid her face down upon
the bosom Of her Gtcnd, and sobbed pas
sionateIy.
"What is it that pains you, Edith?'
Mary asked, in low, tendon voice, as
soon as her friend had wept herself into
calmess.
Edith raised her face, now pale and
composed, and pushing back with her
hand stray ringIet that had fallen over
her cheek, said, with a forced bu: sad
smile,
"Forgive my weakness, dear-I could
; not help it. A full heart will at times
, run over. But, good night-good nighlh'
And Edith hurried away.
A few years more, and the history OF
a hopeless, weary life was closed. Is the
moral of this history hard 10 read? No;
! all may comprehend it. ,.......