Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-19

dearer to me; though modesty restrained
any protcstations Of love; her silence was
more eloquent than words. The year
passed happily away, and my wedding
dav arrived. ! would have made it the oc-
casion of grand festival; | wished the
world to witness my proud joy; but my
bride looked on marriage as too solemn, too
serious thing for mirth.
A proudcr, if not happier man, was |
when, after we had finished the bridal tour.
she was at last installed as mistress Of my
magnificent mansion--when | received the
congratulations OF my friends, and heard
the whispered murmiir of admiration which
her beauty excited. Fete after feie was
giverrto her, and we plunged into the mael-
strom Of fashionable matrimonial dissipa-
ton. Emily, however, preferred the quiet
p easures of home to the gay scenes into
which she was introduced-and so, in
truth, did |; but my vanity rcjoiccd in her
triumphs Secluded as she had been from
society, she had none of the faults of the
initiated, and | was proud 10 contrast her
artless, unaffected micn, and modest dignity
with the stately pretensions of those around
her
At length tie bridal parties were over,
and in the quietudc of our home our char
actcrs began gradually 10 unfold them
selves in each others view. | found that
| was not mistaken in my estimate of my
wife's love. 1t was deeper and more
devoted affection than | had even dreamed
would ever become mine. She loved me
with all the warmth Of her warm, impctn-
GUS nature; her faults were not called into
action, and she was radiant with all those
good qualities which so delight man.
How very happy we were; how very hap
Ply we might have remained. My moon
ofpcrfect love was at its full stood on
the topmost pinnaclcof happiness, Hither-
to had unused over the poets lay Of love;
| had burned at the novelist's description
Of the intensity Of the passion; but their
widest, their most visionary dreams fell
short of that Elysium of delight-that E.
den of bliss which | enjoyed with Emily.
All was JOY, all was brig ightness; but the
shadow descended onmy hearh--I brought
it there-f fed it nursed it, until the
lightofjo was extinguished-untilthe sun
of happiness had departed forever.
have said that my temper was natu-
rally violent; that | was obstinate; that |
was selfish. Prcviousto my marriage, cir
cumstanccs had kept this intirmity Of dis
position in check, and for some months af-
ter controlled it, 1t lAd but slumbcrcd
it was not quenched; and |, who had
undertaken to correct this very fault in
another, now, myself, became its slave
The bonds were soon broken the first un
kind words were spoken-thosc words
which are so easily repeated after they have
one occurred. The first quarrel-that sad
era in married lifo-hld taken place be-
tween us, and both felt thai, hencclorth,
that perfect love which we had hitherto
enjoyed could return no more. Could we
ever divcst ourselves of the memory Of
those cruel words!" "Gut wc might still
bccomparalively be happy ifrilisevil occurred
no more" so said my weeping wife, when,
after passion Of tears, she offered me her
hand. Things passed on smoothly for
time; but the bonds were broken, and !
ceased to check the cbullitions Of anger
which the hghtcst circumstance called
forth. Before the second year ofny mar
red life had passed away. became that
worst of all oppressors-a household ty-
rant. At any annoyance, no matter how
slight--if my meals were not prepared at
the appointed hours-ifa a paper, or book
was mislaid-I would give way to express
sions of anger of which afterward, | really
felt ashamed, knowing how unworthy they
were of a man; and yet, when again anger
ed, repeated them, and more violently
than before. My wife bore this with pa
ticncc, but her indulgence chafed me, and
| sometimes uttered taunts which no hui
man being could suffer in silence. Then
came reply, and when this reply did come
such scenes us occurred lwould work
myself into an insane passion, and utter
words which in my cooler moments shud-
dered at, and which invariably drove her,
weeping, from the room. And yet, soon
after, would she come to me and beg to be
forgiven for the very words which | had
forced her to utter. The demon within me
reloiccd to see her pride thus humblcd be-
fore minc for never, no matter how much
in fault, did seek reconciliation. My
temper became more and more violent, and
at length, in one Of our usual quarralS, |
proposed separation. Had serpent
stung her she would not have gazed omit as
she did on me. Never shall | forget her
look, so deathly pale, as she came near me
and placed her hand on my arm.
Horace" said she, edo you think l
could survive such an act! Do you think
would cast stain upon my young SIS
tcrsl Do You think | would send my
grey-haircd parents sorrowingt to the grave!
Would see another woman your bnde!-
Would bear the worlds sneering PITY
Never! neverl-Iw will die first Prosecute
me, torture me, infiict every refinement of
cruelty upon me, even strike me, ii you
will; but never will / consent to such
procceding-nevcr shall the world call
me other than your wife so longas we both
shall live. You came to me when | was
young and happy; you took me from
home where | had never known sorrow;
you have blighted the hopes of my young
life, and now, now you seek to cast me "a
way like toy of which you havewearied."
| rccoiled at myself; but remained un-
changed.
We had been married four years, and
Emily had greatly changed IN that time
The gay, light hearted girl had become
the calm, dignifed woman. The world
looked upon us as examples of matrlmoni-
al happiness, for we were both too proud
-
ncr had altered; she ceased to reply to my
fits Of passion; neither did she now come
and seek to effect reconciliation with me.
An icy calm reigned between US. Tins ex-
isted for some time; but, while | wished it
broken, my pride prevented me from max
ing the first advances. Fain would have
had it dispelled by any means which would
moi bumiliatc mo. for with all nv unkInu-