Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-30

I4IFdElduLy uTONe ueF, weeping kTOLu Jue IOonl'
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 rejoined to see her pride thus
humbled before mine, for never, no matter
how much in fault, did | seek reconeilia-
ton. My temper became more and more
violent, and at length in one Of our usual
quarrels, proposed separation. Had
serpent stung her she would not have gazed
on it as she did on me- Never shall for
get her look, so deathly pale, as she came
near me and placed her hand on my arm.
Horace, said she, " do you think
could survive such an act Do you think
| would cast stain upon my young sisters
Do you think would send my gray-haired
parents sorrowing to the grave? Would
see another woman your bride? Would
bear the worlds sneering pity? Never
never II will die first. Prosecute me,
infict every refinement of cruelty upon me,
even strike me, if you will but never will
/ consent to such proeeeding-never shall
the world call me other than your wife so
long as we both shall live. You came to
me when ! was young and happy; you
took me from a home where | had never
known sorrow; you have blighted the hopes
4 of my young life, and now, now you seek
to cast me away like toy of which you
have wearied.."
i recoiled at myself but l remained un-
changed.
! We had been married four years, and En-
lily had greatly changed in that time. The
gay, light-heared girl had become the calm,
dignifed woman. The world looked upon
US as examples of matrimonial happiness, for
we were both too proud to betray the truth.
Of late Emily's manner had altered she
, ceased to reply to my fits of passion; neith-
er did she now come and seek to effect re-
Cancellation with me. An icy calm reigned
between US. This existed for some time
: but, while | wished it broken, my pride pre-
} vented me from making the first advances.
: Fain would have had it dispelled by any
r means which would not humiliate me for
4 with all my unkindness, | really loved my
{ wife, regretted the violence of my temper, and
lamented my want of selfcontrol. But now
f what should do ? Ny pride forbade any
5 advances from my side, and feared that none
: would come from hers. saw at length that
her pride was aroused, and | dreaded that
e she would obey its dictates, even though it
broke her heart for knew she still loved me.
I Day by day her check grew paler-her form
s thinner, and saw she suffered but my
fendish pride would not give way.
:, Sometimes, when | had almost conquered
: myself, when had determined to effect a
n reconciliation, when next we met a cold bow
It from her, with her stately manner, again a
J. woke the demon within me, and my good
n resolutions were broken. Thus matters stood
; when, one day, l entered the room where
c she was sitting, and excited by wine, which
# lately, was frequently the case, | commenced
IS upbraiding her about some tride. She an
h swered not, but continued her work-a piece
}; ofdelcate embroidery. Enraged.at her ST
: lence, snatched it from her hands, threw i
l on the carpet, and placed my foot on it The
:. blood rushed to her pale cheek-her eye.
If flashed with their former fire, as she sprung
s. to her feet, and babe me restore it to her.
1t o, ieicle, replied, are you melted a
Is last? Give it to you'll No, indeed
at viii teach you more respect for your husband
" than you have lately shown. See, | con
le tinucd as I picked it up and tore it to frag
ht menjs, see there is the frippery which yol
le think more worthy of your attention thai
In your husband
Anything is more worthy of it than m,
" husband at this moment, she replied
" Say you so; say you so, madam ex
n claimed, grasping her by the.arIn, and hiss
ne ing the words through my teeth; ther
ut what say you to a separationT You nee,
/, not refuse, | will have one; l will live N
ry longer with such wife. Do you consent
its answer me" | continued, shaking her b
he the arm.
,se As you please she replied; 'notlin
ey can be worse than this
: You consent at last then, doyou? Wei
ice this very day will commence arrangements
tn, When you please she replied, and 81
IN left the room.
ev- stood aghast at what l had done; ha
ose proposed a separation, and she had conse
I'M ted l had said that on that very day
no would commence arrangements for the pu
ter pose, and could break my word Cou
nd. 60 to her and beg her not to leave me, al
but that, when |, myself had proposed such
to step? My pride again forbade me, and
the obeyed its dictates; but there still remain,
ore a secret hope within me, that on cool reft
Jas ton she, herself, would refuse. l determi
res ed to consult lawyer in whose secrecy
10Y could confde, and make such arrangeme1
,als as were absolutely necessary. I did 50, a
s. patiently awaited the result. My wife 4
uld not appear during that day-the next mol
ich, ing found a note on my plate at the brea
ing fast table. Emily was not there. [ open
yet, it, and found that it contained proposal
and the effect that she should be permitted
inin Soma fIiends ,.hc .,.o.a l..