The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-02-18

dure.
My dear husband" she cried do
not look so coldly, so siernly on me
Do believe me that never dsplease you
without feeling the deepest regret" A.
gain she strove TO encircle his neck with
her frms. and lay her cheek OH his, but
was again repulsed.
"li you had not SAID as much thou
sand times before" remarked Mr.. How
ard, d" might believe you but of what
use is that regret that produces no a.
mendment 7"
Helen burst into an agony of tears,
and falling at her husbands feet, clasp
ed his hands in hers. " DO you doubt
my sorrow 7" she cried in a voice chok-
ed by the violence Of her emotion.
ooh, do not thus break my hear, J.
Forget that have-dspleased you, now,
or ever--for ,oiIfaiiy | would never 90
so. o, say that all is forgiven and for
gotten!'
She was looking up INTO his eyes, but
their expression was cold aud unfeeling
as ever. In truth, he was moved; for
he saw the agony Of his wiie's feelings
but he thought that, perhaps, we're lie
less ready to forgive, he should have less
frequent occasion TO do So, aud he suf-
fercd not featdre TO relax.
Helen locke ed steadily a, rim for mo-
ment-whIle her heart was throbblnr
and every muscle Of her face was work
ing with anguish, ito cat, h the cra in>
dication of forgiveness and recohclla-
ton but nothing of the kind was visi,
hle. A change came over her in a mo-
ment. Her muscles ceased to tremble
her heart ceased its tumutuous throb,
hing; aud she calmly arose, and left the
room. This was something new and
for an instant Mr.. Howard feared he had
gone too far; but the former thought re.
ed" have made peace too read
lily; more marked displeasure NAV have
a better etiect' and he restrained the
impulse. There was a voice within
which whispered that he had not done
quite right f; nevertheless, he returned to
his engagements, and left Helen to at
tend to hers.
When Helen left the parlor. she wen,
to her chamber. She felt perfectly calm
and Indifferent. For nearly seven
years." thought she, 1T has been al,
most my sole study to please him, and
what is my reward - She sat down and
mused Her entire intellectual being
seemed resolved into memory, aud her
whole married life rushed in review be.
fore her. She saw her own uniform de.
sire 10 secure his appreciation, and dc
his PLEASURE Mr.. Towards exact.
ing, his faul.hnding, mis- uniorgivng
spirit. :" 1t is too true" thought she
81 he is selfish, arbitrary and implaca-
( Bile !" At the close of this train oI
thought, Ilelen's own feelings alarmed
her. Her heart was too quiet. She
longed 10 have il gush forth, as in times
past, in tenderness towards her husband
but il would not. 1t was rather feeling
than thought iha, led her to repeat
lie is selfish. arbitrary. and implaca-
ble;' firmly casping her hands together
she exclaimed, in deep bitterness ofspir.
it," shall never love him more ="
Never before had Mr. Howard been
so anxious for The tea hour as on ihi:
afternoon aud scarcely in his life had
two hours stretched themselves 10 such
an inierminable length. He could with
difficulty fix his mind on its appropriate
business. An underlined feeling of self.
reproach aud apprehension haunted him
But" though, he, I" she will fly to my
arms the moment enter the house, and
then | will assure her that all is forgot-
ten."
Long as the time seemed. slowly as il
dragged itself along, he woulG not 20 Ia
his house until the usual hour TO have
done otherwise, would have been too
great a sacrifice of his dignity but when
the bell chmed the signal for him to
leave his Office, with rapid steps he hast :
ened homeward. The iea>table was
spread when he entered the eaiing.room,
but Helen was not there. Very shortly.
however, she appeared, and with only a
calm word Of courtesy-lor Helen had
always been courteous, even 10 her hus-
band-sea,ed herself at The table. MIR.
Howard likewise took his seat, mechan>
ically; for TO parIake of the evening
meal was matter that had not entered
his mind. His eyes glanced at Helens
face from time 10 time. to discover, il
possible, what this new manner meant.
That face he had hitherto been able 10
read as easily as The printed pages but,
now, he was completely at fault. Could
he have discovered any indications of
suppressed feeling.--ihe slightest quiv-