Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-07-22


She loved me with all the warmth Of
Her warm, impetuous nature; her
faults were not called into action,
and she was radiant with all those
good qualities which so delightla man.
How very happy we were; how very
happy we. might have remained.
My moon Of perfect love was at its
full. Istood on the topmost pima
Gle Of happiness. Hitherto | had
mused over The poets lay Of love; l
had burned at the novelist's descrip-
ton of the intensity of the passion;
but their widest, their most vision
ary dreams fell Short Of that Elysium
of delight that Eden Of bliss which
| enjoyed with Emily. All was joy,
all was b1i ightn ess; but the shadow
descended on m y hearth-I brought
it there-E fed it-I nursed it, until
the light Of JOY was extingulshed-
until the sun Of happiness had de-
parted forever.
l have said that my temper was
naturally violent; that | was obsti-
nate; that | was selfish. Previous to
my marriage, circumstances had kept
this infrmity Of disposition in check,
and for some months after [ con-
trolled it. 1t lad but slumbered-
it was not quenched; and l, who had
undertaken to correct this very fault
in another, now, myself, became its
Slave. The bonds were soon broken;
the first unkind words were spoken
those words which are So easily re-
peated after they have once occurred.
The first quar- rel-that sad era in
married life had taken place be-
tween US, aud both felt that, hence
forth, that perfect love which we had
hitherto enjoyed could return no
more. Could we ever diyest our
selves of the memory of those cruel
words? But we might $tillbe COM
paratively happy if this evil occur
red no more;' so said MY weeping
wife, when, after a passion Of tears,
she offered ME he II hand. Things
passed on smoothly for time; but
the bonds were broken, and | ceased
to check the ebullitions Of anger
which the slightest circumstance
called forth. Before the second year
of my married life had passed away,
| became that worst Of all oppress-
ors-a household tyrant. At any
annoyance no matter how slight-if
my meals were not prepared at the
appointed hours-if a paper, or a
book was mislaid-I would give way
to expressions of anger Of which,
afterward, I really felt ashamed,
knowing how unworthy they were
of man; and yet, when again anger
ed, | repeated them, and more yio-
lently than beforc. My wife bore
this with patIeh nee, but her indulgence
chafed me, and sometimes uttered
taunts which no human being could
suffer in silehce E. Then came reply,
and when tliis reply did c9me-such
scenes as occurred l whqld work
myself into an insane passion, and
utter words which in my cooler mo-
ments | shudaered at, and which in
variably drove her, weeping, from the
room. And yet, s soon after, would
she come to IN E and beg I'd be iorglv-
en- for the very words which l had
forced her t b utter. The demon
within me rejoiced to see her pride
thus humbled before mine, for never,
no matter how much in fault, did |
seek recon ciliation. My temper
became NOR and more violent, and
at length, il one Of our usual quar-
rcls, posed separation Had
a serpent stung her she would not
have gazed oh it as she did Oh me.
Never shall | forget her look, SO
deathly pale, as she came near me
and placed her hand onmy arm.
"1oracq," She said, ''do you think
/ could survive such an act! DO
you think I would cast a stain upon
my young sisters? Do you think |
would send m ". gray-haired parents
sorroving to the grave? Would see
another wpmln IN your bride? Would
bear the W orld's sneering pity?
Never never.-I will die first. Per-
secute me, torture me, inaict every
refinement Of cruelty upon NE, even
strike me, if you will; but never will
i consent to such a proceeding
never shall the world call me other
than your wife so long as We both
shall live You came to me when |