The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-02-10

habits, and for some time nothing occur
red to mar the happiness of our daily
life. One evening, had to wait longer
than usual for Joseph to come to hi'
tea, and suffered long suppressed feel
ing of impatience to betray itself in the
pcevish tones in which l exclaimed, as
soon as he entered the dining room
4" The tea is all cold; why did you not
come before Z" "I could not, my dear,
as there was no one to stay in the store
was the mild reply, which should have
put the subject to rest, as | knew that
Joseph's business must necessarily oc-
cupy his whole time, he being head
clerk in the establishment with which he
was connected, expecting in the course
of two or three years, to be taken into
partnership, therefore it was necessary
for him to be active and attentive. All
this | knew, but like too many wives,
took little interest in business affairs,
and would not consider that it had any
claims paramount to my convenience.
Small matters like these should have
been borne patiently, but in the absence
OF any greater trouble, l suffered thou.
sand triAins things to annoy and irritate
me to that degree that threatened to
turn over new leaf" which was but
another way of saying, unless I can have
things my own way, | shall give my
husband lesson. He bore my oft re-
iterated complaints about what appears
to me now, to have been trifles light as
air, without resentment, offering good
reasons, (excuses 1 called them for not
complying with my wishes.
One day after had rcproached him
with thinking more of his business than
of his wife, he rose t. 90 out and as he
did so, he turned to me with look that
should have sent repentance to my
heart, and fixing on me those liquid gray
eyes, expressive more of sorrow than
anger, "Clara," said he, eff you find
it so troublesome waiting for me, do not
wait any more, but take your meals and
clear away the things without regard to
me-" When he had gone the demon
temper that should have been cast be-
hind me, prompted me to take him at
his word. Accordingly, when the time
came, l prepared the evening meal, and
after waiting few moments, l sat down,
ate alone, then cleared away the table
and took up my sewing. Iu few mo.
ments Joseph came in and without rails
ing my eyes from my work, l told him
in as unconcerned manner as possible,
that he need not come for his tea, had
cleared it away. Without saying a.
word he turned and left the house.
know my friend, that when you read
this you will bitterly reproach me for
urkindness to zone who loved me better
than life; one too, for whom at times |
would have laid down my life, and aught
else save my will. His loss at that time
would have broken my heart; but nat
urally impulsive, my intense love, that
for time controlled infrmities of tenn
per, had become calmer, and had suf-
fered them to gain the ascendancy, thus
dashiug from our lips the cup Of domes-
tic happiness. l allowed myself to for
get that the same guard over my con-
duct, and the same effort was necessary
to preserve the affections of the husband
that were employed to win and obtain
the lover.
But to return. That night I sat up
late, but my husband did not come. All,
thought 1, he thinks to frightcn me into
submission by staying out late, "a thing
he had never done BEFORE but he will
find his mistake. Finding he had taken
the night-key I determined to sit up no
longer. I retired, but could not sleep.
The mild beams Of the moon came
stealing through the window filling the
room with fantastic shapes of light and
shade, bearing to my troubled mind a
self-examination too long deferred. AS
the night deepened and my husband
come not, wept bitter tears Of self
accusation, and in proportion to my fears
for his safety did my repentance for the
past and resolve for the future deepen
and expand.
Iknew the store had closed some
hours before, and we had few friends,
indeed none with whom he could spend
the evening-whcrc can he be J was the
constantly recurring question. Just as
the clock struck one, l heard the click
of the night-key, and his step on the
stairs. With my fears, vanished re-
pentance from my volatile heart, and by
the time he reached the room l was
] prepared to pour storm of invective on
his devoted head. He paused on the