Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-08-31
@ ggsa -CLARKsBURG WEDNESDAY. AUGUST sIst s5s.s

we're conyersing with at Mrs. yane's
last night, while Lillian was playing the
harp 2"-
.oh that was Harry Gray we used
to be great friends when / spent my eve
nings with the club. Last night was the
first time have met him since our mar
riage. A splendid fellow and glorious
company-but rigid bachelor" sa5 :
:. What was the promise he reminded
you of when we were passing through
the hall 2" T 4 s.-od ol.d14 /,
.'Why, he wished me to meet with
the club again tomorrow night, and as /
haven't met with them for some time, /
promised him would. I shall be away
only an hour or two. and you can amuse
yourself with book if you are lonely"
. Fanny said nothing, bnt cloud fitted
over her pretty face. as she unfortunately
happened to think what Bertha Lee told
her once in confidence, that herself and
husband never would have parted had it
not been for that very club which Charles
had promised to meet, and for which
Bertha's husband had so sadly neglected
her.
Fanny and Charles had been married
but two months. They resided in beau
tiful cottage in the suburbs of the city,
which, though somewhat out of the way,
yet seemed perfect little paradise to its
inmates. To be sure, Fanny was some
times little lonely while Charles was
away in the city, where he was obliged
to spend the long hours of the day but
then she had the pleasant evening to
look forward to. and though she kept a
domestic, yet like every prudent wife, she
superintendent the household affairs her
self, which served as an agreeable pastime
to while away many an hour which, 9TH
erwise must have seemed tediously y wea-
risome. Her own fair hands prepared
the exquisite niceties which Charles en-.
joyed so much after his labors in the
counting room were over. Her hands
arranged the polished furniture, and pla-
ced his easy chair before the comforta-
BILE fire, and laid his slippers on the rug
near the CRATE, SO they should be nice and
walm on his return.
A loud cheer of welcome made the
well-flled hall ring as Charles Selwyn
entered with Henry Grey. His club
friends crowded around him; some with
inquiries as to the cause of his long alb
sence, some with words of welcome, and
some congratulated him with jest and
laugh upon his good luck in marrying the
pretty city belle.
Selwyn was delighted with the recep-
ton he received. He had been absent
SO long from the entertaining circle, that
the excitement and gayety seemed en-
hanced by the charm of novelty. The
merry laugh flowed forth spontaneously
the brilliant jest flew from lip to lip
the sparkling wine lent a deeper swell to
the ringing Song-and Charles Selwyn
wondered how he C ould have forgotten,
for TWO long months, that lighted club
room and The brilliant society OF his gay
associates.
But the young husband seems already
to have forgotten the pretty cottage
where he left his little wife, telling her
that he should be at home in less than
two hours; SO we will ourselves take a
peep into the quiet parlor.
Before the glowing fire stood the large
easy chair and the neatly embroidered
slippers. Fanny sat by the centre-table,
with a book in which she tried in vain to
become interested, lying beside her, with
one white hand still resting over the un-
read pages, and the other pressed ner-
vously against her throbbing temple.
Charles had promised to be at home in
two hours, but the two hours were long
since past, and the tiny hand of the man
tie clock told five minutes to ten. Poor
Fanny She remembered Just how her
friend Bertha looked when she told her
that the ring of a husbands step on the
floor of the club room was the death
knell of home love and home happiness
and his every laugh within those siren
walls a ghsstly mockery to the untold
mystery which the laugh itself foretold.
Before her marriage Fanny Selwyn had
resided in the city, where her beauty and
yiyacity had drawn around her large
circle of friends, who loved and admired
her as much for her goodness as for her
grace and intelligence. As an only
daughter she was petted and caressed at
home, where everything within the power
of her fond parents was done to secure
the happiness of their idol. 1t was a
sad trial to her young heart, when she
left that sweet home of her childhood; and
when she turned from the embrace of
her gentle mother. as they parted on the
night of her bridal, the tears she had be-
fore succeeded in crushing back within
their inward fount, burst forth in torrent
and the young bride had flung herself in
her husbands arms, with wild. uneheck
ed sobs swelling up from her warm heart.
But tender smile and wcrd of affee-
ton soon dispelled the clouds from her
fair brow, and since that hour Charles
had seen no more ofthose wild tears, for
Fanny cherished too deep a regard for
his peace of mind, to pain him with the
constant grief To say that at times she
- Io-oIr- rx-o,,l1 ha