Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-10-08
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THE FIRST cross WORD.
A STORY FOR THE FIRE-SIDE.

So" '
"IVell done, Nate" said Mrs
; Huntingdon. laughing, "yon have
used the word seem only twice in that
short sentence. And now yon have
a begging way about you, as if you
were really in eurucsl to hear some
thing ahout married life, before Ia
king the fatal step. 1t is well Henry
is not here To sec The lnnk Of sadness
in tho eye of his bride-eIect. He
might fancy her heart was full of mis-
giyings instead of wedding Rnery'"
DON'T laugh at me, Annette: talk
with me as you usel to do. I love
Henry, you know, aud yet have ma
ny misgivings about married life. l
see so few who are really happy in
this relarion-I mean happy as L
should wish to be. You seem to cnme
nearer to it than any one else. Did
YOU cyer-I"
Quarrel! no, not often, now. We
had our breaking in. I believe it
must come to all sooner or later"
"Do tell me about it. will you, An
nettc :"
"Yes, If you are very desirous Of it.
You may learn something from it.
II was a romantic girl, as you we'll
know, Kate. Some few friends | had
whom loTed dourly; but these
friendships lid not quite satisfy my
heart. Something more it cravcd.-
Ii hardly know what, until | loved my
husband. When we we're first mar
ried, l used, sometimes to ask myself,
now do find in this life all which |
expected 10 findl Am really as
HAPPY as | thought should bel-
My heart always responded yes, aud
lmore so. With US the romance Of
married life, if may call it SO, held
on a long time. For my part, | was
conscious Of a pleasureable excite
ment of feeling when we were togeth-
er. enjoyed riding and walking
alone with him. The brightest hours
Of the day were those in which we
sat down alone together, to talk or
read. For a long time felta gentle
restraint in his presence. liked to
be becomingly dressed and to feel in
tune. When dull | made an effort to
be social and cheerful iFhe was pres
ent. had great fear of getting
into the way Of sitting down stupidity
with my husband, or Of having Moth
ing to talk about but the children and
the butchers bill. lmade business
of remembering every pleasant thing
which | read or heard or thought to
tell him, and when all these subjects
were exhausted, we had each of US a
hobby to ride, so that we were never
silent for want of something to say
Thus we lived for year or SO. | was
very happy. Think people were of,
ten surprised to see us continue to en-
Iioy each others society with SO much
zest.
Bat there was this abou; it. As
yet had nothing to try me. We
were boarding. had no care, and
his tenderness and interest was SOW
ereign pahncea for the little nils and
rouphness which mus; fall to usin our
hest estate. This could not last, how.
ever, forever. He became more and
more occupied in his business, and |
at lenc,h had house and baby to
look after. Then, for the first time,
our mutual forhearanco was put to
the test. Hitherto we had been de-
Yotod to each other; now the real
cares of life pressed upon US so often
as really 10 absorb our energies
was the first to feel tho change. 1t
seemed to me as if something was
oyershadowing US. Sometimes
would get sentimental and think he
did mt love me as he once did. A;
| look back now, | am convinced thai
there was my first 10rOns step In
diligence in these moods weakened
nv resolution. 1t was an ninjustico tc
him, of which L ought not to have
been guilty. 1t left me, too, with
wounded feeling, as il I had beer
wrongod, which began to affect m!
spirits.
Once, | had for some time carried
obou, this little sore spot in my heart