Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-08-31

II; for. as she went lightly to her cham
Der, she hummed merry snatches of song,
eeasing only to say in a gay tone every
now and then- Tet,s s
"ohi know such stratagem mast
succeed. know it will sit is so very
strange ss5at II & inaaR as4i
The next morning when Charles came
down to breakfast he was astonished al
the unusual gayety of his wife. She
laughed and talked as in the earliest days
of their marriage. and the sunny light in
her dark eyes and the merry strain in her
silyery tone. he thought could come en-
ly from happy heart. m
" Charley" she said. when he had
risen from the table and sat down for a
moment on the sofa, ''Charley"-and she
placed her little hand on his shoulder and
gazed into her husbands handsome face.
/" have something wish 70 tell you. -
You know mother and my old friend Ell
len Graham rode out 10 see me yester-
day. Well. a large number of city la
dies, among whom are nearly all my for
mer acquaintances. have formed an enter
tanning society. called the Ladies' Cir
cle," which Ellen wishes me to join
They meet every evening in the week !;
and as they have fine airy hall, plenty
of books and chess, Ellen says they enjoy
themselves highly, SO | promised her l
would become member, and am to
meetwith them tonight for the first time.
l shall go to the city in the afternoon
and spend the night with Ellen, as it
would be inconyenient for me to return
home at SO late an hour. shall stop
with her every evening attend the cir
be able to meet them Five-no, four,
| don't think can go more than four
evenings in the week-but shall certain
ly go four evenings. Will it not be fine,
Charley? Only think. Ladies' Cir
cle''-pretty name, isn't it ?"
Charles did not answer the question,
but gazed into his wife's sweet face with
a somewhat puzzled expression. which
she did not seem to notice, for she con-
tinued in the same careless tone: "You
know Bridget can attend to everything
just the same as if were here''-a fact
Selwyn greatly doubted-"and suppose
you will, yourself be at home by one or
two"
The astonished husband could hardly
understand what his wife was saying, but
the sarcasm which that last sentence
contained. though uttered in careless
tone, was not lost upon him. 1t stung
him to the quick and the crimson tide
which told its effects mounted TO his very
temples.
:" There, Charley, you may go now"
said Fanny, eve told you all Pm going
to. But stop, let me kiss you first; you
know you won't see me again till 10.
morrow night"
playing on his cheek, Charles Selwyn
started for the city. He did not under
stand the Circle affair. He had never
before heard Of such circle, and he lit
tie relishcd the idea of his wife's being
from home four evenings of the week
To be sure. his own evenings were spent
at the club-room but then he had been
accustomed to seeing Fanny at the break
fast table, and how could he spare her
sweet face and beaming smile from the
morning and evening board. Poor Sell
wyn! For once in his life he was fairly
puzzled.
AR9 hOAC anu VIC l0Ahk
husband had nearly forgotten, in the usu-
al cares of business, both the +" Ladies'
Circle" and the club-room. But twilight
came. and his steps were directed home.
ward. He entered the little parlor, but
there was no laughing voice to bid him
welcome. no dear face to greet him with
sunny smile. He could not bear the
gloomy silence, and walking into the di-
ning-room, be seated himself at the sup
per table. Old Bridget poured out his
tea, which he drank in silence, aud as he
did not feel much appetite--there was no
dainty dish beside his plate. prepared by
daintier hands-ne soon rose from the Ia
bic and started for the city.
But the brilliant club-room had lost its
charm the festive mirth OF his gay as
sociates had lost its fascinating witchery.
He could not help contrasting that moi
sy revelry with the sweet quiet of his
own little parlor, and the pure happiness
which had hovered round his fireside.-
He was abstract and weary during the
evening, and even the gay Jest and light
laugh of the brilliant Harry Gray seemed
10 have lost its usual influence, for Sell
wyn eould not respoud in word or heart,
either to jest or laugh. And SO. at
much earlier hour than was his wont.
he turned his restless footsteps home
ward.
1t was with feeling ofloneliness that
the discontented husband sat down 70 the
meal. There was no neatly ar
ranged form beside him there was no
smiling face with the silken curls dan
cling over the graceful shoulders. 10 look
the hearts love for him In every sunny
glance His coffee, which had always
been so very delicious, was dark cOlored
and tasteless. The steak was burned al
most to crisp, and even the bread was
50 heavy, and bore such unnistakeable
evidence of an undue portion of saleratus.