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

with her own. And so the young wife
wept alone, while her truant husband
echoed back the gay laugh, breathed forth
the brilliant repartee, and Joined the
ringing song which swelled within the
dreaded walls of that same club room.
whose very name awakened such sad
foreboding in the fond wife's heart.
Fanny had been sitting for some time
with her face buried in her hands when
the little clock struck twelve.
/ Twelve twelve O'Clock, and Charles
not at home yet ! Fanny grasped a lamp
and held it close to the clock. Yes it
had told Alright, it was midnight. She
seated herself once more and gave way
to another passionate outburst of tears
Again the musical monitor chimed. This
time it struck but one. The young wife
sprang from her chair and dashed the
tears from her eyes, flung open the win
dow and listened for his step but no step
was heard. The pale moon and the
white stars were kindly beaming from the
far heaven, but poor Fanny needed not
the beauty of the silent night. She ga
zed long and earnestly into the haze, but
her eyes fell upon no dear form, her ear
caught no sound of an echoing footstep.
Indignantly closing the window she light
ed her little night lamp. and, without
even glancing towards the clock, retired
towards the snug chamber where her
aching temples were soon buried in the
snowy pillows of the pretty French couch.
| A few moments after the clock struck
two, the night lock was heard to spring
back. and with noiseless step. Charles
Selwyn entered the little parlor. The
astral was still softly burning. the arm
chair yet stood before the CRATE, but all
was silent as the night itself. He open
ed the door of the sleeping apartment
and whispered "Fanny" but no answer
was returned. Two dark eyes peeped
for a single instant from beneath their
the low tones of Charles as he murmur
ed. "she is sleeping, l am glad she did
not sit up for me-
The delicious coffee and warm white
cakes were already steaming on the "a
BILE, when Charles Selwyn entered the
dining room on the following morning
Fanny was already in her place, looking
prettier than ever in her neat morning
robe and plain white collar. She poured
out the steaming coffee with her own
fair hands, but her own was scarcely
tasted, and the clouded brow and slight
! ly quiyering lip, when she essayed to
speak, told she had not forgotten the last
evenings neglect.
! The breakfast hour passed most un-
pleasantly to the inmates of that pretty
cottage The husband ielt that he had
done wrong: first. in breaking his pro-
mise TO be at home early, and secondly,
in spending so many hours in useless re-
yelling, which should have been spent at
home. But with mans usual perversi-
ty, he was unwilling to acknowledge that
he had done wrong, and so long before
he had finished his second cup of coffee,
he had arrived at the manly conclusion
he pleased and return when he pleased,
and that Fanny had no right to feel Ell
ther angry or grieved.
! So when he arose from the table he
did not give her as usual goodbye kiss,
nor bid her kindly good morning, but
arranged his hat and coat in silence, and
without word or even a glance towards
his wife, closed the door and started for
the city, with the determination to spend
another evening at the club room.
And he did spend another, and anoth-
er, till he learned to look upon the bril-
liant club room and the sparkling gaieLy
of his bachelor associates as necessary TO
happiness. But it was not the peaceful
happiness he had enjoyed when his eve
nings were spent at home. Oh. no, far
| from it. He was restless, oftentimes low
spirited and unhappy. Even his wife's
fond kisses and gentle smiles seemed to
add more fuel to the restles flame dis
! quietude and his own conscience told
him that though she tried to laugh and
smile, her heart was miserable. She had
pleaded with tears and affeetionate words
for him to leave that dangerous place,
forever; but ah! its siren spell was alrea-
DIV woven round him. and each night a
phantom had beckoned him onward to-
wards its charmed entrance. where the
subtle tempter stood to lead him still fur
ther onto ruin.
One starry night Fanny Selwyn was
sitting in her little parlor. alone. Charles
had gone to the city, and as usual the
tears were sparkling like diamond dew
drops on the young wife's silken lashes.
She had not spoken unkindly to her hus
band Of his late cruel neglect. and neither
had she allowed cloud of displeasure 10
darken her brow when in his presence
She continued. as before, to devise eve
rything love could suggest for his COM
fort. The same extra dainties were pre-
pared by her skilful hands even were lit
tie luxuries often left over the CRATE; that
they might be warm on his return from
his midnight resort She stroye by kind
words and deeds, to win him back once
more to his home but it was all in vain.
And SO tonight, she sat in the easy
chair. gazing into the glowing fire. with
the large tears rolling over her cheeks.