The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-01-18

IL.
When they arrived home-M Mrs Ches-
terton's cottage answering that purpose
Tor he prescnt-the first persons they
met was Horace Graham, looking more
handsome and inpudent than ever. He
had called in 10y chance, lie said l.; and,
n"armg that "Mrs. Charles" was expected,
he Mad stayed just to shake hands with
his old friend. Evelinc thanked him very
prottiIy, and then asked him t. srend the
evening with them, SO cngagingy that
Charles was fain to second the invitation,
which he did with an awkward attempt
1T cordlaIity that did lis powers of dis
stimulation do credit. But Horace acccp-
ted the invitation i'll his oif-handed wav.
and the evening passed merriIy enough {;
he singing to Eveline's playing, and
Charles appaudiug in the middle of bans,
and saying, " but the next verse" when
all was flushed.
n house WAS bought in the Bclgravia.
1t was furnished with extreme elegance.
and did honor To the decorative taste of
Mrs. Chestertom, she having been extra
ordinarily active among the upholstcrcrs
and decorators. Wuh their new house
began the Young couples new life
Charles bore his part in the wlirluoo
most bravel y; and, ior the first ,hroe
months, WAS AL that the most dissipatcd
woman OF the world could require in the
most compaisant olhusbands. A strange
kind Of peace rested between the married
par. Suange, because uunatural-the
binding together OF two opposing natures
the iurId stiffness that giidrs on before
storm IA peace that was not the peace
ot love, nor OF sympathy, nor OF respect :;
that was the peace OF rndecison, the peace
OF ignorance, The peace Of fear, and, worst
oi All, the peace of slavery.
Mrs. Fitzgerald was in the country.
Orooding mourmluIly over the angry 81.
Icncc OF her son tor he had not vet for
gwen her interference in his marriarr.-
l. ut she would not understand it thus, ana
wrote often TO him and 10 Eyeinc. grave
KIND, earnest letters ;.peaking much to
her OF her sons goJdHess and susceptible
ty Of nature, and feeling sure that Eve
line ways all that "a fond mother could
wish in :he wife of hcsson. At last Eve
line no longer read the letters; size threw
them aside, crying, The tiresomc old
woman rs if uid not know every word
OF her sermon beforehand 2" And SAVING
this before her husband two, from whom
she did not care TO hide her open contcmpt
for his mother. Indeed, cmboldencd T.,
his tlmId compliance with all her wishes,
aud hIs weak approval 0: all her actions,
she cared To hide very little that was dis
agreeable; nj more than once startled
with him exhibitions of temper and Of
GOODNESS. Charles was irctled ut his wif;.'s
lad ference, fretted at Horace GraharY's
constant presence, and at the undisguscd
good understanding that existed between
hun and Eveline; iretted at Mrs. Chester
tons conteuptuouS manner oi Interfering
in his household arrangements, and at
her assertion OF motherly rights superior
ana opposed TO lis own, over his wife:
tretted at the constant round of di,sipa-
ton III which they lived, AMI at the
breaking up Of all his fairy castles Of bliss
and qulet; frettcd ut this, and that, and
at everything, and in the fair way of fal-
ling seriously i'll with some br,in or mer-
vouS affection.
You will not & to the ball to night.
Evy!" he said one day, in timd, but
quereuos voice, llinging himself YEARLY
OH the sofa. They had been married "A
bout four months, aud were very unhappy
i'll secret; although nothinI had been
said or done openly.
why not, Charles Z" asked his wife,
coldly.
:" | am too nervous, too i'll and unstrunr
to go with you," he answered, and |
thought that perhaps You would stay at
home with NE, and read VIII you,
Evy!" He took her hand-stil the
same timid manner.
40 dear me, no stay at homei O.!
no! You had better 60 to bed, if you
are ILL.," Eveine said, leaving her hand
cold and dead in his. "'That will be much
wiser than sitting up here half the night
reading stupid poetry that only makes
one yawn al d go to sleep. | will tell JUS
tine to give you anyt ing you want when
l am away; but really yog had better
60 to bed at once"
Charles let her hand fall. "Who is
going with you, then, rs cannot r. he
said.
Eveline walked away to the mirror,
humming tune and arranging her bou-
quet. My mother" she said. "And
Horace Graham" she added, turning sud
denly round, fixing her eyes on her hus-
band with peculiar look. A lvok that
defed suspicion, and was beforehand with
objection. A look that conquered, be-
cause it wounded Charles, and made him
humble and submissive.
lie rose from the sofa slowly and passed
into the library, there to fret Ikea sorow-
lug child scarcely knowing what he
thought or what he ought to think; feel
ing only that his happiness was slipping
from his grasp, and that he was being
left alone on desolate shore without
hope and without love.
This was the first raising Of the mask
the first confessed declaration Of indiffer-
erence--a declaration repeated subse
ouentIy every day and eyerv hour Eva