The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-02-18

~ THREE niETS-rAET III.

Mrs lIam!in returned to her home very
much changed ed-discontcn,cd irritable. moo
d., scarce the same being Her husband as
cribcd it to fatigue and over cxcrtion: then
to the change from her gay and exciting lie
awav-thc laSsitu'!c and detection which are
sure to follow, bcin. a reaction which he could
wei understand. thoneh these extremes were
something which. with his even feelings, his
finely balanced physical and mcnta! constitu-
ton, he rarely felt. Contrary to her usual
taste. Helen preferred now to be much away
from home. plunging into excitement, and
when at home, she wished to hc alone thus
either drownn. her feelings. or hroo'linc O.
yer them, she passed the .imc-hcr spirits
wild, uncertain, titul as a tropical winl.
pressing than ever lcforc. detained him often
until late in the evening: circumstance
which, at any other time since her marriage
would have given his wiz. great pain Now
she seemed scarcely to notice it. Her chilJ
>hc sent away 10 the nur>cry tl.c very mo-
ton Of Iutic> l;ttlc dainty feet over the car
pctcd floors made her nervous; but once
hanI>hcd TO the distant upper room. Helen
ear. quickly alive to every sound. was ever
on The strain to catch the tone of the littc
ones voice: and when She did hear it. i,
seemed to drive hcr rc>tlvs, from her scat
For hours she would walk rapidly from room
to room. then order her Sleigh and prcpa.
10: drive: then as suddenly count" rlno .,,
her orders, and hurry OF to some lonely room,
and there bury her face tre IN the iioht. 20 hid
from hcr>clf-to he fr,m ,hat drca]fi,y
gnawing angui.,.. Poor Helen was well n; :,
frantic w'.h r.iscrv She felt that she ha
hoh' wrc ng-had gone 700 far-and the con
>c'pusncss of this to her delicate nature. wa
dreadful as quilt to less sensitive orcaniza
tion. Poor IIc,cn'
One day a few weeks after her return, sh
had walked for hours al out the house. and a
last took refuge in the deep recess of win
dow, in one Of the parlors. closed her eve.
and attempted TO sleep. Buried from soun
in the deep cushions for once her quick ca
did not hear the bell: and the dome site. nc
aware that her mistress was there, unnoticcI
Al
door Professor Ludlow II wake
!. slowly forward. his footsteps finding no cth
IN the deep tuited carpet, and paused. Iii
eyes rivcted upon TIE picture that IIcle,
presented.
Seated upon crimson couch. against
back ground of deeper crimson. attircd i
soft, white muslin. her hair loose unon he
shoulders, she WIS beautiful ievonl words {.
tell; but, oh , looking so unuttcrablv, $
hopclcs>ly Y miserable -lanmuid, weary. helm
less her pale cheek laid on her arm. he
broad. heavy cycli'!> closed YEARLY lie wa
touched to the hcart-he knew this woma,
was The purcSt minded of her sex. most faith
full of wives; that never in word or look ha,
she crrcd-hc knew his power over her feel
in->-he felt how cruel he was. and was turn
inc to 60. That moment Helen opened he
eyes, with heavy, shulderinc SIGH. and sa,
him. Once, no surprise could have startc,
from her lav-likc rcpose. this hish-brel wo
: man. Now she Started rcrvolslv, put he
hands over her face, and burst into a fit of
wild. halt-distractcd weeping.
Ii was overcome by this: he dropp
ed upon his knees before her, and, "IIelen.
She sprung up, and cried im,,lorinsly
"Oh. leave me ~
''lam wretchcd away from you"
you would be more wretchcd mM me ,fo
| am miserable. miserable | shall never b,
happy again, never" She said it with fran
tic earncstncss; she was half insane with an
guish.
There are none to make you happy here ;
he said
'No," she answered mechanically
'Thcn 90 with me. will YOU. Helen :"
'lt does not make any difference to nc
Professor II -." she cried IL dom
/ know - am ,vrct,hc1 vr,ttbc1"