Demoine courier., 1855-04-05

himself adjudged a cruel monster, guilty
Of making q FOND and lovely wife every
unhappy"
In vain he sought by every reasonable
concession, by playful raillery. and fond
assurances Of undiminished affection, 70
ranquilize and soo,he her-Louisa was
Jealous Of the very cigars he smoked
the books he read--,he friends he walked
wi,h--thc horses he rode /; and did he
venture to have a pleasan, chat with a
lady friend. her lovely blue eyes turned
absolutely green.
Pember,on, with all his ~good.nature,
began to find things unerdurable. Some
way mus. be found to cure his wife OF
her folly, or she would render them both
wre,ched. But how could 4, De dore !
Should he take her aside and reason
| with her on the foolishness and absurdi
~ of her conduct! No, tina, plan had
been already many times unsuccessfully
tried.
Should he by q pretended Irritation
give her apparently real cause for jeal
ousy, and SO cure her of her groundless
fancies! The project seemed more
feasible, 5u, knowing Louisa's passion
ale and impulsive nature, he was pos
lively afraid TO attempt i,--visions Of
daggeis and poison passing unpleasantly
through his mind.
He finally resolved to make an attempt
to conquer her with her own weapons.
Accordingly, on coming home y
evening, instead of going TO bis wife as
usual 10 dissjpa,e The gloom he perceiv-
ed on her brow, by his attentions and
caresses, he threw himself silently on a
lounge, without taking the slightest notice
of her.
Louisa was astonished. Never before
had her husband failed to gree, her ten
DERBY on his return home. She did not
know whs. TO mske Of it. Though an
willing 10 compromise her dignity, she
could mol. resist stealing aglance OF two
at him from under her e%yelashes. She
fancisd he looked pale-and certainly
something must be the matter, or he
would never &C. 80. Either he was sick,
Or some dreadful misfortune had over
taken him.
Quite softened by the thought, Louisa
rose and coming up to him. kindly.
"Whas is the matter, dear Pemberton +,
are YOU i'll
"Headache," returned he, shorty.
ooh Z" said Lonisa. affronted BY his
tone-and she said TO herself as she re-
sumed her seat, and took up the novel
she was pretending to read, "Only a
little headache-l'm not going to make a
fuss over him for a tKifie like that, when
he causes me such troments, and then
smiles;at my agony and her heart swell
led. aud her eyes filled at the remem-
brance Of her suferings.
HalfaR hours silence followed.
Suddenly Pemberton spraug from his
couch. and began 10 pace the room with
gestures of great agitation. or suffer-
ing.
Louisa's fears returned. Something
Was wrong, that was certain. She threw
her book aside, and entrea.ed to know
what was the matter.
"Oh no,hing--no.hing. Don't trou
bic you Q II abou, me--2ray 60 and finish
your novel--don', disturb yourself. ]
see; it has come to ,his--I may suffer
headache. fever. neuralgia, sortures, while
the wife who once protested to love me
sits and reads her novel. Talk to me
about love grown cold, and changed af-
fection." he continued, volu6ly, imi,a,.
ing her own strains, III see but too clear
ly now, where the change lies. Why
when we were FIRST married, | remember
that once, when l CHANGED merely TO GU,
my finger, you were almost frantic with
apprehension. You wanted to send fol
tie doctor, and must needs battle i. IN
%arnica. and | don't know what mus'
keep my bed--I must be bundled up ia
The chin in shawls for fear of lockjaw.
Now. l might have ock.jaw-scarle'
tever-varioloid and chicken.pox all Al
once. and don's suppose you would
throw aside your novel to help mo-"
More than ever astonished al her
husbands conduct, Louisa could only
suppose his wild talk TO be the result oil
feyerish delirium, and was confirmed in
her belief that he was very i'll.
She followed him up and down the
room. endeavoring to soo:he him by ex.
preston Of affection and sympathy, and
begging him to let her do something for
him. "Might che no. send for the doc.
tor! nr should she bring him a little toast
and tea? or would he have his feet pu,
in hot water. ana 60 right to bed! or
would he consent TO let her apply just
one neat little mustard plaster! it would
give such instant relief 10 his poor head"
But Pembefton secuted at all her pro-
posals-declared her offers came too
late 10 change his opinion as to her in.
difference. and continued to rave about
her unkindness. and the change he per.
csiyed in her feelings to him. The more
Louisa protested herr love aud constancy,
the more unreasonable and unconvinced
Il-a-----l A. l-.sF an ..-l-A-