The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-01
Pride and Tanner

should take place having arrived, they were
united under favorable auspices They were
equally accomplished, in comfortable circum-
stances, and possessed of similarity of dis
positions and tastes which was particularly re-
markable. They were, as it was observed,
formed for each other One single defect, how
ever, marred all, and rendered them supremely
miserable. .-.
The period generally known as the honey
moon had passed over without any particular
occurrence approaching to direct misunder-
standing, and the young couple sat one evening
in the enjoyment of the most pleasing reminis-
cences. 'Do you recollect," said Caroline
'sthe happy days we used to spend together
sauntering on the banks of our beautiful river
and inhaling the fresh air which lightly rippled
it's surface?" Il do my DEAR, replied the hus-
band. "And do you recolect when you said
that if marriage were half as pleasant as that
time, you would, when we were, united, think
yourself the happiest of mortals?" Il do, and
do you remember the fayorite songs we used to
sing?" Eyes, and how jealous you would be
when I spoke to that fop, Morris?" |'No I do
not" ''What, not recolect that?' "Certainly
not, I never was jealous in my life!' 'Weil
but am sure you were"a .'But I deny it nv
dear" 'tNow, you know you were, come con-
fessit.'' 'tDo you wish me to confess that which
know was not SO? But let let us quit the sub
ject. Have you tried either Of those airs l
brought you yesterday?' "Ah! you shant es-
cape me in that manner. I insist on it you were
horribly jealous of young Morris, and every one
saw it, Il tell you once more that | was not.
Have you tried the airs?'' .'>Never mind the
airs, my dear. I wish to convince you that you
were jealous. Do you recollsst that evening
when-----''' Edward rose from ffss chair. MA
dam" he Observed ''if you insist on continuing
a subject which you perceive is disagreeable to
me, l must leave the room," when his young
wife perceived that she had gone alittle too far,
s'He is so irritable" she said, but instead of
following her husband, to endeavor to soothe
his irritation, she sat down to the piano to try
the airs he had brought her. In the interim
he had retired to the adjoining apartment some
what convinced that he had acted precpita
lively. However, he thought his wife would
follow him, anxious to adjust little difference.
He therefore threw himself on a couch, expec-
ting every moment to see her enter the apart
ment. What, then, was his surprise to hear
the sound of music from the room he had left,
and the voice of his wife accompanying, appa-
renty in the most unconcerned manner, the in
strument she was playing. Considering him
self treated with Indifference, if not with con-
tempt he put on bis hat and walked into the
street in no enviabe humor. As his evil for
tune would have it, he had not proceeded very
far, when he met the arch tempter himself, in
the shape of friend on his way to the club, of
which they had 18th been members, but from
which Mr.. Spencer, in his determination to lead
a domesticated life, had withdrawn since his
marriage. In his then state of mind, he re-
quired very little persuasion to go thither, and
thther he went, remaining until early the en-
suing morning, when he returned home. His
wife had retired to bed and not willing to dis
turb her, he crept noiselessly in. His rage had
evaporated, had he found her awake, the differ
ence between them might have been satisfac-
torilv adjusted She had, however, after cry
ing bitterly at what had occurred fallen asleep.
Pride kept her the next morning from confess
ing that she had been at all annoyed o. grieved
at her husbands absence, and when he chopped
that she had not been unhappy she replied
''not at all" This at once put an end to any
explanation, and in the evening he thought
that as Mrs. Spencer felt SO happy in his alb
sence. there could be no objection to his spend
ing the evening once more from home.
The club was again resorted to, and being
induced to engage in play, he rose great los
er He returned chafed and annoyed, and in
no new mood to make concessions of any des.
cription, far less to endure taunts in quiet. 81
hope you have enjoyed yourself at the club, -
said his wife to him as he entered the ROOM
s'Woman leave me alone" he replied angrily
'You seem already to think marriage by nc
means as pleasant as courtship. Leave me
alone, say, OF I shall make you" 'ef'What
will you strike me, too? Do so, and crown
your amiable and considerate conduct The
young man raised his hand as fto comply with
the taunt, but suddenly checking himself he
again took his hat and rushed hastily from the
house. He hurried on through the dark anc
nearly deserted streets, without an object, no
knowing or thinking what he intended to dc
with himself. Suddenly he stopped before a
large well-lit building, he surveyed it anxlously
and then seemed about to pass on, but, appa
Irently drawn by an irresistible impulse, he al
length went in. 1t was the club once more
the place which he had recently left under cir
cumstances so unfortunate. He had still few
dollars in cash with him, and had determined
to make one more effort to redeem previous
losses. In the excited state of his mind, it is
unnecessary to say that the effort was unsuc
cessful. He would have quilted at once but
friends were these to urge him on, and to ad'
vance him money on the security OF his watch,
notes of hand, &c. Maddened by repeated
losses, he at length played deeply-reck'essly
When he left the house for the second time that
night, he was beggared man.
And what was Carolne's impression OF the
whole matter? Up 10 the moment Of her hus,
bands quitting her the third time, she regarded
herselfas a deeply injured woman: She had
obstinately persisted in course which was dls;
pleasing to her husband, but never thought fol
a moment she had done anything to call forth
his anger She had been too proud to admit
concern at the difference which had taken place
between them, yet acquitted herselfof any act
which tended to prolong that difference. She
had taunted him when she should have soothed
him, and yet did otconceive that she bad been
in any way instrumental in causing him to quit
his home In. the morning, when be doggedly
related what had occurred, cit was, . she said,
s<just what she had expected, and just what
she deserved for marrying him.
Here, then, was a most unpleasant state Of