The south-western., 1856-03-12
The Husbands Ruse,

The Husbands Ruse.
Two handsome children boy Of twelve,
and girl of ten years of age, were wandering
together in garden. They carried between
them a great wicker basket which they were
filing with the choicest of the flowers, and ex
clamations of delight and exultation burst forth
as bud or blossom more beautiful than its fel
lows was added to the glowing collection which
already graced the basket.
All was pleasant and harmonious, till the
boy, Pcmberton Walton, CHANGED to say
Look, Louisa, did you ever see such a beau
| tifu rose? I declare he added, laughingly,
as he held it beside herface, its even prettier
than you are yourself!'
| Louisa face flushed angrily; she pushed the
rose away, excaming with pout- r-.
1 hate roses! z-.az
Pemberton laughed as he replied good ma
turedly, No, you don't Lou, you only don't
I like their beauty to be praised at the expense
of yours Ah Lou, Lou, jealous of rose!
But Louisa's pretty face remained clouded,
and it was not till her companions unfailing
She deigned once more to smile and be agree
able. s.4 Ed.
Ten years later saw that same boy and girl
united as husband and wife.
Time has made little change in them The
disposition ofeach remained as in childhood.
Pemberton, the gay, careless boy, was equally
open and good -natured as a man; and Louisa
with much that was amiable and good, still re-
tanned her bescting sin, her jealous, exacting
temper. ........
1t was impossible but that Pemberton should
be fully aware of this unovely fault in the lady
Of his love- for it had been hers all her life,
and many a time and oft, had he been forced to
notice it during their courtship; but he had the
advantage of knowing also Louisa's many fine
and noble qualities, and he thought he was
able to estimate exactly what risk he ran in
trusting hishappiness to her keeping Besides,
his almost unfailing good humor enabled him
to bear with, or laugh off her jealous fancies,
as few men could, or would have dohe, and he
hoped that his devotion, or her own good sense
would, in time, cure her Of her folly.
For month or two after marriage, even Lou
isa was satisfied in the exclusive devotion of her
husband lover. But when the wedding tour
was over, and two honeymoons were passed
and the young husband as was inevitable in
the nature of things, began to return to old pur-
suits and occupations, Louisa was unable to en-
dure this abridgment of her ogatyes-she
could not bear to feel that she was but one of
many objects of interest to her husband, when
she had once been one in all.
She gave herself up to fit after fit Of jealous
wretchedness; tormenting her trul ly kind and
forbearng husband, and annoying herself al
most sick. -
Did Pemberton come home half an hour late
to dinner or tea; he was sure to find his wife in
fit of the pouts, occasioned by his cruel deser-
ton and neglect. Did he chance 10 omit the
slightest attention or cares, TO which she had
been accustomed, she was certain to notice 1t,
and he was often surprised by u shower of tears,
the cause of which he could not even guess
Worst crime of all was it, he found, to profess
ignorance on such oecasions--that was but ad-
ding insult to injury. Do what he would, say
| what he would, unless he was entirely occu-
pied with Louisa, to the exclusion of all other
objects and thoughts, he found himself djudg-
ed cruel monster, guilty of making fond
and lovely wife very unhappy.
In vain he sought by every reasonable con-
cession, by playful raiery and fond assurances
of undiminished affection, to tranqullize and
soothe her--Louisa was jealous of the very ci-
gars he smoked-the books he read-t1e friends
he venture to have a pleasant chat with lady
friend, her lovely blue eyes turned absolutely
green 0.
Pemberton, with all his good mature, began
| to find things uncomfortable. Some way must
be found to cure his wife of her folly, or she
would render them both wrctched. But how
could it be done? Should he take her aside
and reason with her on the foolishness and alb
surdiy of her conduct? No, that plan had
been many times unsuccessfully tried
Should he by pretended Irritation give her
apparently real cause for jealousy, and SO cure
her of her groundless fancies? The project
seemed more feasible. but knowing Louisa S
passionate and impulsive nature, lie was posi-
lively afraid to attempt it-vIsions of daggers
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 one evening,
instead Of going to his wife as usual to dissl-
pate the gloom he perceived on her brow, by
| his attentions and caresses, he threw himself
silently on lounge, without taking the Slight
est notice Of her.
II Louisa was astonished. Never before had
her husband tailed to greet her tenderiy on bis
return home. She did not know what TO make
of it. Though unwilling to compromise her
dignity, she could not resist stealing glance
OF two at him from under her eyelashes. She
faneled he looked pale-and certainly some
thing must be the matter, or he would never act
/ SO. Either he was sick, or some dreadful mis-
fortune had overtaken him. -.. ..- ,....
Quite softened by the thought, Louisa rose
and coming up 10 him, said kindly
| What is the matter, dear Pemberton, are
you ill?' .-.s,.e s...~.- ...
I Headache. returned he, shortly.
'Ohhsaid Louisa, affronted by his tone-and
! she said to herself as she resumed her seat and
took up the novel she was pretending to read,
Only little headache-I'm not going to make
a fuss over him for a trfe like that, when he
causes me such torments, and then smiles at my
agony, and her heart swelled and her eyes fill
ed at the remembrance of her suf1erings.
But an hours silence followed
Suddenly Pemberton sprang from his couch,
| and began to pace the room with gestures OF