The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-11-11
GROWING COLD.
BY T. $. ARTHUR.

There was an ardor about the young lover
that showed how deeply his heart was inter-
ested and his betrothed might almost be said
to live only in his presence. He flew to her
side, like steel to the magnet, when evening
set him free from business and she awaited
his certain coming with trembling joy that
peryaded her whole being. The days were
long that kept them apart; but Lightning
footed the hours Of evening. How eagerly
they looked forward to that blessed time,
when they would hear the words spoken that
were to make them one, and the time came
al last, though with slow.pacingsteps. Hand
in hand, and heart beating to heart, they en-
tered new path oflfe, carpeted with flowers,
and moved onward with springing feet, that
took their measure to loves delicious music.
Swiftly passed the first season Of their new
existence.
II was the warm, fragrant blossuming
spring time, and the sunshine filled the air
with ycrnal warmth.
Shall we ever grow cold 70 each other?"
said the young man, leaning towards bis bride,
and speaking in tone OF peculiar tender,
ness.
This was occasoned by the presence. in
small company, Of a married couple, not two
years welded, who were known to have lost
4 much of loves young ardor. Their indiller-
cnce was SO apparent, as to have become a
subject of remark with their friends and ac-
4 quain.ances.
4 $ Never, Leonard, never" was almost tire.
mulously whispered back. "Ihat is impns
siblel Those who truly love, love on fur
ever"
"And with US il is true" said the husband.
True warm, eternal love-"
And each believed it was so. Let US fol-
low them little wagon their life journey.
Leonard Williams was a young, ambitious
merchant, who was trying, unwisely, to do a
large business on a small capital; and Leon
ard Williams and his wife were young
couple who thought rather more Of making an
appearance in the social world than was con-
sistent with their means aud prospects. lie
had too large store and too many goods in
it ;and they lived in too large house, with
too much furniture in it.
i tranquil spirit is not possible under such
Y circumstances. Oyerwearying mental labor
and absorbing care must attend them. II has
ever been so--it was so with Leonard Viii
llams. Even belOre the waning Of the first
year, his brow began to wear shadow, aud
his exes 10 have an absent expression. There
was fanting warmth in his manner towards
his bride that chilled her heart at times, as
if cold airs had blown upon il suddenly. She
was too young, inexperienced, and too lgno
rant Of the world 10 comprehend the causes
that are at work, undermining, daily, the
foundation Of their happiness. She only felt
that her husband Was changing, the warmth
n nd of,l fhae IL
ow coming in tie place Of sunshine.
Daily and weekly and monthly the change
went on-he getting more and more absorbed
in business, and she finding certain poor
compensation for heart.weariness in dress,
gay company, pleasure, and fashionable dis
sipation. The coldness Of feeling, as well
as Uf exterior, was mutual. A few years Ion.
ger. and all the little tender coartesies that
marked their intercourse, when alone, failed
utterly. Williams would meet his vile, on
his daily return from business, without a
changing cUuntenance OF tender word and
she met him at evening. and parted with him
on each succeeding morning, with al arr oi
indifference that iced over the surface OF his
feelings.
And so the years went on; he struggling
and striving with the world in the arena Of
business; and she, trying 10 fad "a the un-
substantial, gilded exterior Of things, that
pleasure she Jailed TO extract from the real.
How like mould Oh rich garment, OF rust
upon FURNISHED steel, did indifference creep
over tie pleasant surface oi their lives, dim.
ming the mutual attraction. Williams had
energy Of character, aud mind that found
new strength in difficulty. 4 man Of feebler
Intellect, less hope, aud less suggestion, start
Ing wrong, as he did, would have been driven
to tac wall il few years. But Williams
discovered his error in time TO prepare him
sell for the impending consequences. Atthe
close Of five years IRON the day Of his mar.
riage, he resoluteiy looked his affairs in the
face, and saw that, instead Of being worth
many thousands 0I dollars. lie was Just on the
verge Of bankruptcy. Ii took him iwO years
to get safely past the dangers that bcset his
way. Que cause Of his trouble lay the ex.
trayagance Of his style of living. Il rather
startled himto iind. on examining his own
private account, that twenty thousand dollars
had been drawn Tor personal expenses. One
halt 81 that SUN, added 70 his capital, would
have made al sale.
This will never DO" be said TO himself.
:" We are living tog cxirragantly. There
must be change"
But what would his fashionable wife say 10
this Would she be willing TO give up her
fashionable home, and retire from her gay
positinnf A feeling II ,lscoursgemcntC came
over hun as these questions arose in his
mind.
"Sle must give il up--she must retire"
he said TO himself with some warmth. But
he did not wish TO make known the fact Of
his deep embarrassment; Tor he had no con.
Iidence 10 her power to endure re,erses. IL
she sunk down IN weak distress, the burdens
he had 10 bear would be so much the heavier;
and they were quite heavy enough already.
After viewing the matter on all sides, aud
lpDndering il deeply, Williams came 70 the
conclusion that the only economical change
likely 10 meet his wiie's approval, was a
n 4 n a a 9# ~.