Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-03
9 9 4anlestit SkettR.
From the Home Gazette.
THE FIRST SHADOW.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

Ida was bride. Onward through whole
year of patient waiting, had she moved to-
ward this blessed estate, all her thoughts
golden over, all her faucies radiant with love
and beauty. And DOW she was a bride-a
happy bride. He who had won her, was
worthy to wear her as crown. Kind, hon
orable and gifted-his praise was on thelips
of all men.
Yes, Ida was happy bride. 1t was the
blooming, fragrant spring-time. Singing
birds were in all the trees, musical waters
gliding through the peaceful landscape and
cloudless sky bending over all. The bles-
sedness of this new life was greater than she
had even imagined, in all the warmth Of her
maiden fancies.
A moon had waxed aud waned since the
lover became the husband moon, drop
ping the sweets of Mount Hybla. 1t was
evening, and Ida stood by the window, look
ing out through the dusky air, waiting and
wishing for the return of her husband, who
was later than usual from his home. At
last, her glad eyes caught glimpse of his
well-knovn form, and starting back from the
window, she went with spriuging steps to
meet him at the door; opening it ere his hand
could ring the bell.
"Dear Edward !" What gushing love
was in her voice! She raised her lips for a
kiss, and kiss was given. But somehow,
its warmth did not 60 down to her heart.
care you not well, dear?" she asked,
very tenderly, as they entered their pleasant
little parlor; and she looked up into his face
and tried to read its expression. But the
twilight was too deep.
"Quite as well as usual, love-" The voice
of her husband was low and gentle but it
had new and changed sound for the young
wife's ears-a sound that made her heart
tremble. And yet, his arm was around her,
and he held one of her hands, tightly COM
pressing it within his own.
1t grew dark in the room before the gas
was lighted. When the strong rays fell sud-
denly upon the face of her husband, Ida saw
change there also. 1t was clouded. Not
heavily clouded-but still in shadow. Steadi-
ly and earnestly she looked at him, until he
turned his face partly away, to escape the
searching scrutiny.
"You are not well, Edward" Ida looked
serious-almost concerned.
"Don't trouble yourself. I'm very we'll. !"
He smiled, and patted her cheek, playful
ly-or rather, with an attempt at playfulness.
Ida was not deceived. A change had pas.
sed over her husband. Something was wrong.
He was not as he had been.
In due time tea was announced, and the
little family party of two gathered around
the table in the neat breakfast room.
"Burnt toast and dish water tea, as usual"
These were the first words spoken by the
young husband, after sitting down to the Ia
BILE; aud the manner in which they were
uttered, left Ida in no doubt as to his state
of feeling. How suddenly was the fine gold
dimmed.
A few hours earlier the young husband
had called in to see his mother, an orderly,
industrious woman, and notable housekeep-
er. As usual, he was full of the praise of
his beautiful young wife, in whom he had
seen nothing to blame-nothing below per-
fection. But his mother had looked on her
with different eyes. Living in the world
was, with her, no holiday affair, and marri-
age no honeymoon. She was too serious in
all her views and feelings to have much pa
tience with what she esteemed mere playday
life. A little jealous of her sons affection,
she was, withal; and its going forth to an
other, with an ardor so different from what
it had ever gone forth to herself made her
feel cold toward the dear little wife of Ed
ward, who was its favored object.
"It is time" she said, with distance of
manner that surprised her son, "for you and
Ida to be little serious. The honeymoon
is over, and the quicker you come down to
sober realities the better. There is one thing
about Ida that rather disappoints me-"