The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-08-14

Your own" u.s. @
"You play the part Of victim to pc
fcction."
"Your claim to that or tyrapt admits {
no dispute i %
"Dear me! when tyranny is sogricvor
~
"The slave may slip out Of the yoke;
not that what you mean, sir"
"At any rate, nothing can bc easier
husbands have no Bastilc at command I
give effect to the absolutism women max
10 much noise about" f.. ~, 2
@If they had, most Of them would thro,
open the doors at once on the sole con
dition of never hearing of their prisoner
again" she retorted:i sla ;ts'. ID :.
"Your opinion may not be far from tn
truth" 49, 'u
a"And so / have seriously thought @
gratifying your secret wishes"
'Indeedl Yon have not accustom q
me to such considerate foresight"
"My mother has already offered me Al
asylum" ore .i.f
"Ah! you are awoman ofprecaution.'
"And execution too
"Whcn you please"
"This evening, then, sir"
"Thc sooner the better, madam"
The quarrel had reached this poin
when the maid entered the room.
"Here is the doctor, madam"
louisa, having felt poorly for some day.
past, had sent for her doctor.
OF all the quarrcls that had occurred
between the young couple, this was GER
tainly the most serious. Edward bowed
to the doctor, and left the room, after Civ
ing hi' wife look Of superb disdain, who
returned him one quite as good.
What passed between Louisa and her
medical adviser! Nothing extraordinary
That grave and learned parsonage felt oI
his patients pulse, inquired about her ap'
petite, her diet, the state Of her spirits
then having completed his diagnostic, he
wrote a very innocent prescription and
withdrew. However, he had scarcely
taken leave of Louisa, when she fell back
inher chair, pensive and motionless. Tor,
rents of tears soon escaped from her eyes.
"Am not most unhappy" cried she,
with an accent of despair.
But the despair was not Of long dura.
ton; by degrees her forehead resumed
it placidity; the smile returned to her
lips; her cheeks, for moment colorless,
all their freshness; and even a
ray of JOY bcamed in her eyes.
"Ycs," said she, with enthusiasm; ut
is sacred duty; I will accomplish"
And she almost Immediately added:
"A duty! will make it a pleasure
nav, a source of happiness"
This agitation was succeeded by the
calm ola sweet reverie; the subject Of
this revcrie must have been very absorb
ing; Louisa forgot her bedtime.
Nor did she go to her mothers rs she
had threatened her husband.
Edward, on his side, did not pass a
very pleasant day. he was convinced
ofbeing right in principle, he did not feel
equally assured as to the propriety Of his
...
perhaps" thought he, n have carried
my provocations beyond the limits Of de-
corum. 1t is a duty for the strong to be
indulgent toward the weak. | might
without any dereliction Of my rights
adopt henccforth more conciliatory
manner, persuade and not command, gild
the chain instead Of showing its naked
ness. And have not exaggerated the
of my rightsl A sovereign
arbiter in all serious matters, ought not
10 mitigate the effects Of that superiority
by showing that, in small matters, l can
be rs yielding as anyl l have been
wrong, it must be confessed, and my er-
rors arc irreparable; for, situated as we
now are, / cannot retracc my steps. The
slightest advance on my part, the least
word of regret would doubtless prevent a
scandal l dcplore; but that advance
Louisa would look upon as the triumph
Of her principles that word, II l uttered
It, would be my abdication. 1t is there.
fore useless to look back; the mischief is
done, there is no remedy, let us meet it
with the firmness Oft philosopher"
Edwards surprise the next morning
may easily be imagined, when he saw
Louisa resume her usual place at the
breakfast.table.
He scanned her countcnance in vain
TO discover some trace of anger that AMI
mated it the day before; its expression
was perfectly composed; only she looked
pale. Edward, attributing to indisposi-
ton what was only the natural cause ola
sleepless night, thought he could not dis
pensc with the ordinary attention OF the
usual question:
"You are poorly, madam !"
NJ have been," answered Louisa; shut
think myself well now"
The tone Of her voice was extremely
sweet. Edward was all amazement.
Toward the end Of the meal, Louisa
said to Rose:
yesterday was the opening Of the
shoe. ing season; try and get some wood.
cocks, and cook them for dinner"
Edward was fond Of the game, and was
taken BY surprise. What could Louisa
meant He could not help remarking to
himself that the project Of separation
which was to have been realized the pre-
ceding evening stood adjourned, that the
wife had made him concession, the first
since their marriage, and that, during the
whole breakfast she had not given him ar
angry look, bitter word, nor stinging
epigram.
."As we are to have woodcock for din
ner," said he, in good.humored tone,
ayou ought, Louisa, to invite your uncle
Joseph to come and take part Of them
Uucle Joseph was one Of those OF
whom the gentleman had most frequent
ly avenged his lady's coldncss to his OWE
friends.
Edward had therefore returned Louisa
n k.,t l. n eovt ,,onf