Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-07-16
From the Olive Branch
Only a Husband.
BY T. $. ARTHUR.

1 Il
placed in her hand.
MIR. Archer, the ladys husband, saw the little
act OF courtesy, and noticed its reward. lie
wsud have given almost anything for just such
a musical thank youn-for as bright glance
she as had thrown upon stranger Once, tones
! and chances like these, had been his reward Tor
any little attentions he might offer; now all the
courtesies of life We're withdrawn, and no matter
what the act or its quality, his wife received 1t
with cold indifference, sngularly in contrast to-
ward other men.
Was it defect of love? Did Mrs. Archer re-
ally think more highly of other men, who showed
her polite attentions, than she did of her nus
band? Sometimes chafed feeling of impa-
| tience-sometimes of jealousl y-and sometimes
| of mournful regret for SUMMER days in the far
away past, would trouble the husband sorely.-
But these were passed aside, or suffered TO
die for want of aliment and the dull, cold rou-
tine of every day life. permitted to have its usu-
al course.
| On the occasion above referred to, Mr.. Archer
and his wife were spending an evening at the
house of friend, whose company hadibeen inYi-
| ted. For days previously, the eountenance OF
Mrs Archer had worn its usual dead calm, It's
imperturbed placidity--its matter of course as
| pect. She talked with her husband in kind
Of dead level tone and manner, on all subjects
that happened to come up, whether OF first or
| third importance. Or, if interest happened to
| lIsC ALtO tAAiAS approaching -
was accompanied by something of sharpness,
| that left ON the mind of Mr. Archer an uncom-
Portable feeling, as if he were blamed for some
| thing. And this had been the wife's aspect,
even after she had donned the company attire,
and up to the moment when she had made her
appearance among the guests of her friend, to
whose house she brought, tied up as it were, IN
closely compacted bundle her smiles and cour-
tesies for public dispensation.
| As he had noticed on any occasion, SO did Mr.
| Archer notice on this the remarkable difference
between his wifes home and company manners
| between the treatment of her husband and the
treatment of other gentleman who happened to
enter into conversation with her, or offer any
| polite attention. The answer to their words al
ways went forth from her lips wreathed with
pleasure; to his words from a cold placid outh,
and alfindifferent or avcrted chances. And yet
Mrs. Archer was faithful wife in all her dutItul
relations; and in her heart loving wife TO her
husband If smiles did not play in sunny cir
Giles over her countenancs as in former times.
she made the household smile with order and
comfort, arranged and secured by her busy
hands. Her thoughts were no wandering truants
to other and forbidden fields, but home guests;
nor were they busy for herself, but for the chill
dren in whom her own life was bound up. 1t
was not that love for her husband had grown
dull-answering not as mirror answerth the
face-that her countenance did not light up at
attention with smiling chances. Had she not
given her heart when she gave him her hand!-
Had she not promised to be faithful wifef-
Was she not true to all her reations3 What
more was required Of herr 1t neyerentered her
thoughts that her husband was weak enough to
desire daily repetition of the love chances with
Wlich, in the season of young loves aIdoT, her
eyes were ever beaming when they turned upon
his countenauce.
And yet even SO. 1t was because he hoped to
i've all lis after life in the warmth Of those
glarces, that he had wooed and won her in the
bright days of her young womanhood. When
he saw the light growing daily DINNER, and felt
its genial warmth, diminishing, shadow iIn
upon his spirit. Very kind, very attractive the
husband remained, but the wife became aware
OF q certain GOODNESS towards herself that was
far from being as pleasant as the loyc-ike man
ner with which he had formerly treated her ,
and many times she sighed for the tones and
glances she saw him give to other ladies', and he
sighed for like tokens OF interest from herself
Both were in error and both III certain sense
to blame.
On the evening referred to, the contrast be-
| tween the manner Of his wife to himself and to
| other men who showed her little attentions, was
felt with more than usual Gistinctiyeness by Mr.
/ Archer lie was not jealous for he knew the
truth of her character, nor offended. but hurt.
Almost any price would he have paid tor the
bright return another received for the simp act,
the double Of which ON his part, would scarcely
receive passing notice.
Not long after this Mr.. Archer saw lis wife
! drop her handkerchief. Stepping forward from
where he stood talking with lady, he lifted it
from the floor and placed it in her hand His
eyes were fixed upon her countenance but she
! did not SO much as to return his look nor make
/ the slightest acknowledgment, merely receiy-
/ ing the handkerchief with quiet Indifference,
| IN striking contrast with the way in which she
I,i4 .t<a .r~1n Hood
Archer was disappointed. The dropping flow
ers in his heart were pining fer sun-beams, and
lie hoped for few bright rays. But they were
not given.
4 lady TO W hom Mrs. Archer had been intro
/ duced that evening, ard who was q stranger to
4 both hers and husband sat by her SIDE. They
i had been conyersing with some animation, and
were interested in each other. The lady was
struck by the marked difference with which Mrs
| A. received these two slight attentions from df.
ferent gentlemen. She had observed the polite
response made when the glove was handed to
It's owner, and was pleased with the graceful
mann Of her new acquaintance. The cold,
almost repulsive way III which she accepted the
handkerchief, was, therefore, noticed by her
more distinctly. She saw that the individual
who presented it, was disappointed il not hurt.
I Her inference was natural
/ That gentleman is 40 tavorite of yours she
remarked.
w nat gentleman! Mrs, Archer looked GU
rious.
He who picked up your handkerchief just
Why do you think sol' There was a slight
amused expression III the corner OF Mrs. Archer's
mouth
You treated him very coldly-almost rudcIy,
] thought-pardon me for saying so-Guite d.f|
/ feIently from the way in which you treated tbs
gentleman who picked up your glove a few min
utcs ago
A smile spread over the countenance of Mrs
Archer.
oh, he's only my husband" she made an
swer
The one who lifted The glOve''
No the one who gave me my handker-
chefr
Only your husband
The lady spoke in tone that Mrs. Archer
could not help feeling as a Tcbuke.
He's my husband. said she, and does not
expect me TO be particularly ceIemonions-pick-
ing up my handkerchief as q thing Of course
The other was a mere acquaintance, half
stranger, in fact-and mere formal scknowl-
edgement OF his polite attention could not have
been omitted without rudeness.'
I'm afraid, said the lady, guardedly, so as
not to give offence, that some of US are scarcely
Just to our husbands in this matter Of exterior
courtesy. / know that have not been; and
lesson / once received will never be forgotten.
i lie eyes OF hfs. AFcEeF turned, DF q k4A4 q
instinct, toward her husband. He was stand
ing near brilliant gas lamp, the light OF which
was falling clearly on his face. His glance was
upon the floor. There was shadow on his
countenance which the strong light, instead OF
celebrating, made more distinctly yisible-a
look Of disappointment that was almost sad.
\ new thought fasbedsrto the mind OF Mrs.
Archer and touched her with feeling OF ten
der sell-upbraiding. vas il possible that her
husband had felt her n3snneT as cold, or iuGiffcr
enil Was il possible that lie had noticed TIE
blsndness Of her mapuer towards one who was
bur little less than . stranger, and contrasted