True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-05-26
q RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor.

way to be reconsiled SO nothing wa
said but what the merest civilily required
and day after day, they met more coldl,
and politely than the last.
"Pll be hanged if l give up frst,'
muttered the gentleman to himself.
The lady said nothing. but she thought
lie has been harsh and unreasonable
heis as extravigant in his way, as I am
and he has no right TO blame me. Ifh,
loses, | must suffer as we'll as he 4; I d,
not see why should not enjoy my shalt
when he is prosperous. As for his money
l wish | might never have to touch {
guinea of il again and l won't touch it
as long as can avoid it," ~
But sulking was desperately hard wor,
for Mr.. / acelles. He loved his wife
dearly, and loved to tell her Of it some
times. None the less agreeable was it to
be told occasionally, in her own graceful,
pretty way, that he was good fellow
and all the world to her. Her polite
" good morning" was poor exchange
for The extra kiss he used to 20 back for.
lie never shut the door behind him now,
without his heart sinking like lead. What
It ne should never see her again! When
they sat with the table between them
he with his paper, and she with her work
or book-he would forget the commercial
news in thinking how she used to sit up.
on his knee, with her white arms around
his neck. Alas there was more than a
table between them now.
Then, as weeks passed by. he began 10
think she must be wanting some money.
They had gone to several parties where
che had worn old dresses; and had too
much pride and taste 10 feel at all satisfied
when she was i'll dressed. He wished
she would ask for some money but he
did not like 10 humble himself by offering
it. AT length he resolved to Go so at any
rate. 80 he put on the most indifferen.
face in the world, one morning took some
bank notes from his purse
81 think you must want some money"
ne said, handing them across the table.
l thank you, but | DO not want any,"
was all she said; but it chilled him more
than any passionate word would have
done. !.
He said Very WELL" put the money
back. and went out; but he could scarcely
choke down bitter sigh. What would
ne not have given for the old confidence?
Thus few more weeks passed away !;
and Mr.. Lascelles could not help wonder.
ing if his wife felt as miserable as he did.
Whether she pretended to sleep at night
when she was really lying awake and
feeling wretched, as he did (; whether she
choked down dinners she didn't want, and
sobs that wanted to come; whether she
ever longed to throw her arms around
him and be reconciled, as he longed to
have her. He thought he'd try once
more.
There was an elegent set Of pearls in
Regent street, and every time he passed
the window he thought how beautiful
they would look on her white neck and
arms. He took them home one night
when he went to tea, prudently saying
that he would see if they suited his wife,
and handed them to her without q word.
She examined them very closely, said
hey were very beautiful and we'll set,
md handed them back.
81 intended them for you. Mary" he
said. She looked up surprised, bu. not
pleased. f'e
=" You are very kind, but cannot ac-
:ept them. They are far too expensive. "
He had fancied tinge of sarcasm Law
n the last words, and his temper rose.
"lt will be long day before make
my more overtures." he thought, putting
hem silently into his pocket.
But soon afterwards he began to notice
hat his wife looked pale and languid
ometimes, and would sit. when she iho't
'erself unobserved, with a pensiye lislless
xpression upon her face, that made his
cart ache bitterly. His pride could not
old out against that Whatever the
acri6ce or humiliation, he could not see
er suffering.
One night when a gay crowd of com
any had gone, they sat alone in her
ressing room, he with his paper as usual
nd she with new book. He pretended
read a paragraph for sometime, but
tier reading it over three or four times,
e knew no more oft than he did at first;
nd throwing his. paper down, he arose
nd began to walk the room behind the
tile sofa on which she sat.
What pretty woman she was. and
ew graceful, he thought. Nobody had
lovelier wife than he and nobody loved
leir wife better, he was sure. But she
i'd look unusually pale, and her cheek
'as not quite SO round as it used 10 be.
light she not be suffering as much from
is estrangement as he ? alaal
He went up to her and sat down by
er side. Mary" he said, with great
ificully choking down his agitation, and
king her hand in his.
She looked up quickly, but turned her
&c g, away, and said very gently, ..'what is
" I'm just as miserable as / can be, !