Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-01-06
er dreamed Of the bitterness which each

coming, and she would not that he should
see them.
"And he could leave me thus-all alone.
without one kind word" marmured the
now really wretched wife, as she heard the
door close, and the footsteps grow fainter
in the distance.
Then she threw herself on the lounges,
and burying her brown head in the crimson
cushions, wept long and bitterly, and be-
tween the sobs that convulsed the figure
OF Ellen Howard, came the self-accusing
words, 20, if | had only told him ~
At last, exhausted with her violent weep
ing, the lids closed over her eyes, and Mrs.
Howard sank into a heavy slumber.
She started up quickly, for the silvery-
voiced t~ime-piece had broke in with its sto-
ry of ten o'clock, on the hush which filed
the room.
sand he has not come yet He who
never left me alone an evening before. o,
if harm should have befallen him. !" And
a pang shot through the heart which had
been very heavy before with its weight Of
shadows.
She Vent to the window, and looked up
4G~zscnt 9He Meas ae the
glowing bed of anthracite, until a golden
light filed all the room but still he came
not.
Eleven o'clock came, and yet he was not
there.
Twelve o'clock came, and still Ellen
Howard sat alone.
One o'clock!-what pen shall record
the sufferings, which, during those two
hours had been the portion of Mrs. How
ard.
The bell rang-it was a loud, startling
peal; and she hurried to the door, for all
the domestics had retired.
There were two gentlemen there-she
recognized them as acquaintance, but the
third-one glance, and as she looked, she
grasped the door-handle, or she would have
fallen"
"Don't be alarmed, Mrs. Howard" said
one of the gentlemen "your husband has
not experienced any injury, and a good
nights rest will restore him. He was at a
supper given by one of our club this eve
ming, and unfortunately, drank rather free
ly." They carried him in, his wife lead
ing the way, with faltering steps, laid hin
on the bed, and Immediately departed
She was alone with him, and the scales hac
fallen from her mental eyesight.
She saw then how truly he had love-
her, how the pride of both had driven hin
from his home that evening, and to the sii
of which he had been guilty, and she shud
dered at the brinkt to which both had bee
drawing nigh.
, She put back the thick hair from hi
broad, burning forehead, moaning all tn
/ time over the unconscious man words
| love and tenderness, which, had they bee
spoken earlier, would never have foun
him there; and, at last, when he had falle
into hatheaxX alunRer- which is too fir
s dow INTO the fire-shine, prayed the Gre,
; rather to forgive her sin, and grant unt
/ ner that Smeek and quiet spirit which
!, the chief ornament of woman.
j, Durlngiall that night she hung over h
: pillow, bathing his forehead, and watchin
: his restless movements in his troubIp
: slumber. The woman's heart was avail
: ened now, and the pride had all gone b.
fore its holy whisperings.
|. The grey dawn was streakino tho GAS
Wnen, weary, with her nights watching
Mrs. Howard once more repaired to tn
parlor, and, throwing herselfon the lounge
was soon in a heavy slumber.
The sunlight laughed brightly throug1
the muslin curtains that draped the window
and Henry Howard opened his eyes a mo
ment-the story of the bygone night flash
i. ed into his mind-he closed them ~ sh j
|. never be able to look Ellen in the fac
again" he murmured.
Al last he rose and went into the parlo,
she was lying there, her cheek pillowed O
her hand, and her long, luxuriant curl
sweeping upon the carpet.
lie bent down and kissed her cheek yer
/. softly a tear fell on her forehead-sh
opened her eyes and smiled.
20, Henry" and the white arms wer
wrapped, and the white cheek laid ON hi
own, Il have been SO wretcbed VI,
40 not know-you cannot dream of all
have suffered during the last two DAYS. an,
last night, Henry, it seemed as if it woul,
;. kill me-" W
And L deserve that it should kill me-
Nellie. You see, l was very desperate las
night, when | left you, for a terrible fea
had been haunting me ever since I mad,
that cruel speech to yoh-a fear that 70,
did not love me. 1t was this that drov,
me to that dreadful act last evening. AM
l feared yon would never forgive me this
look up, my sweet wife, and tell me will
those dear blue eyes that you do"
And now, Harry" said Mrs. Howard
as her husband was leaving home very lat,
that morning, tive have promised that n,
past shall be forgiven and forgotten.-w;I
you promise me one thing more. and
shall be very happy
well, what is it, darling? will d,
every thing for your happiness"
day." 0 'nlS yer.
lie did so, and when any angry tboncb+.
came to the heart, or an angry word to II,
lips OF Mrs. Howard, she went and Iootat
on that pledge, and it was a bond Of neac,
between her and her husband tn,
Home Magazine.
New YORK, Dec. 30.-Tbe steamsh;,
go, from Liverpool, has arrived here.
NA"nI