The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-10

handso1nest fellow in the world. The Clements Had
been married for several years, and ithad been fair
weather with them all the time. 1t was a standing joke
with them that nothing Indictment could occur where
both parties were Clement, and all went off smoothly
enough. Children were born to them-heautifully har
monious children born under pleasant auspices, and
were models for the worlds imitation. Such babies
were rarely to be seen, and they were tall feathers in
the family cap, and added greatly to the happiness OF
the worthy couple who boosted Of their paternity.
Nothing like jealousy ever entered that happy house,
hold. Clement regarded his wife as an angel, and when
any visiting friend would joke with hin concerning the
wickedness OF the times, and about standing on slippery
places, he would snap his finger, as much as to say, he
didn't care o snap, not he, for the suggestion, feeling
50 confident in her integrity.
While this feeling was its height, o new family moved
Into the Clement neighborhood. They were young
people, and genteel, according to the orthodox standing
of gentiity. Their name was Seville. They had
moved into IIopetown from abroad, and brought with
them letters to the best families in the town, among them
the Clements, who took an early occasion to call upon
thei. new ~ncighbors, and prefer them the courtesies
usually bestowed upon new customers Dy old settlers.
They found the Sovilles very fine people-the one, a
gentlemanly and pleasant man, the other, a lady of rare
beauty and winning address, and the visit afforded great
satisfaction to the Clements. 1t was renewed after
wards, and a very agreeable sociality sprang up between
the families, and mutual aud frequent visitatioas were
exchanged.
At these visitation, Mrs. Clement noticed how atten-
tive her husband was to Mrs. Seville, and Clement re-
marked that his wife seemed very happy at the atten-
tons of Mr.. Seville. Still there was no Jealousy mingled
with the feeling.
Mrs Seville is a charming woman said Clement, as
he was proceeding home with his wife on his arm, "a
chsrming woman
He looked up at fiery Arcturus as be spoke, as if be
were informing that luminary Of the fact, and the star
seemed to wink at him as he spoke.
Don't YOU think Mr.. Seville a very splendid man !
asked Mrs. Clement; such a noble bearing, such ten.
Ierness of manner, and such whlSkcrS
She spoke casnestly, and bore down heavily upon
Clements arm, looking at a distant gas light, which
seemed to glare upon her like a burning eye. And
thus thew walked home without saying another word.
1t occurred to Tom Clement the next day that bis
wife was strangely intimate with Seville the night be-
fore, and be remembered her ~eulogistic remark concern
ING him, with a feeling to pain. But he was not jealous.
The feeling was simply a dread lest she should be deem
ed imprudeut.
How strangely infatuated Thomas is with Mrs.
Seville said Mrs. Clement to herself the next day, as
she sat alone. What attention he pays her. How ne
looks over her chair, and turns over the leaves OF her
music book. 1t is a year since he has been SO attentive
TO me- There was q tear in her eye as she said or
thought this, and something like q sigh escaped her
Inns. But she was not Jealous. That was an admission
that she would never make to herself.
And thus things went on. Weeks passed and har-
mony was unbroken in the home of the Clements.
Are not Sevilles attentions to you rather annoying!
asked Clement one morning, at breakfast. tie asked
it carelcssly, as though he were indifferent about ! thin
self. and only spoke on her account. She colored up
very warmly before she replied.
asked Mrs. Seville the same question concerning
your attention to her. | guess if she can endure her
affection | can mine. fEH
There vas a little mustard IN a lobster salad, render'
ing it slightly acrid.
Clement was surprised at the reply. He-he-the
model husband, whose irreproacbable consistency had
long been a subject of admiration-hsmsey-to be thus
assailed, bv Implication even, was not to be borne with
out suitable notice. He laid down his knife IN order to
give due effect to what he was to say, as a rebnke or a
moral lesson given with the mouth full Of food for mas
tication, loses in its effect as food for redection-a fact
duly enforced by a recent decision of the Retro Fro
gressive Unity.
Dc you say, Jane said he severely, s that I pay
more attention to Mrs. Seville than is called for by the
rules Of courtesy -! r 1
And do you think, Thomas replied she, that Mr..
Seville pays more attention to me than gentleman'y po'
likeness might warrant?
Il do said he, rapping his knife handle on the
table.
Ditto, 1 do said she, spilling her coffee in her agi-
,ation.
Clement pushed his chair away from the table, and,
leaving his breakfast unfinished, left the house. 1t was
the FIRST domestic squall that had ever swept over their
home, and, like the received opinion of the effect of the
fall Of man upon the earth, sorrow followed it-at home
the children were cross, the cat had q 1t, the clothes
horse fell ever upon the stove, the maid burst a fluid
lamp, and general confusion prevailed. At the store,
Clement CuafTelIcu viii HIS pdItucI, " US
toner, couldn't raise money to pay arnote, took ,coun.
terfeit bill, was drawn on a jury, and had his pockets
pcted. E Isl G1&&A@@
It is With q sad heart that he proceeded homeward at
Might, where ne had found so much peace and happiness.
he dreaded to 60 home-dreaded to meet the wife he
had SO long loved-and yet nc felt angry that she
should treat him thus. lie had done nothing wrong,
and she alone was responsible for all the darkness that
he felt was lowering around his house. And then there
arose in his mind dark images of separation and dis.
grace that haunted him like devils, and the picture OF
= ruined home and banished peace, and he shut his eyes
md eroancd in bitterness Of his spirit. He entered his
aoor with a moody brow, and like the shadow of his
nwn hs cife's brow was troubled, an! she acted as If
she felt for the first time, the duty of housekeeping.
There was none Of cheerfulness in it.
II have business that will keep me late this evening"
said he drily. ~
Very WE'LL she replied, IN q tone OF 'ndiuesenee'
I shall not sit up for them
And thus they parted for . second time. I am a be-
lever in the utiliiy of these little acidities. The mild
reactions Of temper have an effect to break upthe crust
that cnyirons a life possessed Of too much peace. The
iron living unused dies of corrosion. Gentle rubs are
needed 10 keep Us bright. Love grows diviner when
emerging from the little clouds which for the moment
obscure it. But this quarrel was more serious; it
sorunc, not from matters inherent In the parties, little
nettishpess or wilfulness that have but a monentary
existence, which like Cassie . temper emit a hasty spark
and then are straightway cold again. 1t bad its rise in
extrapeous ground, and Jealousy, that snake in the
grass, lay coiled at its root. They we're not jealous,
however, if one were to believe them.
Clement was away every night for aveck, on business
Of course, as he told his wife in the brief conversation
that passed between them, and she expressed no con.
Germ about it all, though when she was alone she cried
as if her heart would break with her sorrow. She would
no, let him know she felt so badly for the world, so
stubborn is the womanly nature and he, though he
felt penitens, would not make advances towards a recon- econ
ciliatiou, so obstinate is the manly nature. AS some
has said, there is a good deal of human nature in men
and women. 81 ,
Neither had visited the Sevilles all the while the
quarrel had lasted. They had thought so much OF cacn
other that :hey had no room for any otner otncr
thought. Aa-
Il saw your wife last night, Tom,' said q neighbor,
looming out of seville's gate. You didn't know his