Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-02-05
VOL. XII.
GROWING COLD.

that showed how deep his heart was interest
ed, and his betrothed might almost be said to
live only in its presence. He flew to her
side like steel to the magnet, when evening
set him free from business; she waited his
certain coming with trembling JOY that per-
raded her whole beinga The days were long
that kept them apart; bur slight footed'' the
hours of evening. How eagerly they look
ed forward TO that blessed time when they
would hear the words spoken that were to
make them one, and the time came at last,
though with slow pacing steps. Hand In
hand, and heart beating to heart, they enter
ed a new path of life, strewed with flowers,
and moved on with springing feet, and took
their measures to loves delicious music,-
Swiftly passed the first season of their new
ex istence.
1t was the warm, fragrant blossoming
spring-time, and sunshine filled the air with
vernal warmth.
"Shali we ever grow cold to each other!"
said the young man, leaning towards his bride
and speaking in a tone of peculiar tender
ness.
This was occasioned by the presence, in
small company, of married couple, not
lost much of loves young ardor. Their in
difference was so apparent, as to have be-
come subject of remark among their friends
and acquaintances.
"Never, Leonard, never!" was almost trem-
lously whispereded back. "That is impos-
sible. Those who truly 1--we, love on for
ever.''
"And with US it is true," said the husband.
'True, warm, eternal love-
And each believed it was SO. Let US fol.
low them little way on their life journey.
Leonard Williams was young and am-
bilious merchant, was unwlsely striving to
do large business on small capital, and
Leonard Williams and his wife were young
coupIe who thought rather more of making
an appearance in the social world than was
consistent with their means and prospects,
He had too large store and too many goods
| in it; they lived in too large house with
too much furniture in it,
A tranquil spirit is not possible under such
circumstances. Overwearing mental labor
and absorbing care must attend them. 1t has
ever been so-it is SO with Leonard Williams.
Even before the waning of the first year,
| his brow began to wear shadow, and his
| eyes have an absent expression. There was
a faintins warmth in his manner towards
his bride that chilled her heart at times, as
if cold airs had blown upon it suddenly
She was too young, too inexperienced, too
| Ignorant of the world to comprehend the
carsss that were at work, undermining the
foundation of their happiness. She only
felt that her husband was changiug--the
warmth was diminishing, and the cloud and
shadow coming in place OF sunshine.
Daily and weekly the change went on,
he oettino more and more absorbed in busi-
ness. and she finding poor compensation
for bearf-weariness in dress, gay company
fashionable dissipation. The coldness oil
FEELING as we'll as of exterior was mutual
A few venrs LONGER, and all the tender cour-
| ,es;es that marked their intercourse when
alone p+te,lv.failed. Williams would meet
his wife nm his daily return from business
,,;,boo< chanp;pp couutenaHce or tender
word; and she met MIN al evening ana Part-
ed with him on each succeeding morning
with an Indifference mat iced over the sur
face of his feelings.
And so the wears went on; he struggling
and striving with the world1n the arena o
business, and she. trying to flnd IN the un
} substantial, gilded exterior OF thlngs' ina
pleasure she failed to extract from the real
How like mould on a rich garment, o.
: rust upon FURNISHED steel. did indifference
creep over the pleasant surface OF thelr liVes
, dimming the mutual attraction. Williams
had energy of character and mlnc ina
found strength in every difficulty. A mar
, | Il md
: gestion, would have been driven to the wal
in few years. But Williams discovered
; his error in time to prepare himself for th'
impending circumstances. At the close o
r five years from the day of his marriage, h'
resolutely looked his affairs in the face, an
saw that instead of beng worth many thou
sands of dollars he was just on the verg
of bankruptcy 1t took him two years t.
get safely past the dangers that beset HI
way. One cause of his trouble lay in hi
extravagant style of living. II rather star
tied him to find on examining his own pri
; vate account, that twenty thousand dollar
had been drawn for personal expenses. On
e half of that sum, added to his capital, woul
| have made all safe.
/; s'This will never do,'' he said to himself
''We are living too extravagantly. Their
must be change.''
But what would his fashionable wife sa
n to this1 Would she be willing to give u
n her fashionable home and retire from her ga
positionl A feeling of encouragement cam
!: over him as these questions arose in hi
mind. ''She must give it up-she must re
tre,' he said to himself with some warmth
But he did not wish to make known the fat
I; of his deep embarrassment; for he had n
: confidence in her power to endure reverses
u If she sank down in deep distress, the bu
1t den would be much the heavier; and the
o were quite heavy enough already. Aft'
o viewing the matter on all sides and ponde
e, ing it deeply Williams came to the concl'
e sion that the only economical change likel
:; to meet his wife's approval was the chang
'e from their own home to fashionable boar
= ing house. A close calculation satisfied hi
that to do so would lessen their annual e
penses about one thousand dollars. "a
na,'' he said to her one evening breakir
- through mis- cold distracted silence-'V
:, are living at too costly rate"
y = Mrs. Williams turned her eyes upon /
>. face. with all the manner of one who h
heard unpleasant words, but did not fully u
ii derstand their meaning.
- :, "It would cost US less to board, and y
- would be freed from household cares"
:. 81 am not troubled by them"
- "It is a question of ecnomy," said w
or liams.
II "If that is all the question may as w
10 Sleep" replied his wife almost Indifferent
a. 'for it costs quite as much to live at a fl
be class hotel or boarding house as in your o,
!, home.''
:, Williams had no more to say. de
:, sigh futtered from his lips; his gaze wi