Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-06-24

rled, and came to reside in his native town
His eyes beheld in her a marvel of beaut,
and accomplishments. Her many engaging
Iqualities were the admiration of the &C
quaintances she made. sand them" som,
one would not unfrequently remark
"ihere is the fortune;;" for somehow thu
unquestioned supposition was that Adeli,
inherited her money from her father, ant
that the sisters had shared equally in hi
estate.
After brilliant wedding, Arthur and hi,
bride set off on a tour, which was con
densed into three weeks; at the end o
which time they returned to their owl
house, now ready for occupation on thei
arrival. 1t was house of elegance, suit
ed to their taste, if not to their MEANS
Then Immediately followed great party
and now, as ever, the cost of all these
indulgences had to be met. 1t is but Just
to Arthur to say that the orders he had
given, and his lavish expenditure, were all
for the sake of + is bride. and as being ap.
Propriate to her imaginary position; and
all we're enjoyed by Annie with the incon-
siderateness to be expected of her years
and situation.
For time it had appeared a beautiful
delicacy on the part of Mrs. May bury, con-
sidering the contrast of her husbands pow
erty, that she refrained from any reference
to her fortune; but after that, his senti-
ments on the subject varied, and he be.
came secretly anxious to know where an
amount of the readiest money was accessi.
BILE. Those ghosts of dead pleasures, debts,
were narrowing their circle around him.
They could not be laid except by a chink-
ing Sol und in bank vaults, and a substance.
which looked like the consolidation of sun
shine, having passage from hand to hand
Mere intimations touching the state of
affairs sufficed Lot at all, for the reason
that they were not understood; so, shortly,
Arthur was fain to apply to his wife, in dis
!inct terms, for permission to use the re-
sources which were theirs jointly now, he
supposed. The surprise and chagrin await
ing both, when it came to this, need no
description beyond what is included in the
mutual recrimination with which the inter-
view closed.
The two days that followed, Arthur kept
himself from home as much as possible, on,
visits to real and imaginary patients, while
Annie shut herself in. and, through the
servants, shut every one else out. The
house and everything it contained was the
bitterest mockery to the sight of the young
and SO lately happy master and mistress.
Time enough there had been for passion
to subside, and reason to exercise her vo.
cation. MIR. and Mrs. Maybury sa: at their
table once more, and alone. She had come
from her chamber partly at the suggestions
OF pride, afraid that an indsposition, which
demanded less than usual attention from
her husband, might not serve her as plea
more permanently, and prevent scandal
among the servants.
But, beyond this, the unforgiving spirit
had passed from her bosom, and tender
longing for reconciliation taken its place.
Her husband traced it in the tremulous
hand that gave him his cup of tea, and in
the meeker expression of her downcast
eyes. wien he ventured to look in them
He traced it with pity and remorse, for the
fondness in his heart was waking from its
terrible trance, and that moment the cry of
his soul was for the impossible boon OF liv-
ing over again the last tive days.
IN some natural way, the fact was at
length rumored abroad that his wife was
portionless; and one had that evening,
without much stress of delicacy, appealed
to him for either confirmation or denial
He had replied with naughty evasion, and
sPringing to his brougham, driven home
wards. "Portionless!-and if SO, is she
the worse for it!" was thu question that
had risen to his lips before his inquisitor;
but he turned it upon himself, and the con.
sequence was that riches and virtue ap-
peared in their true relative value.
Arthur attempted some conversation on
incidents of the day, and Annie seconded
his efforts as we'll as she was able. As
soon as the tea things were removed, and
the room more secure against intruders
they put off restraint with unanimity, and,
amid weeping and retractions, sought to
revive the withered wreath of welded affec-
ton.
But, alas, for human pride and passion!
alas, alas, fer them! Arthur Maybury and
his wife destined themselves to suffer the
unmitigated penalty of departing from the
vows SO recently spoken at the altar De-
mons might have gloated in triumph over
that scene, begun with promise, but re-
lapsing into only elements of discord. The
estrangement between the pair was wider
than on the evening when their honeymoon
had so suddenly set in gloom; and there
after it seemed as Though, seek as they
would, no time of repentance could be
found by them.
Weeks fingered away, and the sweets of
love in that dwelling had turned to worm
wood and gall. Annie had gone with her
griefs to her sister, and AGelia and her
husband had, in their Indignation against
Arthur, mistaken their advice to his wife.
1t was wind for oil to the troubled waters.
caustic for balm to the open wound. And
their prescriptions were but too faithfully
followed. Arthur likewise had bad advisers,
who checked his better impulses, aud (wise
and generous soulsD furnished him a sep
arate magnifying glass, through which to
criticise every one of Annie's faults.
The establishment it was not possible to
maintain, nor was there longer OCCASION
its unhappy mistress having at length taken
formal leave, and returned to home at her
sisters. So the domestics were discharged
the upholsterer reclaimed his effects, fol