Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-06-03
The Shadows we Cast.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

| BY T. s. ARTHUR.
of A young wife has busted herself ft
1t many days in preparing pleasant sui
t. prise for her husband. The work wa
:" finished at last; and now she waited hi
e return, with a heart full of warm emo
K tions. A dressing gown pair of ele
e gantly embroidered slippers, wrough
q by her own skillful fingers, were tn
t gifts with which she meant to deligh
e him. What a troop Of pleasure fancie
e was in her heart! How impatiently di,
r she wait for the comipSt light, .Mhicl
3 lfshs6ga deslE
: mess to her.
Y At last she heard the step of her hus
: band the passage, and her pulse leap
: ed with fiuttering delight. Like birt
0 upon the wing, she almost few dowr
Y to meet him, impatient for the kiss tina
5 awaited h. T
r To men in the world of business, few
, days pass without their disappointment
and perplexities. 1t is mans business
, to bear this manfully. They form but
portion of life's discipline, and should
make them stronger, graver and more
enduring. Unwisely, and We may say
tOO MCu " ICdNc
their business cares and troubles in their
stores, workshops or counting rooms,
at the days decline. They wrap them
in bundles and carry them home TO
shadow their households.
1t was SO with the young hus band on
the particular occasion. The stream of
business had taken an eddying whirl,
and shrown his vessels backward instead
of onward for brief space, and though
it was still i'll the current and gliding
safely onward against it, the jar and dis
appointment had fretted his mind severe
lIy. There was no heart warmth in the
kisses he gave his wife, because he had
let care overshadow love He drew his
arm round her, but she was conscious
of u diminished pressure in that EN- mbrac-
ing arm.
"Are you not we'll {"
With what tender concern was the
question asked
Very we'll"
He might be in body but not in
mind; that was plain, for his voice was
far from being cheerful. She played and
sung her favorite pieces, hoping to re-
store, by the charm of music, brightness
to his spirit. But she was conscious of
only partial success. There was still
gravity in his manner never perceived
before. At tea time she smiled upon
him so sweetly across the table, and
talked to him on such attractive themes,
that the rig hit expression returned to
his countenance, and he looked as hap
py as she could desire.
From the tea-table they returned to
Their pleasant parlor. And now the
time has come for offering her gift, and
receiving the coveted reward of glad |
surprise, followed by sweet kisses and
loving words. Was she selfish ? Did |
she think more of her reward than of
the pleasure she would bestow? But
that is questioning too closely.
II will be back in moment" she
said and passing from the room, she
went lightly up the stairs. But tone
and manner betrayed her secret, or
rather the possession ofsecret with which
her husband was to be surprised
had her loving face faded from
before his eyes, when thought returned
with single bound, to an unpleasant
event of the day; and the waters of his
spirit were again troubled. He had ac
tually arisen, and crossed the floor once
or twice, moved by restless concern
when his wife came back with the dress
ing gown and slippers. She was trying
to force her countenance into grave
to hold back the smiles that
we're contin aally striving to break in
truant circles around her lips, when a
single glance at her husbands face told (
her that the spirit driven away by the
exercise of love, had returned again to
his bosom. He looked at her soberly,
rs she came forward. i
'.What are these q he asked almost
,oldIy repressing surprise. and affecting
ignorance in regard to the beautiful pres 1
mt she held in her hands, that he did I
lot feel. Ii
They are for you dear. I made
hem" 1
For me? Nonsense What do f
want with such jimcrackery? This i,
wear. Do you think that l
would disfgure my feet with embroi 7
Tered slippers, or dress up in calico t
;own? Put them up, dear. Your hus a
'and is too much of a man to dress him. t
elf up in gay colors, like a clown or an e
ctor." And he waved his hand with i
N air of contempt. There was cold t
neering manner about him partly af-
ected and partly real-the real born of z
lis uncomfortable state of mind. Yet t
lie level his sweet wife and would not i
or any purpose, have wounded her for a
he world. n
This unexpected repulse-this cruel "
eception of her present, over which
he had wrought patiently, in golden e
lope, for many days; this dashing to n
he earth of her brimful cup of joy just u
$ it touched her lips, was more than a
he fond mother and wife could bear. To
Tide the tears that came rushing to her $
yes she turned away from her husband, t
nd, to conceal the sobs she had no h
'ower to repress, she went almost hur- Il
led from the room; and going back to t
he chamber from whence she had p
rought the present, she laid it away p
ut of sight in a closet. Then covering a
er face with her hands, she sat down