The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-06-16

driven homeWard. "Portionlcss !-an'
if so, is she the worse for it ?" was tn
question, that had risen to his lips be
fore his inquisitor; but he turned i
upon himself, and the sequence was tha
riches and virtue appeared in their trut
relative value.
Arthur attempted some conversatio,
on incidents of the day, and Annie Sc
able. AS soon as the tea things wert
removed, and the room more secure
against intruders, they lut off restraint
with unanimity. and, amid weeping and
retractions, sought to revive the with.
cred wreath of welded affection.
But, alas, for human pride and passion!
alas, alas, for them Arthur Maybury
and his wife destined themselves to suffer
the unmitigated penalty of departing
from the vows so recently spoken at the
alter. Demons might have gloated in
triumph over that scene, begun with
promise, but relapsing into only elements
of discord. The estrangement between
the pair was wider than on the evening
when their honey moon had so suddenly
set in gloom; and thereafter 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
wormwood and gall. Annie had gone
with her griefs to her sister, and Adelia
aud her husband had, in their indigna-
tion against Arthur, mistaken their ad-
vice to his wife, It was wine for oil to
the troubled waters, caustic for balm to
the open wound. And their prescrip-
tious were but too faithfully followod.-
Arthur likewise had bad advisers, who
checked his better impulses, and (wise
and generous souls y furnished him a
separate magnifying glass, through which
to criticise every one of Annie's faults.
The establishment it was not possible
to maintain, nor was there longer occa-
sion-its unhappy mistress having at
length taken formal leave, and returned
to a home at her sisters. So the do
mestics were discharged-the upholster-
er reclaimed his effects, for want of a
prospect of anything better and aue-
tioneer's bills were posted on either side
of the door which had opened so hope
fully to the train of guests at the bri,
dal party.
One day, petition for divorce, car
thur Maybury dersus Annie Maybury, :"
was filed according to law; the case
camo duly before the court, aud the un-
contested petition was granted. What
God had joined together, man had light
ly put asu. DER Had death SO soon
parted the young and gifted couple, how
loud lamentation would it have crea-
ted The judge did it, aud s:ciety
saved its sympathy, regarding it as all
very comfortable-the most agreeable
thing under the circumstances.
Annie Clyde-for her brother in law
with kind of congratulating smile, ad-
dressed her by that name the very mo-
mcnt he could hurry homo after the de-
cision-passed one night of misery SO
intense that next morning she almost ex-
pected to see in her mirror her hair turn
ed gray. 1t seemed as though her very
sight might have washed away, in the
torrent of tears she had shed over her
disappointment, her dcsolatiou. Then
carefully locking her sensibilities from
other eyes, she may have appeared hap
pier for release from the ties which had
SO briefly bound her.
Herself and Arthur could not always
avoid meeting as months went by. One
evening, at an entertainment which she
attended along with her sister and her
husband, Annie found herself suddenly
thrilled by the tones of voice she once
had not dreamed could ever be less than
music to her ears. She had not known
of Mr.. Maybury's presence sooner; but
determined on preserving not merely an
external conposure, but an impenetrable
Indifference also, she continued where
she was, admiring a Towering moss
rose from tho conservatory, which had
brought her to the spot.
Arthur was attempting to sustain
himself in a bantering conversation re-
specting the style of wearing the beard.
His challenger was school-day ac-
quaintanco, albeit never esteemed q
prize in that way, who having been
abroad for some years, only re-cntering
port that day, was not familiar with Ar
thurs history during the interval.
"'Pou honor, now, my dear fellow" !"
said tho traveller, affecting Partisan
swell, "this Disgusting yourself from an
old friend with mask of hair, is what
1 call-ah-obj bjectionable, very-quite
ungenerous. Besides, do assure you,
you are out of the mode"
Arthur was looking away, not appear
ing to share any deep feeling on the sub
ject, and the other went on.
'The imperial" said be, caressing his
own with his ring fngcr, ''is decidedly
all the go in all principal-I
may say, fashionable cities. The Mar
choincss d'Avano fascinating creature y
declared in my presence-speaking of