Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-15

they watched in agony, and as The last ray
of light beamed from his little eyes, and
the smile faded from his lips, Ella wept on
her husbands bosom, and said to him in
the fu,ness Of grief, 20 Eugene I have only
you now, my husband, my dear husband"
Long and earnestly they wept on Eddie's
grave, and then returned to their gloomy
home, sudden hope re-awakeued in the
heart tf Mr.. Seiden, that Ella would prove
tr0e1 wife, But as time passed on, she
oRsin thirsted for that excitement found
= Tie gay assemblies Of fashion, and on
v11ch fhe had lived In her past Fesrs. -
A80In and again, Engene plead - Der -
: ciety s0r home pleasures, Of which he had
20 fonsily dreamed He told her hS.s s1ae-
py they might be at home, their own pleas
ant home. She would not listen, he re-
monstrated, but in vain. At last angry
words passed between the estranged hus-
band and wife, recrimination, sarcasm and
misery was now their daily guest One
beautiful morning when the spring flowers
had grown all beautifully over Eddies grave,
after one Of these unpleasant conversations.
Mr.. Selden said, ELLA, we are both of US
unhappy. live in an agony which | can
not endure longer. Your heart is worn
and almost breaking. We cannot live
thus. Will you consent to separation :"
A shadow passed over the countenance of
the beautiful Ella, the thought was agony.
leave him, 0 what would life be without
hint She could not, no she could not
live. The woman did not triumph then
over the angry husband, and she hanghtily
replied
"As you please, Mr. Selden Will yeu
please tell me what is your pleasure farther"
A sharp pain ran through the heart Of
Mr.. Selden. He thought perhaps the pro-
posal to her might accomplish good, he
dreamed not that she would acqniesce SO.
readily. He knew that she had never been
| guided or controlled, only by her own feel
ings, and he thought she would perhaps
object to the separation, and try to live
truer life. He paused moment then
sinking into chair, he said in mournful
tones, 20 Ella, my wife, will you not reflect
on what you are doing Ny happiness and
joys depends on your decision this morn
ing. Will you promise to, lead new life,
to try to make home happy, or shall | leave
you here in your grand home and fly far
from my native land, to live alone in soli-
tude and die q
She looked at him, the strong man was
weak, his head was bowed, tears were
streaming down his cheeks, she answered {:
SIT is your proposal, Mr.. Selden, that we
separate. 1t shall be as you wish, and
without another word, she left the room,
she went, she hardly knew whittier, the
wild anguish she felt was the effect of her
. life of false pleasure, reproach, anger, sor-
row, all striving for mastery in her heart.
She paused when she came to her baby.
grave. She sank down beside the green
grass, and tears came to her relief 90,
Eddie, would l too were lying by your
side in peace" and she leaned her face on
the cold sod on the grave. Memory waI
at work. Conscience whispered that she
had done wrong and yet pride rebelled
she could not yield she could not &C.
knowledge herself wrong. Never in. her
whole life, had she said to any one those
hard words to repeat in sincerity, 81 am
wrong, forgive me-"
An hour passed away while Ella Selden
comnuned with her own heart, the best
the brightest hour of her whole existence
She had, when that hour passed away, re-
{ versed her married life. She tried to Judge
! herself and her husbands as strangers would
have done, she saw that she had been OBJ
{ stinate, selfish and unkind, he had beer
8 forbearing, and though cold and Indifferent
sometimes, was she not to. blame? She
s saw him in new light, not only as the
noble statesman, the admired friend, but
: the kind forbearing husband, her husband
, who had won her heart in her sunny girl.
hood. 20, Eugene," she cried. An arm
stole softly around her. kiss was imprin.
$ tod on her lips, and a voice all tremulona
with emotion, said, ELLA, my wife. She
Q could only reply, with subdued voice.
Il "Forgive me, my husband, | have been SC
e wicked, so wicked. Will you take me tc
v your heart again, and here by our blessed
Q baby's grave, promise | will be trui
/, and yielding wife," He could not speak
o she said, "you will not forgive me, you viii
9 not speak. Eugene, oh, my husband, yor
/ will not send me from you, should die,
IT could not live without you"
ri 81 do, do forgive you Ella, my WIFE
Never, never will we be separated save b,
,e DEATH" and there with the yellow sunligh
sr resting on the grave of their babe, and th'
m sunlight of new affection in theiE hearts
TO they once mere breathed the conseeratet
o. VOW, a VOW which they now felt should b
e. sacredly kept even down to the cherries
t; grave.
IS, The winter approached. Gay party sue
o, ceeded party, and in the circle which la
70 formerly charmed Mrs. Selden SO. mucl
,e she was no longer seen. Many were tn
,is conieeaures. 1t couhl not be i'll health, tn
,d gay lady friends of her youth would whis
to per, for never had she looked better, Meth
re, er could unhappiness be the cause, 70
be when she appeared in the house OF Co
to- with her husband, her face always wore
N. calm expression Of happiness which conl
Mis- not be mistaken. They wondered-the
in forget her almost entirely to fawn aroun
Ter some new star that shone out suddenl
m in the fashionable world.
v; And Eugene Selden. did he in his ne
ir- found Joy forget the love Of bis youth Z
he Did he after his sin, in forsaking her for
an weather bride, enjoy the happiness whic
ca would have been his? God is merciful
rid the repentant, yet through life in the worl'
,esl harvest it is fearfully true, Whatsoever