Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-08-19

uhie"sohaole OF beings however, the little
god Of love can be easily mended
Yes.
She placed the fragments one upon the 9TH
er and looked at me
1t can be mended, but the accident must
leave its trace, like all others. Oh, Francisr
she added, throwing herself down BY my
chair, and lifting my hand to her lips, why
do you try me so DO you really love me 7,
Alice ] said, impatently, do get up
You tire mo-
She rose and turned very pale.
q will go then. But first answer my ques-
ton. DO you love me, Francis 2
felt anger and obstinacy in my heart
nothing else. Was she threatening me
Did you love me when you married me,
Francis +"
I did. But
But you do not love me now; :;
Since you will have it, | said.
60 on
i do not love you--not as you mean
There was a dead silence in the room as
the lying words left my lips, and she grew so
white and gave me such a look of anguish
that | repented of my cruelty, and forgot my
anger
4 do not mean that, Alice / cried. You
look i'll and pale. Believe me, was only
jesting'
4 can bear it. Francis There is nothing
on this earth that cannot be borne-in one
way or another
She turned and left the room, quietly and
sadly. The sunshine faded Just then, and on
ly white, pale light came through the win
dow. | so connected it with her sorrow, that
to this day can never sec the golden radi-
anoo come and go across my path, without the
same sharp, kniie-like pang that felt then.
".
Alice became weaker and grew really ILL.,
A tour on the continent was strongly recon-
mended by the doctors as the lkeliest means
Of restoration. 1t was impossible for me to
go; but some friends Of ours. one Mr.. and
Mrs. Warrener, with a young daughter, were
going to Italy for six months, and it was ar
ranged that Alice should accompany them.
They remained abroad nine months instead
Of six. People wondered and oked about
my wito's deserting me but only laughed,
and said, | should soon 90 after her if she re-
mained away longer and they thought we
were still model couple. But had they
seen me sitting in my office, at night, over
Alico's letters from abroad, they would have
two | read those letters over and over
again, with aching throbs going through my
heart at every word. They we're full of in
cident and interest, and people called them
beautiful, who had not seen the mixture of
womanly passion and childlike playfulness in
her character that had seen, and which |
was to see no more.
At last she returned. | came home tired
q -
my table, informing me that she would cross
to Dover on the morrow. l went down to
Dover to meet her. Our estrangement had
worn deep into my heart She had loved me
once; she should love me again
was worn, haggard. | took bath and
made a careful toilet after my hurried jour
ney. As was taking my last look in the
glass, the hotel-waiter came to tell me they
had arrived.
! followed him, more nervous than / had
ever been before in my life Warrener grasp
ed my hands as opened the door, and Mrs.
Warrener-bless her kind heart burst out
crying
oh, my dear Frank am so glad to see
you. And we have brought you your Alice
home, so we'll
Next moment she entered, a little King
Charles spaniel frisking about her feet.
had her in my arms at once, but it was not
until she kissed me that knew how cold and
pale she was.
Alice, are you i'll ? asked, holding her
away from me, and looking into her face.
Her eyes met mine, but their old light was
quite gone.
Not in the least i'll, Frank she said qui-
city But you must remember have not
seen you for nine months and you startled me
little
My household fairy had fed, and could
only mourn that | should never look upon
her sweet young face again. 1t was another
Alice, this. | had slain my own Alice, and
nothing could reanimate her.
| was like one in a dream all through the
day and, when we came home, could not
wake. | had made many changes in the
house, and all for her. / took her through
the rooms on the day after our return, and
showed her the improvements. She was
pleased with the furniture she admired the
pictures and the conservatory; and seemed
delighted with the little gem of a boudoir
which had pleased myself by designing ex-
pressly for her. She thanked me, too. No
longer ago than year she would have dane
ed through the rooms, utterng a thousand
pretty little exclamations of wonder and de-
light, and should have been smothered with
kisses, and called dear old bear, or some
such fit name at the end all of which would
have been very silly, but also very delightful.
think ] bore it for a month but one
morning, as | sat at my solitary breakfast
for Alice took that meal in her room now
the bitter sense of wrong and unhappiness
and deseruon came over me so strongly that
| went up to her room.
Are you busy ? l asked, as she laid down
her pen and looked around
Not too busy to talk 20 you, she said.
Alice. how long are we to live this life ?
She changed color
What life, Frank ?
The one we arc now living. II is not the
happy, loving life we used to live. You are
not mine as entirely and lovingly as you once
we're.
i know it, And she sighed and looked
drearily at me.
why cannot the old days come back again
If | made "A terrible mistake, can you never
forgive it | thought it was foolish for us
to love each other as we dd--at least to
show it as we did--but have found now that
love is earth's true wisdom.
She smiled sadly.
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