Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-06-11
w. ID. WALLACH.
An EPISODE IN MARRIED LIFE.
WRITTEN FOR TIE STAR.


.. Goirg out again, to- night, Harry" said
young wife to her husband, as he commenced
laying aside his dressing gown in order to sub
stiiute for It his coat. "It is so lonely when
You are absent she continued, with a sigh
&c But there - no reason why you should be
lonely;' replied her husband, ''our neighbors
either side are pleasant people and would
be socisble and help you to while away time
il you would only encourage them to do So
Why not run in and spend an hour or so with
them ~
They make but poor substitutes for Won.
Harry; beside, do not like Mrs. Stuart -
oh, don't know" was the reply, "she IL
rather hippant. and often foolish. bat in the
main fancy she is pretty good. Her husband
never remains at home at night, and yet she
manages to amuse herself without him. After
being closely confined TO business all day. one
needs little relaxation in the evening I
shall have the reputation Of being henpecked
IT | cannot continue TO meet my friends now
and then You must not be too exactinQ, Mel
iy. and with a kiss he left her
She sat In deep silence long after he had
gone, and probably the same train Of rehec-
tiOns has passed through the mind of MANY a
wife under the same circumstances as now
crowded themselves upon her Was it thus
she was to realize her dreams of welded bliss
Was her husband already weary of her. and
did he seek in other excitements to drown his
disappointment in not finding her all that he
wished.
At this moment her reflections were inter
rupted by hearing the voice of Mrs. Stuart in
the hall: hastily seizing book as though to
appear reading, she awaited her entrance.
Almost instantly the door opened, and that
lady advancing, said
Ah. / End you alone, my dear Mrs. Ell
wnod, husbands will play truant now and then.
and am not sorry yours has done so upon
this occasion. for / have come to beg the
pleasure OF your society this evening. L would
remain with you, but that 1 dare say some one
VIII call at home, so determined to run In and
make sure OF You by taking you back with me-
Harry's words had been running through
Mrs. EllwOOd's mind while Mrs. Stuart was
SPeaking-'' Why not run in and vile away an
hour or 30 with them ?" and without hesitancy
she said - will 60 with you with pleasure
and am much indebted for the opportunity /
believe was Jast beginning to feel very sad
when you came in
That will never do. There are too MANY
sources of amusement if you choose to avail
yourself OF them, to permit yourself to grow
low-spirited''
Amusement-Ellen 5 thoughts echoed, as she
assembled the stairs 10 her room for the purpose
ut making some little addition to her toilet. in
order to accompany Mrs Stuart for she knew
her parlOrs would be well filed with visitors
Amusement-pOOr substitute for such happi-
hess "a | anticipated, and tear started to her
eye. but hastily brushing it away she COM
pleteu ner preparations In lew minutes, and
retraced her steps TO the parlOr. As she en-
tered Mrs. Stuart started, as If in deep thought
bat instantly resumed her natural manner
'- You are looking charmingly,' she said, IF
You were single L know not how many hearts
would be broken. But We poor married ones
might rs well turn to Inummies upon our bridal
day, for our husbands never admire US, and
hone others must. very dog in the manger
arrangement, it strikes me'
Ellen eolOred and said = If we cannot have
the admiration of those we love, all others
must be valueless.''
Il do not agree with you" was Mrs Stuart's
reply, not in her usual jesting tones. but with
bitterness Ellen had never heard her employ
before = Ii a gardener neglects tender plant
and it withers and decays he should not be
surprised. Our affections are tender plants
and will not flourish under neglect. But come
let US gO.H
As usual, and as Mrs. Ellwood anticipated
Mrs. Stuarts parlOrs were soon well filled with
visitors, consisting pretty much of those who
make amusement and excitement play the sub
siitutes for feelings of a deeper and purer na-
tnre- To Ellens amazement the hours not
only few by rapidly but happily, and her
heart did not palpitate with joy, as she sup
posed II would, when the time arrived to take
her departure
Il am indebted to you" she said to Mrs.
stuart, at parting, for most delightful
evening"
= am glad to hear you say so; much better,
Is II not, than mOping at home ,"
When Ellen arrived at home her husband
was stl absent She sighed, but did not
dwell ON the circumstance as had been her
custom. Her mind reverted to the pleasure
she had experienced, and how foolish she had
been in not having sooner ayaiIed herself Of
Mrs. Stuart's invitations TO pass the evenings
with her.
Time wore on, Mrs. EllwoOd and Mrs Stuart
we're now inseparable. Mrs. s. was a woman
n A. "A sh II l.
mirers, SANDER had lot yet imputed to her
preference for any particular one
Among them, however, was a Mr.. Lester, a
man whose elegance Of appearance and manner
rendered him by far the most dangerous. Since
her intimacy with Ellen, he was ever lowering
near, and though his attentions seemed mostly
directed to Mrs. Stuart, an interested observer
could soon detect the covert approaches TO Mrs.
ElwOod. The admiring glance, the half-im-
piled compliment, much more dangerous
than the openly paid one. The numberless
little attentions, to be moro felt than seen,
we're ali for Ellen. At first they made her
angry; then she laughed 1t them 1t was the
fashion (and Mr.. Lester was fashionable
NAM To pretend admiration for married Is
dies Her better plan was not to seem to per-
ceiye it.
Dangerous ground was this for one 80 young.
and With 80 little knowledge of the world. Her
husband felt perfectly contented; ii was far
more pleasant than finding his wife waiting
Tor him, her eyes red and swollen with weep
ing, Ia know that she had been enjoying her
self. lie could remain at the Club now with
"ut any Of those cOmpunctiOus visitings of con-
s.Ienee which occasionally used to visit him.
He frequently accompanied his wife TO parties,
pisces of amusement, &c, but as he preferred
his Club, segar, and the friends he met there,
lie generally placed her under Mrs. Stuart's
care to take her home. As they lived in ad-
joining houses this seemed a most convenient
arrangement, and he congratulated himself
upon IL.
Mr.. Lester continued his attentions to Mrs.
EilwOod until If he absented himself she felt
The want Of his presence. She would not ac-
kEOSledge this, even 10 herself, or if she did,
accounted Tor it by his always being So kind,
and ever ready to anticipate her wishes. She
would be very ungrateful not to esteem as 4
friend Poor Ellen, the precipice upon which
she has - blindly trusted herself is hourly
becoming more rapid and steep in its descent
Aud Lester saw this. Saw the chains bind-
ing has victim by degrees 80 tightly and yet SO
nncOnsclOnslY. that he snila at her simplicitY