Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-09-06

telling Georgel canj just take my ride With
Cousin Ralph aod soy nothlng 10 him sbout
it"---for she had an ihtuition that the sn.
nouncemeni Of the ioyiistiDu world not be
agreeable to her husband. 4ssstll ll.-
But she pni aside the thought the nsxtu
moment, for she was too honorabls for the
slightest copceslBsbt. .fns .ft.f
"Well, you will probably have an ospor-
tvnity to meet Cousin Ralph at tea, ss he
invited me to ride out an hour or two with
him this afternoon" .,as ..i f5tuaf,3
'And you accepted the inviistienw o..
"Certainiy. You have 10 Vbjsciionsi"
There was no imnsjiate answer, 5at hsy
read her husbands face. ,ati..t
."Oh, Gsorge. you are not 30 absurd - -
mind, my riding oui an aour with my eousis
and the old eonpanior Of oil ray chilchoodr
why don't you ado. slso, your old lovsr".
The blood Aishrd inc the lady's cheek;
for the speech wounded and irritstsd herr
and it was one that, in better mood, her
husband would not have made. t
at would not be very wiss or dslics,s Tor
me to say it before jealous husband"
The answer stung him. "You cat apply
what terms you like 10 me, Mrs. Denison;
simply wish to know II you accepted tbs
invi;ationl"
"Of course ! did!'' she said it dshantly.
tapping her little feet IN the carpet. "Hays
you any objections to urgel"
"No, you will Go as you like; never laid
my commands upon your life. II issgainst
my principles"
The dinner was fnishsd 10 silehce; Geo.
Denison sat stern and pale, May flushed and
lowering; and the husband rose from the
table and went out without ss much a. bid
ding his vile good nfierr9oh.
at was outrageous, eruel" exciiimsa
Mrs. Denison, as she walked up aud down
the room. slipping the rings round her small
fingers, while the tears stcod siill or her
checks. ITO think he was angry becsassI
am going out with Cousin Ralph! iehali Z
just have my own way for once. Oh. dear,
il things had only tu. ned out dfferentlyrf
She did not finish the sentence; she was
fair frightened at the sngry, rePellan, feel.
ipgs which gathered glconiily in her heart
against her HUSBAND. rr
And as Mrs Denison leaned her bead on
the marble table, book which her arm
brushed away fell heavily al her feet. Shs
picked il up. It vas small prsysr-sook,
with covers Of crimson velvet The leaves
had dropped open, and her eyes fell upon the
marriage service, and those solemn, mys,sti
ous words flashed through ber soul" And
live together according to Gods holy ordiD,
ence."
They stilIed The siorn OF passion and
pride, of gloom and bitterness whioa had
gathered in her soul. Mrs Denison sat
down and thought what depth and holiness
OF meaning dwelt in those words, and twain
afait, and shut them up from the world
husband and wife.
"And live together according to Gods
holy ordinance" not simply in word and
deed, bot in ,hongh',in feeling. in spirit. for.
bidding all wanderings OF the heart, all fool.
ish imsginations. making each to the o,hsr
tecder, piuful. foreiving. ssfsacrincing-
just as God, the Faiher. interpreted those
words when. standing at His altar. shs mad
taken On her soul the Vows Of her wifehood.
There was a long. sharp struggle in Hrs.
Deniscn's mind; but che ~ss Christisn,
woman.and she knew whence strsngth would
come for her weakne ;. at 3.
. -.
"Weli, little lsdy. ell ready for your ride!"
Ralph upham usked the question in his
pleasant, assured way. as he twisted the
cord OF his whip round the handle. -
There was little pause, and little fiush
crePt up and settled itself in the sweet face.
Then the answer came, low and stesdfast,
"Ralph, you will have to excuse me from
riding out with you to-day"
"Why, May, is il possible you are not GO
ing with me" surprise, dissp pointmsnt, and
chagrin combining IN the tones.
"There arc reasons, Ralph. and good
onss, hich | do not consider myself al
liberty to mention, which make II best for
me to ask you to excuse me-"
"Csnt do il. May" in that graceful. posi-
live. off.hsnd way that VISA usually SO irrs..
sistible with ladies. "l've set my mind on
the ride, and you wont dissppoiut poor fel.
low that's come two thousand miles for this
little bit Of snjoymen,." ~ -
1t was hard 10 resist the lock which esve
ibs right point and emphssis to these worcs.
but Mrs. Denison did not wavsr. "Rslph."
she began. ,lis
But he broke In. taking the soft fpgsrs--
"Come now, May, you wont bs % absurd or
squeamish as 10 refuse TO give me-. your
brother, this little ride, for the saks Of thoss
other long ago rides that one of Us. at lssst,
can never fo,get'' .t
IL was harder stil. to resist this last tone
and look; but if she fatered q moment her
voice WAS steady and earnest as II answered
~ have not declined your invitation,
Ralph, W without duly considering it,u nd there
fore it can be Of no use TO urge ~
Ralph Upham's handsome face darkensd.
and his eyes famed ou, suddenly, IL see
the erift OF all tbis, May Your husband
isn't wiling - trust his wifs with me for
an hour, do hate 10 have man set 90
low value on himself that he's afraid bis,
wi Q may tall in love with an old friend. IL
they happen to be brpugh, togerber .orsn
hour" of ..i, gvf
| Ralph Upham had gone further, sad re.
vssled more of his true character in his dis-s
sppointmert aud chsgrin than he intended.
Mrs. Dsnison lifted her eyes, and con-