Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-11-13
sTAUNTON, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1860



ticipated, and the certainty of golden life of
luxury proved but poor consolation, it seemed
for the sacrifice she had made.
She lay long upon the sofa, say, sobbing and
weeping passionately. Gradually her grief ap-
peared to exhaust ITSELF Her tears ceased to
flow, and at length her eyes and cheeks were
dry. Her head was pllowed on her arm. and
her face was half hidden in a food of curs.
The struggle was over. The agony was past.
She saw Mr.. Wellington enter, and rose cheer
fully to meet him. His manners pleased her
his station and fortune fascinated her more. He
offered her his hand--she accepted it. A kiss
sealed the enagagement-but it was not such a
kiss as Frank had given her, and she could scarce
repress a sigh
There was magnif cent wedding. Splendidly
attired, dazzling the eye with her beauty thus
adorned, with everything around swimming in
the charmed atmosphere of a fairy-land, Kate
gave her heart to the man her ambition--not her
love-had chosen.
But certainly ambition could not have made q
better choice. Already she saw herself sur
rounded by magnificent court, of which she
was the acknowledged andadmired queen. The
favors Of fortune were showere6 upon her, she
hoated luxurously upon the smooth and CLASSY
wave of a charmed life.
Nothing was wanted in the whole circle of her
existence to adorn it, and make it bright with
happiness. But she was not long in discover
ing that there was something wanting in her
breast.
Her friends were numerous, her husband ten
der and kind and loving; but all the attention
and affections could not fill her heart. She had
once felt its chord and sympathy moved by a
skilltnl touch-she had not known the heavenly
charm of the deep, del cious harmony, and now
they were sient-motionless, muff1led 50 as to
speak in silks and satins. These chords were
still and soundless Her heart was dead none
the less SO because killed by golden shot, hav-
ing known and felt the life of sympathy in it,
unconsoled by the life of luxury 10 short,
Kate in time became magnihcently miserable,
splenddly unhappy.
Then change became apparent to her hus.
band. lie could not remain long blind to the
fact that his love was not returned. He sought
the company OF those whose gayety might lead
him to forget the sorrow and despair of his soul
This shallow joke, however, was unsatisfactory,
and lmpelled by powerful longing for love, he
went astray to warm his heart with strange
fre
Kate saw herself now in the midst of gor-
geous desolation, burning with thirst uncon-
querable by golden streams that flowed around
her-pantiDg with hunger which not all the
She reproached her husband for deserting her
thus. and he answered her with angry and des-
perate taunts of deception, and total lack of
love, which smOte her conscience heavily.
"You do not care for me-" he cried, 'then
why do you complain that bestow elsewhere
the affection you have met with coldness2"
"But it is wrong-sinful," Kate demonstrated
"Yes, know it," said her husband, fercely
at is the evil fruit of an evil seed. And who
sowed that seeds Who gave me hand with
out hearta Who became a sharer OF my for
tune, but gave me no share in her sympathy -
Who devoted ma to the fate of loving, unloved
husband? Nay, do not weep, and clasp your
hands, and sigh and sob with such desperation,
for say nothing you do not deserve to hear"
"Very WE'LL" said Kate, II do not say your
reproaches are undeserved. But, granting am
the cold, deceitful thing you call me, you know
this state of things cannot continues"
'Yes, l know it, .-.-..'-..-s
"Well?"
Mr.. Wellington's brow gathered darkly-his
eyes flashed with determination: his lips curled
with scorn.
II have made up my mind" said he, 'that
we should not live together any longer. l am
tired of being called the husband OF tue splendid
Mrs. Wellington. | will move in my circle; You
shall shine in yours. l will place no restraint
will be free"
"Bnt the world'' shrieked poor Kate, trem-
bling. s...s-.,..... iai
"The world will admire You the same; and
what more do you desire?" asked her husband,
bitterly. "ThiS marriage of hands and not of
hearts Is mockery. We have played the farce
long enough. Few understand the true meaning
Of the terms husband and wife; but do you
know what they should mean9 Do you feel that
the only true union is that OF love and sympa-
thy2 Then enough of this munmery. Fare
well. | go to consult friends about the terms of
separation. Nay, do not tremble aud cry, and
cling to me now; shall be liberal to you. As
much OF my fortune shall be yours as You de-
sire' t..ss. N'-ss--'
He pushed her from him. She fell upon the
sofa. From a heart torn with anguish she
shrieked aloud: s. r
'.Frank Frank why did | send you from
me? Why was l blind until sight brought me
misery2"
She lay upon the sofa, sobbing and weeping
passionately Gradually her grief appeared to
exhaust itself; her breathing became calm her
eyes and cheeks dry; her heed lay peacefully on
her arm, over which swept her dishevelled
-tresses, until with a start sue cried:
s'Frank oh Frank come backin
''Here am" said soft voice by her side.
one TdlS6O jcI utdu. Ou0 Opcutu uSi dStOu-
ished eyes. Frank was standing beside her.
s'You have been asleep" he said, smiling
kindly. a@i ~
'sAsleep?"
"And dreaming, too, I should say not pleas
antly, either"
ssDreaming!" murmured Kate, "and is it all
dream z"
Il hope So" replied Frank, taking her hand
"You could not mean to send me away from
you so cruelty, knew. So waited in your
fathers study, where have been talking with
him all of an hour. / came back to plead my
cause with you once more, and found you here
where left you, asleep"
"Oh what horrible drealn!' murmured
Kate, rubbing her eyes. ut was 80 like ter
ribe reality that shudder now to think of it,
| thought was married T. IS
"And would that be SO horrible2'' asked
Frank. Il hope, then, you did not dream you
were married to mes"
.7s mo. thought gave my hand without my
hearth" VS. M
sThen, if you gave your hand, it would not
be without your heart9"
''No, Frank said Kate, and her bright eyes
were beaming happily through her tears, ssapd
here it isl" a
And soon there was real marriage mot a
splendid, but happy one-followed by life of
love, of contentnient; and that was the mar
riage of Frank Minot and Kate Yale
Night brings out stars as sorrow shows us
truth. We never see the stars till we can see