The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-03-23

into three weeks, at the end of which tim
they returned, having dreamed in a brida
chamber Of the St. Nicholas, sailed up tn
American Rhine, felt the spray Of Niagar
and dined at the Summit House on Noun
Washington.
BY orders which Arthur had left, thei
house was ready for occupation Oh their ar
rival. 1t was house of elegance, suited t,
their taste if not to their means. Then i'm
mediately followed great party-and nov
as ever, the cost of these inculgences had I.
be met. 1t is but just to Arthur to say tina
his lavish expenditure was all for the sake o
his bride. and as being appropriate to hel
imaginary position, and all were enjoyed b,
Alice with the inconsiderateness of her YEAR
and situation.
For time it had appeared to him beau
tiful delicacy on the part Of Mrs. Maybury
considering the contrast of her husband'
poverty that she refrained from any referenc,
to her fortune, but after that his sentiment,
on the subject varied and he became secretl,
anxious to know where the amount of tn,
readiest money was accessible. Those ghost.
Of dead pleasures, debts, were narrowing
their circle around him. The pope himself
might exhaust his power of exorcism, bu
this kind could not be laid without chink
ing sound in bank vaults and substance
which looked like the consolidation of SUM-
shine having quick passage from hand te
hand
Mere intimations touching the state of af
fairs suficed not at all for the reason tha,
they were not understood. So, shortly, Ar
thur was fain to apply to his wife in distinc,
terms for permission to use the resources
which were theirs Jointly now, he supposed.
The surprise and chagrin awaiting both when
1t came to this need no description beyond
what is included in the mutual recrimina.
tons with which the short interview was
closed.
The two days that followed Arthur kept
himself from home as much as possible in Wis.
its to real and imaginary patients, while Al.
ice shut herself in and the porter shut every
one else out The house and everything it.
contained, was the bitterest mockery to the
young and so lately happy master and mis-.
tress.
Time enough there had been for passion
to subsde, ard reason to exercise her voca
ton, Mr.. and Mrs. May bury sat at their ia
bic once more and alone. Alice had come
from her chamber partly at the suggestion o.
pride. afraid that an indisposilor, which de.
manded less than usual attention from her
husband might not serve her as plea more
permanently, and prevent scandal among the
servants.
But beyond this the unforgiving spirit had
passed from her bosom, and tender long
ing for reconciliation taken its place. Her
husband traced it in the tremulous hand tha,
gave him his cup,and in the meek expression
OF her downcast eyes, when he Looked toward
them.
lie traced it with pity and remorse, for the
fondness in his heart was waking from a ter
rib!e trance, and that moment the cry of his
soul was for the impossible boon of living
over the last two days.
In some natural way the fact was at length
rumored about that his wife was portionless,
and one had that evening without much del
icacy, appealed to him for either conGrma-
ton or denial. lie had replied with haugh-
ty evasion, and sprinsing to his carriage,
driven homeward. "Portionless, and if SO is
she the worse for it ?" was the question that
had risen to his lips before his inquisitor, but
he turned it upon himself and the sequence
vas that riches and vitue appeared in their
true value.
Arthur attempted some conversation on
incidents Of the day and Alice seconded mis-
efforts as we'll as she was able. Soon as the
tea things were removed and the room was
secure against intruders they put off restraint
with unanimity and amid weeping and re-
fractions, sought to revive their welded afIec-
ton.
But alas for human pride and passion -
alas, alas for them. Arthur Maybury and
his wife destined themselves to suffer the un-
mitigated penalty Of departing from the VOW
so recently spoken at the altar. Demons
might have gloated in triumph over that
scene, begun with promise but re!apsing into
only elements Of discord. The estrange-
ment between the pair was wider than on the
evening when their honey moon had so sud-
denly set in gloom, and thereafter it seemed
as though, seek as they would no time of re-.
pentance could or would be found by either
Of them.
Weeks fingered away and the sweets of
love in that dwelling had turned to worm
wood and gall. Alice had gone with her
griefs to her sister, and Adelia and her hus-
band had in their indignation against Ar
thur. mistaken their advice to his wife. 1t
was wind for oil to the troubled waters. caus-
tic for balm to the open wound. And their
prescriptions were but too faithfully followed.
Arthur, likewise had bad advisers who check
ed mis- better impulses and-wise and gene