Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-29

it is only for time that husband can de-
ceiVe himself that he is loved, unless the wife
be consummate hypocrite, or he an luxurious
| fool. Mr.. Lorimer continued to adore his
beautiful young wife, until the first blindness
of passion having cleared away, he began to
! perceive she was exacting and unresponsiVe
You cannot believe" said Isabel "with
what insane arrogance | acted To be the
supreme consideration, for my will to take pre-
cedence of his, was what had expected and
claimed, and it never occurred to me to feel
grateful for his indulgence or to wonder at his
forbearance moreover / did not love him
then, and began to weary of his attentions,
to slcken of his perpetual companionship. l
suppose | scarcely tried to hide my mpatience,
for was so besotted that believed he must
always love me.
About this time his sister, Mrs. Vivian
came to stay with US, and | doubt not she
stimulated her brothers awakening. Besides.
Maurice is proud man, with a sufficient sense
of his own excellence and eligibility and it
was impossible for him, when he began to re-
fleet not to consider how much he had bestow-
ed upon me, and that had not even paid him
with my love !! don't know how it was |
was blind to the gradual change in my hus-
was working against my happiness but il
was So 1t was over Lily's cradle that first
awoke to consciousness Of my position. 1t
had been great disappointment to both of US
that she was girl, to NE, especially. Que
day. was bewailing her sex very weakly, and
felt surprised that he did not join in the Iamen-
taton.
=" Are not you disappointed too 2" l asked.
g." Yes !" be said coldly but my disap-
polntment is irretrevable, and dates further
back. Try and love your baby, Isabel, if you
can"
'These words fell upon me like thunder.
bolt suddenly saw my whole conduct in its
true light, and in all its consequences: but it
was too late From the moment was forced
to realise the idea that he had ceased to love
ne, | received vivid conviction of the value
Of his love. | came down from my seclusion
TO find him, as you see him now, coldly con.
siderate, punctiiously attentive but he no
longer sought my society," or welcomed my
coming with smiles
g cannot tell you the effect this change
had upon my wayward heart besides. it
seemed dreadful not to be loved by ones hus-
band. In my turn, | began to love him pas.
sionately, to wait upon his words, to court his
attention, even TO solicit his endearments for
his coldueSs maddened me. Perhaps | might
have succeeded if We had been left alone. but
Caroline Vivian was always with u.s. Her
presence and influence ruined everything.-
Previously she had seen my husbands devotion
and my neglect at their full, and no doubt all
she had said to him then of his blindness and
my worthleSsnesS, was bearing now its abund-
ant fruit. L could not endure her to see how
our position vas reversed and what was suf. |
ferng | could not sue for her to see me re-
jected ; and during the months she STAYED with
US, tried to act nay former pars as closely as
possible. So mad was | in my false pride. |
that | have sacrificed the happiness of all nv
life to it. | succeeded so well in this misera- |
BILE game that | deceived both him and her
| left them constantly to their own society. |
while | was thirSting for one hour Of his. !
rode, drove, visited, according to nv own con- !
Venience and leisure [ consulted nv hus-
bands inclnations less than in former times
justly laid myself open to Caroline's inter
ference and reproacheS, but | would not bear
them. Violent scenes followed, until Maurice
himself slenced her. he wanted no champion
of his happiness, he said expostuation and
reproach would not transform my nature, or
give him the wife he had expected-no third
persCn could tighten the lot he had to bear.
The night Caroline went away, threw my
self at his feet-I besought him to love me
to believe that [ loved him Men are not i'm
pulsiVe, inconsistent, demoustfative, like Us, |
aud be could not understand snch conduct
He called it caprice, policy, hypocrsy-said l !
had worn out his regard reminded me of this |
and that-carcle words, selfish actions, which |
bad forgotten, but he had brooded over in
silent bitterness and disappointment Alas
alas how black the catalogue appeared
The tale is nearly told out, Aunt Sarah. |
Since then things have gone on worse and
worse. His propriety and GOODNESS have been
always the same, while nay conduct has been
actuated by passion, grief and resentment,
perpetually at strife. BY turns, am neglect
ful and dsdainful, reprcachful and imploring
| love him now as he never loved me- His
patience and temperance appear to me admir-
able in the midst Of my misery, for the uncer-
tainty of my temper, and the discomfort of
our relations, embitter his life. Caroline has
been once more our guest for the last week or
two and perhaps now her presence does good |
for it forces me to measure of quiet and con
Sistency
"To-moFrow my husband leaves nae for
Glasgow on important affairs. | half think |
everything is not going right in his business
connection, but he never talks On the subject,
only he looks harassed beyond his won't He
said he might be month or two absent and |
so, Aunt Sarah, as my misery was getting in.
tolerable, I thought l would send for you
Now, what comfort have you to give me ?"
Poor Isabel could but clasp her in my
arms, and try to soothe her by my affection.
What chance she had Of regaining the happi- |
ness she had so recklessly squandered, felt |
very incompetent to decide, owing to my slight
knowledge of Mr. Lorimer's character, and his
immediate departure would preclude the posi-