Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-24


the coast of the Mediterranean for II year. d
what would, Daisy still haunted my dreams
always the same, sometimes even to the smal
ink-stained fingers cramped with long holdin
ofthe pen. laughed sayagely about the mar
riage. This was womnn's constancy. No
three years, and she was married. and to Low
ther too, who, from "reminiscences of old days
must constantly remind her of me- | confes
sed now that still loved her-confessed il al
penance to myself, pressing it down on my
sore heart like cauterizing iron, and writh
ing under the pain ofmy own self-contempt.-
| Still from week to week ! was not sure tha
the marriage had taken place. | alwayshopet
that it was not yet consummatcd. Not to-day
let il lie tomorrow. Some six months after
| had left home there was sentence in one o.
| my mothers letters which settled the matter.
"Your friend Sir Hercules she wrote, s.was
| married last week. have seen the announce
ment in this mornings newspaper" Certainty
is better than uncertainty; the fall Of Damo-
cles' sword is more bearable than its suspen-
sion. | need not narrate here how by degrees
lregained peace of mind-a peace of mind tru-
er and healthier than had been my former
cynicism. learned to look on Daisy's mar
riage in its true light. What right had (dog
in the manger that was) to dream of monopo-
! lizng her who could not marry me--whom my
kin hnd injured beyond redemption? Without
marriage woman's life is incomplete in this
world. Lowther would make her good
Observation-Disclosures than should Lowther had
never been nearly so wild MS | had-had never
so hardened and bebased his better nature.
forgave Daisy-:forgace Gould she have for
given me?
Ny mother died before | reached England
again. Never more could that sad quarrel be
renewed. Now | felt how that great wrong
cha ia ,,,a ha had Innn eolalv Through love.
Ny soul hungered after love- and turned and
gnawed itself in its desperate craving can
understand how frendless people in their lone
Illness gather animals about them.
settled down TO my profession and worked
hard. Ny miseries passed away, and the acute
ness Of my feelings became numbed under the
influence of close study. Ambition awoke
within me- The more | succeeded the more
wished 10 succeed the further advanced on
the road the longer grew the road before me.
Aided by favorable circumstances, my progress
was faster than usual at the bar. AT the age
of thirty-fvc my practice was large. II ever
looked back to the love dream of my romantic
boyh0od il was as upon some childish toy. l
smiled as | rtcollected the old passion, the
soreness of heart the bitterness of spirit, the
wearincss of life. scarcely believed 1t could
all have been true; | wondered at my former
self--half regretted that Twas so utterly chang
ed. was not sure that had heart now. II
that mysterious organ still existed within me,
it slept quietly enough. To have awakened 1t
for n moment to have felt the wild tumuituous
struggle Of which had vague remembrance;
to have felt even one twinge Of the sharp pain,
this would have been luxury to me now. My
pulse was steady and regular the blood-me-
chanism beat strongly and calmly in my lett
side my head was cool and clear. had over
lived the age for that heart-fever. We come
through those diseases as children through
their childish complaints and our moral CEN
stitutions were the healthier that we had pass
ed through them and were rid OF them.
About this time determined to marry
was rich, had many friends, but had no
home: felt the lack of those domestic COM
forts and that social position which only mar
riage can give. This was very different feel
ing to that loneliness which had weighed me
down after my mothers death. II was partly
in the form of duty that | entertained TINS
idea of marriage, partly in the form OF sober,
selfish advantage. II was desirable to change
nv bachelor-life, which was becoming some
what wearisome. A mansion in the more CIV
lized quarter of the townwould be an improve
ment on my dusty chambers within Temple Bar
felt that il was incumbent on me to take my
stand in that station of life in which had been
called, to do as other men did, to exercise the
duties of hospitality, to cultivate the household
amenities to obey the laws of nature and So
ciety and, if it might be so, to rear children
around me, who should succeed TO my name
and fortune and fill my place after was gone
So | began to look round for a wife. MY friends
soon learned that was marrying man, ana
recommendations came to my ears oil So-anu-
ones daughter, Mammas smiled on me Win
increased favor, and melted their lovely on
sprinQ to display for me their virtues and ac-
I;,I, n
model training stables was put through her
PAGES for my beloof. Having decided on the
expedency Of marrying, had decided too on
the necessary qualifications for my wife. So
berly and quietly, as beseemed sensible man,
I had reasoned out the whole matter. Mode
rate beauty, a moderate fortune, the conven-
tiona accomplishments, good temper, goou
manner, and perfect good breeding. Surely
hundred such girls come from their nuseries
into the marriage market every year
Very opposite was this marriage project to
the foolish engagement of fifteen years ago
Then an insane fancy for a child like myself
had nearly hurried myself into the matrimo-
nial condition, for which both of us were yet
unripe. We were untitled for each other: IL
wouid have been sacrifice on both sides
How enthusiastically would Daisy have filled
the Office which now looked for in my wife
The woman of my choice was the very anti
nodes to her. was wiser slnce tnhO utnei
and now Judged of the holy institution of mar
riage by the light of that reason God had given
ma saw the wisdom and the expediency OF
the condition, and sought to adopt that eoi'
dition to my own particular requiem NJ
Then an impulsiye passion for an individual
had impeled me towards marriage now, hav-
ing syliogstically proved the desirableness OF
marriage, made deliberate search for the in
dividual who should be the fit means to the
accomplishment of that end. II is by the heart
only that man is misled let him use bis rea-
son and he is safe.
had professional business in the north oil
England, and arranged to stay for night on
my yay, at the seat Of friend in one OF tue
midland counties. OF course this friend had a
daughter. went to view this daughter as
should have gone TO look at the points OF a
horse which | thought might suit me, If had
wanted a horse | had seen Miss Dalton in
London, during the last season. She had oil
the requisite advantages which have men-
toned above, and to tbis ffyared person ], the
Grand Sejgnor, felt inclined at Length N throw
the handkerchief you'd sec her at home
and then make up my mind in the affirmative
or negative On the railway plato, N met az
old friend, no other than Lowther. He was II
deep mourning, and his black dress, togetoel
with the change which Time hau worSeu y.
him made me at first uncertain Of his indentity
However, ye soon recognized each other, shool
Z hands. and took our seats in the same carriage
Nv heart gave one throb and slept again.
D had not seen Lowther since his marriage. y
/. had broadened into portly country gentle
man, and his stolid countenance had gained
4 gravity which looked not unlike wisdom III
= deep voice had majestic roll In u, anu hi
. low speech delberation suggestive NJ We!