Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-28

l tnlng remarked t1aJ L dul NOT H'llaDle. !
came near breaking my resolution to keep 81 |
lence. | was on the point of forgetting patience,
politcness, good breeding Difference to my SEN
iors, and half-adozen Other cardinal virtues, and
returning taunt for taunt Git is so hard to be |
good when you feel wickcd,) when Mrs Burney
suddenly turned her back upon me, and sailed |
out of the house.
What | regarded as a threat, proved fact. !
My husband and mother took passage for Eu-
rope on the day she had named. was alone, |
forsaken, widowed, and only twenty-three |
had sufficient faith in Arthur's natural goodness
of heart to believe that this movement was not
accomplished without some finesse on the part
of Mrs Burney. knew her faculty at misrep-
resentation, her skill in producing wrong i'm
pressons, her aptitude in shaping circumstances
to suit her purposes and did not wonder that
her pursuadable and plant son had at last YIELD
cd to her unconquerable and inexorable will.
How easily Arthur had given me up How
lightly he had thrown off his VOWS to love and
cherish How hollow and meaningless were
the love-words he had spoken There was gall
and wormwood in the reflections, and shed
bitter tears that night for the "might have been"
But my pride rescued me from long indulgence
in this womanly weakness. l had something to
do beside grieve for recreant husband. took
heart, and wept no more for Arthur Burney.
slept dreamed precisely as did before a rev.
erend doctor pronounced me wife. l really
believe that | enjoyed nap and good dinner
just as well as at any period in my life. didn't
write any dolorous rhymes or low-spirited sto-
ries, nor talk about broken hearts, nor have
Mysteries fits, the dyspepsia, or the "hypo." l
didn't lose an ounce of flesh and public opn-
ion rewarded this reasonable conduct by pro-
nouncing me a "heartless woman"
Just at this particular juncture, an invalid
grand-aunt, living in a distant city, made me an
offer, so mucl in unison with my feelings, that
| accepted it at once. was to be friend, ad-
wiser, sympathizer, nurse, all in one; and these
duties, imagined, would allow my thoughts
little time to run after my own troubles. Sis
ter Fannie promised to be good correspond
ent and, one week after Arthur and Mrs Bur-
ney had sailed, ! was in my new home making
the acquaintance of my eccentric and wealthy
relative.
She was whimsical and crotchety; but hap
pened to suit her, and she took a fancy to me.
My life was monotonous, but not unpleasant,
and was far from being unhappy with her.
do not deny that Arthur was much in my
thoughts but l regarded him as lost to me,
from the fact that | never received line Or
message from for the next two years. Fannie
was faithful ally, but she had nothing to tell
world and receive its bullets as best might
In this recognized the handiwork of Mrs Bur
ney. UninAuenced we would not have been SO
wholly divided.
Two years Mrs Burney and her son remained
abroad
Two years | spent in an nvalids chamber.
In the first month of the third year, my rela-
= tive died, and left me heress to her large, un-
encumbered fortune.
In the same month of the same year, my hus.
band and my husbands mother came back tc
their native city. impoverished by sunken ships
and broken banks, carrying light purses and
heavy hearts.
Was Fate idle Had Retribution slept?
, This was my thought as | embraced my sis.
ter, and listened to the strange story she told
me. Mrs Burney was desperate in her extrem-
ity-Arthur, passive and helpless. Friend;
passed by on the other side, and the great worlC
t wondered and went on.
:, This was my hour of triumph, and was sore
" tempted to be very human, and do as | had
, been done by. But my better angel whispered
words to which l gave ear would heap coal
= of fire on this naughty woman's head, who hat
come between me and Arthur, and made m.
r life almost burden to me. would help he
= who had turned my husbands heart against me
: and crucifed our happiness
= nuHlUleu my pTlue anu NTOle "
asking an interview. Twas excited and anxious
= feared he would not come-that time, distance
e and prejudice, had weaned him entirely from
the wife he had chosen.
2 was wrong. The scales were falling from
: his eyes. He returned with my messenger, to
= the first time taking an important step wthou
= the sanction of his mother. | had doubts apC
i fears; was feverish and restless; and wheI
he stood before me, my temples throbbed Sc
e wildly and my heart beat so tumultuousy, tina
e for moment | could not speak.
?, Were not those curious symptoms in wo
man who had foresworn all interest in the pant
d alooned species lost every particle of strong
/ mindedness had carried about with me for tn
= last two years; l forgot that was wronge'
and aggrieved woman, with something to for
L give, more to forget Why? Simply becaus
/ Arthur Burney met me in just the right way t
make me generous, magnanimous, and forbear
W ing disarm me of anger and GOODNESS, and sho'
y me that loved him better than anybody els
/ in the world But how it was done, shall leav
sr for those husbands to discover who never us
kindness and frank acknowledgements in dea
d ing with their wives.
1t Although credulous and easily influenced, Al
id thur was gentleman, and he made me tn
Gmende honorable. He did not seek to justil
at himself, or place the burden of blame where
he rlShty Delonged-upOn MRS DurneI' Dul sH
was his mother, and his unsel6shness was con
s. mendable. His pale, haggard face told the stor
x of his remorse and unhappiness.
n | saw that had not been blameless; and m
y, husband nobly forgave the sharp and bite
,e words had uttered in the heat of anger an
G. excitement.
1--WE shall be very poor, Ellen," he said "br
x you will help me conquer this fatal indolenc
ny | will be a man, and do a mans work. mi
ur be famous lawyer, yet"
1k Then l told my secret, With will not der
Mt "a litle triumph. His surprise was unboun
e, ed he was entirely Ignorant of the changes
er my fortunes.
"Your mother shall want for nothing" AZ
X. ded. "Her comfort shall be my care; but, a
a thur, there is a condition"
w He understood me at once.
ELLEN you are tire most magnanlmous W.
n man ever saw. | have not apPreci"'eu w
of You deserve a better husband J"
| saw tears in Arthurs eyes ana IN the ce
tainty that our new copartnership would be pro
nv perous and happy, had my reward. The rail
bow of promise spanned our future, and | vi
n content
elf do not often see Mrs Burney. We are vel
ON civil when we meet, and there Stems to be
m tacit understanding that the disagreeable pa
he shall not be alluded to. She does not see
a quite at ease in my society, and | can unde
stand the reason why. Her head is lofty, h
~ carriage as stately as ever but |, though {
i'd, not abuse it, have the advantage of nv hu