Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-05-12
A H UGH DOSE.
ny MARY FORMAN.

the DOMESTIC mlseries OF Lawrence Wills
Jams, who had given, fourteen years before
our story commences, his heart. hand and
honest love to the lady bearing his name.
Poor Lawrence His hopcs Of happiness
faded slowly year by year before the tyrant
who held his wife chained to her sofa or
bed from New Years till Christmas. He
was an upright, supplemented man, this
cousin of mine, about whom / write, yet
withal shrewd, and not easily imposed up
on, and when came to spend q few weeks
in his particularly uncomfortable residence
he opened bis heart to me.
We had been companions and ccnfidants
in childhood and youth, indeed until his
marriage took him from his native town so
could listen and understand.
You see how it is, Lizzie he said, one
norning,as he came into the library where
| was sitting; my home is not fit TO invite
you into
Why, Larry = said, surprised to see
his genial face So overcast, what doleful
face 2 . -... = ~.
And dolefnl heart, Lizziel For the
last ten years | have not had meal in
comfort. My children are neglected, nv
home wretched, ill-trained servants rule
TIM house, and were 1t not fOr-for-Oh,
Lizzie, what can d.! love Mary, aud
this is all that keeps me from absolutely
running away. i have thought Of getting
a busekeeper, but she resents that as
positive insult
But, Larry, If she is sick
He interrupted ME.
It pains me more than can express to
say 20, Lizzie, but Mary is not so sick as
she ancies. have no doubt that che suf-
teFai for who can be idle Cor weeks togeth-
er, ald not feel weak and miserable. But
she u never too ill for q party, RECEIVERS
rapidly when the opera is here, and can
attenc to tea.party with perfect ease, but
is too i'll to see to her house, her husband,
or herchildren.'
1t was all true. Five days residence in
the house gave me complete insight into
Mary'scharacter. She was a blonde, Who
10 her Gays OF girl-hOod was worry pretty. but
who IN Ter DOW neglected dress, with Ian
guld movements and sleepy, half opened
eyes, wa far from lovely.
Her nGural love for Incidence, overcome
by her bst and in the first years of their
married lie, had degenerated into a lazi~
ness that oOk advantage of every trifing
aliment tokeep up weeks Of invalid privi-
leges. Attimes shame would drive her
INTO trYngtO rectify some of the abuses of
winch her husband justly cymplained but
the over exetion at such times acting upon
o system Weakened by long spoils of inert
ness, produced pain and actual suffering,
that formed FIR her an excuse for letting
things CO. Ler children dirty and rag
gea. lett entirdy to the care Of servants.
were fast becoming vicious.
With heaVyheart watched nv cous.
ms course. lis love of order outraged
his parental feelings violated, his COM
plants met Wlshthreats or murmurings,he
was becoming deperate.
mary 8 IaEorlteweapOn was O fainting
it, and most gloomy appeal to his feel:
ings.
1 cannot live long; and when am gone
you will regret sucl cruelty she would
sigh, II he demonstrated and then hlod
OF tears, or faint, would bring his kind
heart to penitence and a promise yet to
get along
Another trial was the dear intimate
friend of the invalid, aMiss EIyira Jenkins
who reveDged herself or the bad taste that
lett her lonely maide, by violent abuse
OF the whole male sea Upon Mary che
laVIshed her pity and Sympathy, and did
not spare her tongue in ,pinious of Larry's
hard-hearted cruelty in expecting this sui,
ferlng angel to exert herslf.
My cousin and myself we're both cons
WINGED that if Miss Elvira were once re.
moved Mary's better sens and FEELINGS
might prompt her to q rd,rmation. St
last plan suggested itself to me, and |,
IN solemn confidence, impaired il n Lar.
ry.
Lizzie, be cried, aghast, Ills entir, " to
cruel
Harsh medicine must be used wbtn
mild ones fall said, resolutey.'
But, Lizzy, to hint at sub q possi-
WY F
.Do,, t she speak of it every oy p
He naceu No aid down the ,oom with
much agitation. Emily, stopping in front
of me, lie said:
r'll try it!'
The following morning I wac inMdrY's
room, removing from a stand the brI. Sfast
dishes, when Larry came in.
Coffee all cold, aud weak as watt,' he
said, IN sulky way, without any his
customary kind words to his wife.
Shall l make you cup of coffee I
inquired.
No. he answered roughly; You Wre
not invited here to wait on me. 1.-The
house were properly managed, there void
be coffee ut to drink served regularly n
the table,
o dear = whined Mary, Il am sure tn
servants do as well as can be expected, lef
so much to Themselves
They need not be left to themselves.'
oh, Larry, this eternal song is killing
me. You complain all the time. l am
sure it is not my fault that / am q poor,
suffering invalid
Here she began to grow pathetic
i wish Twas strong hearty woman
like Lizzie, and could make you comforta.
bic. 1 am sure love you too much to have
you uncomfortable If was able to prevent
it,
Here Larry would have sOftened, but
looked daggers at him.
Bear it for little while, Lawrence;
am sure it will not be long before die
l am so delicate
This was between sobs.
And these scenes wear on nv coustitu
tion--yoR will soon be rid of me-to the
grave-you will repent of it-but-I for
give you
And then the Mysteries came in.
Larry waited patiently till she was quie
again, and then with a perfection of actine
that would have made bis fortune on thC
stage, he stepped cody to the mirror anC
began to brush his hair.
Mary, said he, quietly; not turnine
his bead, do you really think you will dIe
soon p
With utter amazement ct the matter-oE
fact tone, Mary said. -
'Yesp
We'll, &c you have said q number o.
times, and ] have been thinking it ovel