North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-03-09

pers were nlleu Win It's praises, apa +the
beauties of the opera were SPOKEN of by every
one. f.-..a s.~ F..., s-.t..-s. s.s 8. "A
Not in the least doubling, however, that
Esther would be pleased to go to the opera,
as she bad more than once expressed a wish
to see and boar Norma, he secured tickets
and considered the matter settled.
"We are going to see Norma tonight" :"
said Huntley, in a gay voice, with a broad
smile on his face, as he sat down beside
Esther and took her hand. ~1 20. ri.
"We are ?" 1. g.
The tone and look with which this was
said, chilled the warm feelings of the young
man. II am at least" he said, in changed
voice. a- - ''|
"And am not" as promptly and much
more decidedly, replied Esther. a-
"Oh, yes, you are" This was said with a
suddenly assumed, half playful yet earnest
,rfanner. 81 have bought tickets, and we
will 90 to night"
''The least you could have done was to
ask me before you bought the tickets" repli-
ed Esther. 81 wish to 60 somewhere else
tonight"
"But as have the tickets now, you will
60, of course. Tomorrow night will do as
we'll for visit"
81 wish to make it to night"
"Esther, you are unreasonable.'
Huntley knit his brow and compressed Ahis
lips.
ave are quite even then believe l am
your wife, not your slave in command"
There was something cutting in the
way :his was said that Huntley could not
bear it. Without a word he arose, and TAX
ing his hat, he left the house. In fever OF
excitement he walked the street for an hour
and half, and then, scarcely rafectsng upon
| what he did, went to the opera. But the
music was discord in his ears, and he lef;
before the performance was half over.
The moment Esther heard the street door
close npon her husband, she arose and went
| from the room where she was sitting, with
Ter aunt, moving erect and with firm step.
Mrs. Carlisle did not see her for two hours.
The tea bell rang, but she did not come
/ down from her chamber, where, as her aunt
supposed, sic was tterIy repenting what
she had done. In this, however. she was
mistaken, as was proved when, on joining ber
in her room for the purpose of consoling he:
the conversation with which our story opens
took place. -........-......- -..-..., g.. p
Yhqn the fit. of weeping with which Es.
theF received The reproof her aunt felt called
! Ipon to give had slbsided. Mrs. Carlisle said
IN solemn and most impressive manner
"What has occurred this evening may
prove the saddest event of your whole liz
No matter whose fault, the consequences
that follow may be alike disastrous to the
happiness Of both, Are you Prepared thus
early fora sundcrng of the, sacred bonds
that have uni.ed you 3 And yet. even this
may follow. It has followed with others
and Tuay follow with you. Oh! the conse-
quenccs ola frss quarrel ! Who can .antjci-
pate them ?
The voice of Mrs. Carlisle. iIrelmnbIed, and
then she sunk with sob. Her manner
more than her words startled Esther.
What do you mean, aunt % she said.
| But her aunt was too much disturbed to
speak for some minutes.
Esther" !she said at length, speaking
in a voice that still tremblcd, 81 know girl,
who, at your age, married an excellent but
proud young man-like Edward, the lover
yielded, too, and when, as the husband: he
began to be a little less considerate and to act
as if he had will Of his own, his wife set
herself against him just as you have against
Edward. This chafted him, although he
strove to conceal his feelings. But in an un
guarded moment, when his wife was more
than usually self willQd, quarrel of no more
serious character than the one that has oc
CURED this evening between you and Edward
took place. They parted in anger as you
parted, and"
The aunt was unable for some time 70 con-
troll her voice sufficiently to finish the SEN
tence. ...
"And never met again !" she at length said !,
with such visible emotions as betrayed more
than she had wish to reveal.
"Never met again!' CALCULATED Esther, a
su 1den fear trembling through her heart AMI
causing her cheek to grow pale.
"Days passed, but no word came from the
unhappy wanderer from home and love. A
| week, but still all was silence and mystery.
| At the end of that time. letter was received
from neighboring city which brought intell-
cence to his friends that he was there, and
lying dangerously i'll. By the next convey
ance his almost frantic wife started tor the
purpose of joining him. Alas she was too
late. When she stood beside the bed upon
which he lay, she looked upon the inanlmlate
form of her husband. Death had been there
T haVn