Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-02-24

L
take. Her gaze wandered with little
touch Of regret, about her parlor. as she
remembered that in another hour she
would be its mistress no longer.
Everything had f,mIiar look, and
she had taken pride and pleasure in the
selection Of every piece Of furniture
Then she began to wonder what her
husbands feeling would be on entering
the house and finding her absent. and
with what sort OF emotion he would read
the letter on the drcssng-tabe which
would explain all. Would anger or re.
gret predominate in his heart? She was
very certain that the. possibility of her
taking such step as she was resolved ON
had never accured to him, although each
had sometimes threatened to leave the
other in moments of passion. And Mrs.
Grover wondered what course her husband
would take in the matter. Would he
seek to win her back If he would come
to her. and acknowledge all the great
wrongs he had done her, nd promise that
the future should atone for the past, aud
should find, after all, that he really did
love her, perhaps-she could not tell
she might be prevailed upon to return to
him. But it was not likely that Robert
Grover, with all his pride would DO any,
thing Of that kind. PROBABLY lie would
come home to his lonely dinner with just
as good an appetite as ever, and she did
not believe that the absence Of face
which had so long sat at the head of his
table would seriously impair the relish for
his coffee and his roast beef. In little
while, too, he would doubtless forget her !;
and after obtaining u divorce 70: deser-
ton, be would find some other woman
whose charms and graccs-But here
Mary Gryvor sprans suddenly to her feet
and put out her hands as though she
would avert some blow. She could not
understand tat sharp pain which pierced
her heart but her thoughts instinctiyely
turned away from the path she was pursu.
Ing.
Mrs. Grover had deceived herself with
those specious soFaistries of the heart
which always blind our moral vision.-
She really believed she was doing right
in thus leaving her husband, and she had
no doubt but that he was entirely respon-
sib'e fer the sorrow and disappointment
OF their married lie, and that to hus-
band who had been all that her heart
craved, she would have been the most
loving and devoted OF wives, going for
his sake to prison OF to death. Still, as
she walked up and down her room, Tor
she did not resume her seat again, her
memory crcpt over tho last three years,
and for the first time she could recall an
occasional instance Of passion or petu-
lance on her part Of which her conscience
would not quite acquit her. She had to
admit before th t tribunal that she had
not always been as iolbearng or as
thoughtful as was possible; but then
Ro5cr: had such a singing, az 5ra,ating
way Of talking that nobody but q saint
or an angel could stanl it. And yet who
couIl have believed the married life to
which she looked forward three years ago
with such hope anl faith would have
ended like this! How fair and sweet on
tt G. vines OF the future bossomed the
days Of her life, beautiful with youth,
fragrant with tenderness Alas alas
for the withcrcd flowers, for the blasted
fruits Alas! alas! for all the hope and
JOY Of Mary Growers iiic =.
"Oa, il Robert Grover had only been
Il different man, e better husband, it need
not have come to this!' She put her
hands up to her eyes, for the tears that
blindeai them were vrung from her heart,
and She could mot see, walking up aud
down her paylor. She dashed the drops
aside and sat down, for she was trembling
in every limb. S c had heard the front
door open; her brother had come earlier,
or the hours Fad gone faster than she ex-
pccted. lie eutess the sAtlng-room, re-
tlrus in moment. crosses the hall the
DIOR opens, and R9h3rt Grover stands in
the parlor.
Mrs. Grover grew very white little
hali-smotaerel exclamation broke i.om
her lips.
Are you so surprised TO see me, Mary
asked the young man, as he approached
his wife, What makes you iool, SO pale ?
IL don't know, R5bert," stamMered the
aaitated woman.
the merchant sat down by the side OF
his wife, ana looked at her fair fac, with
i new tenderness in his eyes. "Tae
truth is, Mary, got ;roa5Icl about you.
and tcok iEc morning train for that very
reason.
"What does it maan!' asked Mary
Grover, Hilns her hand to her forehead,
and making the inquiry more Of herself
than Of her husband, Tor the woman was
half bewildercd.
lie could not suspect half the grouad
that this question covered; but, inter-
oreting it according to his own knowlel se,
ne supposed that Mary was astorished at
the unusual tenderness in his manner
and, slipping his arms abou. her waist, he
said "lg means, Mary, that I've been
thinking many wise and tender thoughts
Of you since I've been away, andn
there was u little pause and little strus-
gle, for it cost the spirit Of Robert Grow.
er something to say it, but he did 1--we
felt that l wos harsh and unjust the
n.ornins before lett. was bothered
with my business, and did not know what
| was saying. But, Mary, I've made u
solemn resolution that | will try to be to
you somewhat Of all that l promised
more than three years ago. | mean to