The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-11-15
MISCELLANY.
From the Saturday Eve. Post
2 a TT G d and Rec conciIe d.
\ WIfE'a STORY.
HY MARY j. ALLEN &.

We had quarrolcd, my husband and I.
II WIS not noisy or II worIv quarrel,
only sentence on my side, Il sharp, bit
ter retort ON his; then he went ont to
bis daily work, closing the door behind
him with unnecessary cner1r: while
went about my household duties with n
sore heart.
What had come over John TO change
him 50 was the question that put to
myself again and again but there was
never satisfactory answer. | thought
knew his disposition well. High tenn
pcrcd he certainly was but there were
no petty mcannesscs in his nature. lie
never found fault with my domestic ar
rangements, never iretted or scodcd about
trllcs-hr was too manly for that. But
within the last three or four weeks he
had got into Il way watching me strange
", AS if he suspected something wrong,
and sometimes spoke harshly and abrupt
/ ly, when could not, for my life. recall
anything that bad said or done to Of
/ fend him,
Sitting down that afternoon with my
sewing, on the broad stone step of our
vine wreathcd and vine-shaded back door.
/ pondered the matter seriously ms | had
done twenty times before. Was John
Jealous That could not be, for besides
IL few of the ncighhoring women with
their husbands and children, | knew no
one in the city, excepting the minister Of
the church which we both attended. and
Johns employer, an old time friend, Will
son Clark, who had known us both in
the village where we were born, and had
been Johns groomsman when we were
married No, ii was net jealousy.
Was my husband contracting taste
for strong drink That would be worse
than all; but there was no danger John
was a member OF II Temperance Society,
/ pledged to toioI abstinence As boy and
man he had aIWRs been bitterly opposed
to every !orm OF dramirinking. Was he
sick Had he met with trouble in his
business The last seemed the only ra-
tional supposition, and the more thought
of it, the more probable it appeared that
something Of this kind was the cause e
his altered manner. Dear Johnl my
true, faithful husband My heart snotc
me for the miserable doubts and sus2ic-
ions ] had been entertaining.
At this instant Il piercing, childish
scream reached my ear, and my next
neighbors little girl came flying toward
me.
"Oh! Mrs. Carson, please come quick.
Mamma is going to die"
Not little frightened, / only paused
long enough TO snatch up my bonnet and
close the door before hurrying TO Mrs
Fry's assistance. She was in violent
spasms which lasted all the afternoon :;
and it was nearly dark when at last |
found in opportunity TO leave her and re-
surn to my own house.
My husband was there when / went
in, walking thr floor like Il Gagged lion.
"Oh, John, I'm so sorry that | could
not be here TO get supper earlier. Poor
Mrs. Fry has been in such dreadful
way"
The expression OF bis face stopped me,
"Never mind the supper" he said,
coldly. 81 have something to say to
you"
"What is it, DEAR" ! asked going
nearer and putting my arm about his
neck.
He shook me off, savagey.
"rm tired of this hypocrisy"
"Hypocrisy Oh, John !"
lie looked at me with little gesture
of scorn and contempt
"That pretty, innocent air is quite
thrown away on me- I've The clearest
proof now OF what onl surmi,ed before.
and it is better that we should part.
have made deed of this place transfer
ring it to you. | would not own it now
for a kingdom And after tomorrow
you can receive your lover here whenever
you like, without let or hindrance from
me-"
understood at last lie, my husband
whom | had almost worhipped, accused
Inc of dshonor. | felt the hot blood
tinging like fire along my veins, burning
in my cheeks, flaming in my eyes. A
grear wave Of hatred swept out all the
love in my heart as looked at him.