The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-11-01

wished now | had proposed to Jane,
aud married her; | fancied we should
have made happier couple than Mr..
and Mrs. Forbes. She wrote now
and then; she never complained, but
she never once said. l pm happy.
She praised Mr.. Forbes and his
house, aud spoke Of her pc.
sitiOn and her comforts ~ OF
herself, never. The theme that most
frequently REQUIRED IN her let
ters was Arthur, Mr. Forbes little
boy She recorded his sayings aud
d0ings with evident fondness, and l
began 10 think that young BRIDE
whose mind was so mnch ehgrossed
by her husbands child could not be a
very happy one, | had received a
general invitation to Mr.. Forbes
house, though Jane did not once re-
mind me Of it, / resolved to visit the
Elms. II would be a change besides,
/ wanted to see why Jane was not
happy | am bound to say that
though my visit was unexpected, Mr..
Forbes received me very cordially.
Jane will be delighted to see you,
/ he said she is out with my little
boy"
Jane came in presently with sick
| ly peeyish-lookiDg little fellow,-the
wonderful Arthur, about whom she
had had so much to write. She col
ored on seeing me, but delight in her
face saw net. If / could have be-
lieved IL of Jane, | should have
thought she was sorry ! had come.
She stammered welcome, however,
but, as | soon perceived, Stunned
every opportunity of remaining alone
with me. Once l caught her on the
staircase. nI
9 Well, Jane, are you happy p I
whispered.
20, quite happy" she replied, air
| lily. " Is not the Films charming
| placer" And she made her escape.
Yes, the Elms was a charming
| place; a brown old house, spacious
and convenient, with gay flower
garden around it, and beyond this a
region of ancient elm trees scattered
on a grassy slope. Truly, the mis-
tress OF this pleasant abode and WELL
ordered household, the wife of that
handsome agreeable gentleman, ought
TO have been a happy woman; but
she was not. ] saw il al once, Jane
had grown thin and pale. and looked
sad and careworn. Nor did Mr..
| Forbes look happy man. / did not
like the rigid lines which a few
months had made in his handsome
face. He was very kind to his wife,
and strictly polite; but of fondness,
Of love, of tenderness,l saw no sign.
He kept these for his child, who was
certainly one Of the most ill-tempered
little three year-Old wretches | had
ever seen. Yet Jane seemed to rival
her husband in doting affection for
that little monkey, who began our ac
quaintance by making faces at me,
aud followed il up biting my leg be
fore dinner. lie was a great suffer
err, apologetically said his father.
| thought | was the sufferer in this
particular instance, but j bore the
pain---I have the mark to this day
with that heroism which politeness
alone can inspire. / did nOt intend
paying Mr.. Forbes and his wife II long
visit but our Intentions have little
power over the course Of events. That
same evening | took a walk with Mr..
Forbes, stumbled over the root Of a
tree, and sprained my ankle. 1t was
very provoking My sprain was one
of the worst; the doctor who was called
in ordered rest--total rest, he said. In
short was condemned 10 spend many
days, some weeks, perhaps, ut the
Elms. Mr.. Forbes behaved unexeep-
tionally; he was cordial, he was kind,
/ ha mae Ia "a bta md II ta'sa
on seeing me in severe pain, became
once more my dear little Jane Of old
times. She was good deal with me
ri mean alone with, me. Her ohus-
band had business in London. and
went there daily; aud whilst Il lay
stretched ON a sofa in the parlor, J ane
sat and worked and Watched Arthur
and his maid out in the garden.
jane / said to heroine day, after
biding my time, why are you not
happy ?" 394 5..s. iia.oaI !. ia .
Jane became crimson, and ] saw her
little fingers tremble as she vainly
tried to thread her lneedleyaC
I--I am very happy she STAN
mered. RI ~" H9.@.i..,... ..
No, Jane, you are not, neither is
Mr.. Forbes. ! do not want to ned
die between you; but yet, Jane, if a
word of sound, sensible advice from
cousin William would help 10 set
matters right, why Tot give yourself
the chance, and him the pleasure, of
that word?na Her color came and
went; her work dropped on her lap;
she clasped her hands and said:iof 8
! "Oh, if you could--ifi You could
tell inc something 4adyiye me-, II mean.
Oh, cousin William, if you could
make my husband like me ll'tol lai
:" / always suspected this,p / re
/ piled rather rueiully; but, child, Il
must know why ne married you Do
You know?9 H'a
"Oh, yes" she answered, in a very
| nnnulinr tnnn. Nnnd tLnt- ia inat tla