The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-02-01


ed her as Il sister, had she loved him.
But she cared nothing for hint How
dared site sell herself thus? ond accept
not only his wealth and position, but
his true noble affection as mere tribute
to her puerile attractions, without hav-
ing anything to give in her exchange
not even heart? What did che reckon
herself worth? and, good Heavens
how long the man was befooled!"
Mrs, Vivian paused, exhausted, and
tiled to seist thy opportunity. "urant-
ed that she was guilty of marrying him
without loving him." l said; consider
the great temptations offered, not by his
position chiefly, but by the ardor of his
own passion and at least she was free
from the greater guilt of loving any
oie else. All, I understand ybtir sheef,
Mrs. Vivian, but 1 repeat you wrong
Isabel. She may have been selfish,
weak, and vain, and have had her young
heart ttirned by fattery-her husbands |
fattery more than any other-but she
has II heart she feels deeply, passion
ately; she repents the past she loves
her husband now"
Mrs. Vivian shook her head scornful-
ly. "She deceives you, perhaps she de-
ceives herself. She repents the loss Of
his love, doubt not, because it involves
the loss of her power; she may, even,
in the spirit of coquetry, be anxious to
possess herself of it again. But love-
that Is, unselfsh affection-is beyond
lier! J think 1t probable she may dreau
the consequences of his alienation, but
she nee6 not be afraid my brother is
so chivalrous that, did he feel her
heavier burden than he does, he would
not shake her off at the expense of her
own humiliation"
nant to find words. Mrs. Vivian saw
this, and continued More gently ave
view this matter very differently, of
course; but you must remember have
this advantage over you-I have been q
witness of their married life-of his de-
votion, patience, and blindness, of her
cgregious vanity, exigence, and selfish
ness. But it is over now she can iiev-
er delude him again. From the mo-
ment he became convinced all his love
had been wasted-that there had never
been moments response to his disin-
tercsted allecticn-that, in fact, she had
married him for his money-the en-
chantment was dispelled. What he has
lsu nI lyn /
hear the tone of his voice now as when
he said to me: 'She nerer loved ME,
Caroline; she deceived ME FROM her first
kiss; : and can you wonder that my in
dignation is so strong?"
l was silent. | felt it would be vain
to protest.
II must 60" she said, rising, "We
will not quarrel over this iiiattcr-you
and )" and she held out her hand with
n smile.
"Only one word more" l said, retain
ing it. "If-you may admit it as q
possibility-if there should be hope OF
n reconciliation, you will not mar it?
mean you will not use your influence
against the wife?
" Impossibler' she said but my inn
) portunity succeeded in winning the
, promise from her,
When Mrs. Vivian came down stair:
to take her departure, Isabel was stand
ing in the hall waiting to bid her gues
farewell. Little Lilly was clinging t.
her side, timid, tender, and silent d
seemed her wont. The sight of the fail
mother and child thus liked together
seemed to touch Mrs. Vivian. Yielding
to what was evidently II sudden impulse
: she went up to Isabel and took her hand
"Good-by, Mrs. Lorimer. / canno
help feeling kind of pity for you, il
spite Of ydur conduct-in spite, too, OF
your contemptuous disclaimer" sh'
; added, smiling, for Isabel had WINGED q
the expression, ,and drawing up hergrace
: ful neck, looked haughtily down upol
the sympathizer. " Have you any idea,
u pursued Mrs. Vivian, after moment
l reflection, "Nhdt business it Is tin
: takes your husband to Glasgow at thi
: particular time? No? l hardly thinl
: Lorimer is right to leave you unwarne,
I that there is Il fearful chance of you
losing all that you value highest. Th
'' shock may be too much for you"
I feared an ebullition of passion fror
Il Isabel, but she had learned many lcc
S SON of self-control since l had know
u her as Il girl, and she only looked con
temptuous.
!. "My husbands absence constrains IN
i to bear his sisters insults in silence,
= she replied, with an air of dignity
>, "and l wish to know nothing that h
l. chooses too keep back from me. XII
f your Aunt, Lilly, and bid her good-by.
II And so parted the sisters.
1t was not entirely melancholy tin
that Isabel and passed together durir
ii the protracted absence of her HUSBAND
The country was so beautiful, and a
/, the elegant appliances Of enjOyhiel
10 which we had at command were
" pleasantly new to me, that L found
~ impossible to resist external influence
" Besides, | have a passion for childre
III and even had not, | must have lov'
Isabel's. Baby Bell was paragon
ye infantile vigor and beauty, and Lii
he had all the exquisite tenderness al
Iv sweetness of Il child destined to but br
ar probation. TO Isabel it was great !
ur lief to have some one with her to who
-. sho coull cnnR1o all the Incidents tall