The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-01-25

command gave way; she sunk on her
knees by the childs couch, and stifled
sobs shook her from head to foot. Iwent
gently up to her and strolicd the bowed
head without speaking. Ny heart bled
for her; felt how bitter was the long
suppressed anguish that was now find
ing vent.
"Comc, dear child" said, "let us
sit down in this window-seat and talk
your troubles over. L am sure they are
not irremediable.n
She lifted her wet pale face with a
/, bitter smile. 81 have but one trouble,
and you have discovered it already-my
husband docs not love mel"
: / saw she watched me fcverishly, in
half hope of a disclaimer, but 1 could
not give it.
"There is some quarrel between you,"
| began soothingly-" some temporary y
, alienation;' but she interrupted me
decisively.
" Not so, Aunt Sarah-not so! 1t is
confirmed Indifference, the result, he
| would tell you, of my own heartlcssness
hopeless Indifference, for it is the hard
cold Of former he I"
"Poor Isabel !" ! said, "and you love
him now?"
She stopped down and kissed Lilly
+ with concentrated passion. 81 would
, give this child Of my heart to win back
my husband,n was the answer. I"
would consent to lay her in her grave, if
I over that grave he would look as he
used to look, and speak to me as he
, once spoke"
But [ must not go over every spoken
, word, but tell in brief what Isabel told
: me in vehement detail. 1t may be
other young wives may learn caution
= from it.
She had married with very superb
cial knowledge of her husbands char
, acter, after a brief acquaintance. lie
courted her from position considerably
higher than her own, which dazzled her
=, ambition, added to which he was pas
sionately in love, and worshipped at
! her f0otstool. 1t was n dangerous in
ccnse he offered. Isabel had many fine
qualities, but her education had been
. unfortunate she had always been great
, ly tlattercd and INDUCED in her own
circle, and she took her lovers devotion
as matter of course, accepting as her
right I'll his lavish libcrality, and seem
ing take it for granted that nothing
u more was required of her than to be the
',rr,p pf I,n tvii
, Worse than all, she married without
= love, yet deceiving Mr.. Lorimer with
- the impression that she loved him. ]
{ rather think she deceived herself, saying
10 she had great respect for him that
she loved him, she supposed, rs much
: as she could love any man. Poor girl,
= vain, selfish, and ignorant Of the world,
, she was weak enough to estimate her
|, surrender at the exaggerated price her
II lover put upon it, and to believe tho
/ glamour would last!
But men soon wake up from these il
> lusions; ii is only for Il time that hus
u band can deceive himself that he i,
t loved, unless the wife be consummatC
= hypocritc; or he an uXorious fool. Mr.
Lorimer continued to adore his beanti,
ful young wife, until the first blindncs,
tt of passion having cleared away, he be.
U unrcsponsivc.
- "You cannot believe" said Isabel
+, "with what insane arrogance l acted
4 To be the supreme consideration, fol
will IA tal- l., of l,i t-n.
= what | expected and claimed, and il
! never occurred to me to feel grateful foi
: his indulgence to wonder ut his forbcar
y ancc; moreover, | did not love him
- then and began TO weary Of his attcn
. tions, to siclicn of his perpetual com
-. panionship. | suppose | scarcely tried
~ to hide my impaticnce, for | was so be
- sottcd that believed he must ulWay.
:, love me.
~ "About this time, his sister, Mrs
" Vivian came first to stay with us, anG
n | doubt not She stimulated her broth
=, cr's awakening. Besides, Maurice is {
proud man, with sufficient sense o.
his own excellence and eligibility; anC
- it was impossible for him, when he be
- gan to reflect, not to consider how
= much he had bestowed upon me, ant
- that had not even paid him with my
- love! don't know how it was | Wa'
f., blind to the gradual change in my hus
bands manner, oblivious Of the inllu
N cncc which was working against m!
.r happiness; but it was so. 1t was oye
Lilly's cradle that | first awokc to
! consciousness of my position. 1t hat
- been Il great Disappointment to both o
Us that she was girl, to me, | think
! especially. One day | was boWailin:
u her sex very weakly, and felt surprise,
i that he did not join in the lamentation
y care not you disappointed too:'
l. asked.
~ "'Ycs,' he said co.dIy; 'but my di,
!, appointment is irrctricvable, and date
;, further back. Try and love your baby
- Isabel, if you cam
"rhc,c words fell upon me like
ct thunder-bolt; suddenly ,awmy whol
,r conduct in its true light, and in all il
H. consequences; but 1T was too late! FroI
AZ the moment | was forced to realize tn
h idea that he had ceased to love me,
n received q vivid recollection ofhis loy'
lv | came down from my scclusion to fin
~ him, as you see him now, coldly col
II sidpratp. punCtiliOu,ly attentive; bJ