The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-05-02
looks cheerful and smilinc."

looks cheerful and smiling'
The next morning when Mr.. Ba}ne
entered lis wife's room, he found he
sitting i'll neat morning robe. Thoug'
somewhat pale, her complexion had TIL
pure clear tint that was natural to it
willie Der wealth of chestnut hair looked
like satin in its sheen and smoJthness
But Mr.. Barnes seemed to be oblivi
ous to the great change that this made
i'll her appearance
"How are you feeling today, my
love 2" he said, in sepuIchral tones
heaving deep sigh, and regarding .Lel
with an air of mourntul interest.
"NIuch better and stronger, thank
you,' replies Mrs. Barnes, frigidly.
Are you, indeed 1t is strange how
tlattering some diseases are! All! ! well
it's what We must all expect to come to.
1t will always be consolation to me 10
reflect that I've tried to be kind hus-
band to you. [ came in to tell ydse that
[ bought that lot yesterday in Forest
Hill Cemetery; and now, if you will
tell me in what part of it you would
prefer to be inferred, | will See thai
your wishes are carried out to the letter. -
Mrs. Barnes eyes flashed, and her
checks famed.
"I'm not dead vt, Mr.. Barnes Nor,
you will be sorry to learn, have [ any
intention of dying at present. [ must
say that your heartlesS Indifference to
my feelings is scanlalous-pfrfectiy
scandalous, sir p
Why, Ellen, how can you talk so Z?
It was only yesterday that you was be-
moaning your hard fate i'll being obliged
to be buried in the old graveyard. |
have been to this trouble and expense
solely to please you. And not only
this, but [ engaged Mr.. Marble to sketch
a design fol a monument, in order that
you may be able to mention any altera-
.ion or improvement that may suggest
itself to you'
Really, Mr.. Barnes. Perhaps you
have selected my successor That
ought to be the next thing on the pro
gramme.
"Well, no, my love. I haven't got
so far as that yet. Still, if you have
any suggestion to make, | should be
glad to hear it,
Il have only this to say, Nr. Barnes,
that YOU and a certain young lady, who
shall be pameIess, had better wait awhile
before ION form plans and indulge in
hopes that may end III disappointment.
Mrs. Barnes, in imagination, had often
contemplated her dying but it had
always been surrounded by weeping
friends, the most disconsolate Of which
was her husband, whose affection she
had never any reason to doubt until
now. But the idea of her death being
relief, Or even but slightly mourned, put
quite another phase on it.
As soon as she was alone, she indulged
in the feminine luxury OF a hearty cry.
and felt better for it.
Her next move was to summon cook,
and on learning that Laura had given
out the dinner, she countermanded every
direction, bidding her come to her for
orders in future. This produced an
other ludicrous change-in her feeling for
the betterAand she Immediately set a.
bout cleariHShe drawers Of her bureau,
and re-arran%9g her ward, ODE, and with
an energy that certainly did not seem
to indicate any danger of her Immediate
Mrs. Barnes would gladly have gone
lown stairs that evening but as moth
ng was said that could give her any
oretence for so doing, she was obliged
o keep her room. There she sat, with
he door leading into the ball ajar, listen
ug, with no very enyiable feelings, to
he hum of conversation below; inward
y wondering "what on earth they could |
ind to talk about" and "what her hus-
oand could see that was so agreeable in
Laura Brown"
The next morning, to Mrs. Barnes
great relief, Laura was summoned home
~ the sudden illness of her sister.
Laura room was opposite her own, |
separated only by a wide hall. A few
minutes after she had gone, as Mrs.
Barnes stood upon the threshold of her
ocm, she spied folded billet on the
lall floor, about midway between the
wo doors, and picked it up. It was in
Ter husbands handwriting, and ran
hus: ...st. ''@@
My Own DARLING:- am so weary of
he jealous eyes that are ever following us
o impatient for the time when I can tell you,
ther than by words, how dear you are to me.
will not fail to be at the depot; SO do not dis
ppoint me, ~ Your own affectionate
@s- T. ~ @#-=@% JAMES"
The blood suddenly receded to her
eart, and then made her almost giddy
" its violent rush haa1aa =