Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-09-07

hearth; YOU choose to leave your chill
u our child-to the tender mercies of
If nurse-but such are the ways of tn,
world nowadays, and of course, shal
II not fall into the vulgar fault of making
e any complaint
ANDREW! Andrew! l haYe not de-
served thisr said Mrs. Etching, with :
!, passionate GESTURE.
BE calnl-be calmr
Il BE calm. Oh, you can well say b,
I calm,' when you drive me mad witt
your GOODNESS, your irony, your hatefh
tauntS-'
I Edith .t.... .r
well, well, 1 will be calm. hav,
; nothing to blame myself for, and will
4 not be veXedn i
you have nothing to blame yoursel
, for!' repeated Mr.. Etching, in deer
significant tone. Certainly not nova.
: days wife should think of consulting
. her husband before making up her mind
to go to ball, at all hazards.' iD
5 Il cannot endure this longer, sir, will
either patience or calmnessr ? said Edith
, passionately. Il do not deserve it!
would never take any important steI
without consulting you, were it not fol
, your GOODNESS, your sarcasm, your bitter
taunts This morning was on the point
of consulting-of asking you your per-
mission, but your forboding aspect, dis
heartened me. Then knew, or rather
felt, you loved me no longer, that you
were Indifferent whether l went or re-
: mained at home, and so held my peace.
You paralyZe my tongue with your
GOODNESS, and then you reproye me for
not speaking -.-..-. 81. ......
81 firmly believe, Edith, wife would
never hesitate to mention project to
her husband, of which she thought he
would approve. 1t is plain you know
my feelings, in regard to this step, and
that you cared not .tor me-
Would you have me satisfied with
your coldness, nor ask for, nor desire
ANYTHING more. cannot submit to such
tyranny, and aciH aotr
Mr.. Eiching's features contracted with
an almost fierce expression. His teeth
closed angrily, and glittering through
his curling lips. For nearly minute
he regarded Edith with his blazing eyes
in silence. Notwithstanding her beauty
and her tears, he was angry still.
Devotedly, passionately did he love
that beautiful, warm-hearted, capricious
wife. 1t was what he deemed her in
justice, in accusing him of coldness,
which had aroused his sentiment, for he
could not see the cause she had to con-
slider him Indifferent. 10
Proud, sensitive, reserved in his feel
ings, he had always concealed his an
guish on witnessing his wife's pleasure,
for he could never bring himself to be-
tray his jealousy of tile admiration she
every where received, and seemed so
much to love. This reserve she con-
strued into coldness. This misunder-
standing was the cause of their unhap-
piness, for while Edith laid all the blame
upon her husbands selfishness and want
of affection, he felt that her love of
pleasure, and her disregard for the
comforts of home, were the faults which
ruined her peace. Therefore loving her
as he did, he was wrought almost to
| fury by her reiterated charge of cold
| ness. After witnessing her tears for
some time in silence, he said in bitter
tone:
1T would be no wonder if l did not
lore you, since you care more for the ad-
miration of the world, than for my hap
piness. Your conduct is enough to drive
the love all out of my heart, and ii hasr
Edith uttered low moan, and fell
like dead thing to the floor. Mr..
Etching, appeared for moment, like
vne bcwilderad, at length, pale and
trembling he lifted the prone form of
his wife, and strove to restore her to
consciousness. Failing in this he sum-
moned her maid, consigned her to her
care and departed for meditation.
Edith, with fierce resistless energy,
had recovered from her swoon, spent an
hour in passionate weeping, and finely
consoled herself by thinking that Others
loved her. Her eyes were soon bright
and lustrOus as ever, her maid placed
another jewel on her arm, according to
her directions, and five minutes after,
Edith was on her way to the ball, re-
solved to win all the admiration in her
power.
Meanwhile, Andrew sat with his chin
resting on his palm, absorbed in thought.
The last hasty words which escaped his
lips awoke remorseful reflections, and
he felt, for the first time, with any de-
gree of force, that there was much fault
on his side, as well as on Editlr's.
'She did love me once,' thought he.
Sometimes l feel that she loves me still.
Perhaps if l was more frank and cordial
with her. She would be so with me, and
We would live more happily together. II
l must govern myself better; l will
never again allow myself to speak with
haste and passion, as have this evening,
/ will try kindness to wean her from
the designations of society, and this night
I will begin-I will set up for her, and
ask her forgiveness for my harsh and
hasty Words .-
Mr.. Etching certainly loved Edith with
her graceful person, her warm heart.
and he had good reason to feel that she
loved him still. She was one of those
creatures with whom love is necessity,
and when her husband threw off the
cold mantle of reserve, she was all affec-
ton and devotion. But still she loved
society better than he, and she was as
incapable of comprehending his indif-
ference to it, as he of appreciating her
fondness for balls and parties. She loved
her child the darling little Minnie, al
though she could willingly leave her to
participate in the pleasures of the world.
On the way to the festive scene, Edith
exchange but few words with Mr.. Va
hon. t...- s..'.. ~ -'-
The ballroom was filled with the
beauty and nobility of Spain. The Min
lister was cOnspicuOusly attentive to his
guests. He appeared desirous of render
ing them happy, and succeeded to 4
charm. I'D"
The lamps sent down their trembling
rays, reflected by shining crystal and
wreathing silver on myriad jems OF grace
and beauty. Music sent forth its
merry gladdening strains, and bounding
feet kept time to the joyous melody.
Evening shades deepened into midnight
gloom without, still the gay notes
were heard, and the unwearied revelers
continue their graceful evolutions.
Edith's form began to be overshadowed
by fatigue and fitful clouds of sadness, at
the reflection that she had left her hus-
band unhappy, and that she was not al
together blameless. In the graceful
whirl of the waltz, she became abstract
ed, and often she accompanied the mer-
riest music with sigh. % 80"
you are i'll, are You not? Mrs. Eich-
ing?' said Mr.. Manson, my carriage is |
at your service, if you desire to return
home.' ......... ~.5
Edith thanked him, with smile, but |
politely declined the offer. No sooner
had she done so, however, than she re-
GREETED her decision, and her melanchol-
ly returned with tenfOld force. Weary of
attempting to appear gay, she at length |
resolved to presume upon Mr.. MansOn's |
friendship, and ask the favor which he
before so kindly offered. @ ""if4
Not discovering Mr.. Manson any
where, but supposing he would soon
make his appearance, she proceeded to |
the dressing-room, and after putting on |
her wrappings, she endeavored again to
find him, but with no better success.
Impatient and unwilling to trouble her