Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-04-06

our frequent quarrels, l proposed a
separation. Had a serpent stung her,
she would not have gazed on it as she
did ON me- Never shall l forget her
look, so deathly pale, as she came near
me and placed her hand on my arm.
"Philip," she said, edo you think I
could survive such an actl Do you
think 1 would cast stain on my
younger sistersl Do you think 1 would
send my gray-haired parents sorrowing
to the grave, or bear the worlds sheer
ing pity Never. never." she exclaim-
ed. II will die first. Prosecute me,
torture me, infict every refinement Of
cruelty upon me, if you will, but never
will l consent to such proceeding !;
never shall the world call me other than
your wife while we both live You came
to me when was young and happy !;
you took me from home where l had
never known sorrow; you have blight
ed the hopes of my young life, and now
You seek to cast me away like toy of
which you are tired. "
Irecoiled at myself; but l remained
unchanged.
We had been married four years, and
Fanny had greatly altered in that time.
The gay, light-hearted girl had be-
come calm, dignified woman. The
world looked upon us as examples Of
matrimonial happiness, for We were
both too proud to betray the truth
OF late, Fanny's manners had chang
ed; she ceased to reply to my fits of
passion, neither did she now come and
seek reconciliation with me. An icy
calm reigned between u.s. This existed
for some time; but, while wished it
broken, my pride prevented me from
making the first advances. Fain
would have had it dispelled by any
means which would not have humil-
lated me; for with all my unkindness
l really loved my wife, regretted the
violence of my temper, and lamented
my want of self-control. But now
what should do? Ny pride forbade
any advances on my side, and l feared
that none would come from hers.
At length, | saw that her pride was
aroused, and / dreaded that she would
obey its dictates, even though it broke
her heart, for knew she still loved
me. Day by day her cheeks grew paler,
her form thinner, and | saw she suffer
ed but my fendish pride would not
succumb Sometimes, when [ had
almost conquered myself, and had de-
termined to effect a reconciliation when
next we met, cold bow from her, with
her stately manner, would again awake
the demon within me, and my good
resolutions were broken.
Thus matters stood, when one day |
entered the room where she was sitting,
and excited by wine, which had become
frequently the case, l commenced up
braiding her about some trife. She
answered not, but continued her work
"A piece of delicate embroidery. En-
ragged at her silence, l snatched it from
her hands, threw it on the carpet, and
placed my foot on it. The blood rush
ed to her pale cheeks, her eyes flashed
with their former fire as she sprung to
her feet, and babe me restore it to
her.
ooh, icicle, are you melted at last
Give it to you! No, indeed, | will
teach you more respect for your hus-
band than you have lately shown.
See," 1 continued, as | picked it up
and tore it to fragments, -''see, there
is the frippery which you think more
worthy Of your attention than your
husband"
Anything is more worthy of it than
my husband at this momena," she re-
piled
"Say you so ? say you so, madam 2"
/ exclaimed, grasping her by the arm,
and Kissing the words through my
teeth then what say You to a sepera-
ton? You need not refuse; | will have
one will live no longer with such a
wife Do You consent? Answer me :"
1 cried.
"As You please" she replied; mo
thing can be worse than this.
"Then you consent at lastf" L ex-
claimed. "Well this very day l will
commence arrangements"
"When you please, she replied, and
she left the room.
/ stood aghast at what had done.
l had proposed a separation, and she
had consented. I had said that on that
very day l would commence arrange
ments for the purpose, and could l
break my words Could [ go to her,
and beg her not to leave me, and that,
when l myself had proposed such a
step? My pride again forbade me,
and oheyed its dictates; but there
still remained secret hope within me
that, on cool reflection she herself
would refuse.
determined to consult a lawyer in
whose secrecy | could confide, and make
such arrangements as were absolutely
necessary. l did so, and patiently
awaited the result.