National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-12-01


suit him and instead Of speaking on
plainly, broodcd over lleen's faults, am
worried himself into fits of i'll humor Ant
what was worse than all, grew at lengtl
indifferent TO his home and wife, and sough
pleasantcr surroundings and more attrac
tive company abroad,
"Every man thus estranged from hi
ONE is in danger and Harding was M
exception TO this rule. Temptation lay
about his feet-and that commonest temp
tation of all, the elegantly fitted up billiard
and drinking saloon.
"They had been married just about as
long as you and John have been when the
sad catastrophe Of their lives took place
had called to spend the day with Helen,
and found her in her usual condition. OF
personal untidncss and disorder. When
her husband came home at dinner time, |
noticed with painful concern that he had
been drinking-not very freely, but Just
enough to show itself in captious al-humor.
Helen had not dressed for dinner, but
presented herself at the table without
even clean collar, and with an old faded
shawl drawn about her shoulders. She
looked an ching but attractive.
" saw her husbands eyes glance toward
her across the table with an expression
that chilled me. 1t was hard, angry,
determined expression. He was scarcely
civil to me, and snapped his wife sharply
two or three times during the meal. At
| its close, he left the room without a word,
and went up stairs.
" What's the matter with John p |
asked.
- Dear above knows replied Helen
He's been acting queer for good while
| can't imagine what's come over him.
"' Does he come home in this way
often 2 asked.
:" Yes, he's moody and disagreeable most
of tho time. I'm getting dreadfully wor-
ried about it,
:" As we talked we heard John moving
about with heavy FOOTBALLS in the rooms
above Presently he came down, and
stood for little while in the hall at the
foot Of the stairs as if in hesitation. Then
he went to the street door, passed out,
and shut it hard after him.
Helen caught her breath with a start,
and turned a little pale.
"WEat's the matter y I asked, see
ing the strangeness of her look.
"'I don't know she replied with a
choking voice, laying her hand at the same
time on her breast, but | feel as if some
thing dreadful were going to happen
"She got up from the table, and | drew
my arm around her too felt a sudden
depression Of spirits. We went slowly up
to her chamber, where we spent the after
noon and | then took upon myself the
Office of a friend, and talked seriously to
my cousin about her neglect of personal
limiting that her husbands es-
arrangement from his home, and altered
manner toward herself, might all spring
from that cause. She was a little angry
with me at first, b ! pressed the subject
home with a tcnder seriousness that did
the work of conviction and as evening
drew on, she dressed with care and neat
ness With a fresh ribbon tied in her hair,
and color little raised by mental excite
ment, she looked charming and lovable.
waited with interest to see what impress
sion she would make on her husband. He
could not help being charmed back into
the lover | was sure. But he did not
come home to tea. We waited for him
whole hour after the usual time, and then
,at down to the table alone but neither
If us could do more than sip little tea.
" | went home, soon after, with pres :
sure Of concern at my heart, for which |
,ould not account. All night dreamed
dreams. In the morning,
'oon after breakfast, ! ran over to see
Helen. found her in her room, sitting in
Ter night dress, the picture of despair.
"'What is it 2 asked eagerly. What ,
ho cd OF hanx
ike one not vet recovered from the shock {
If stunning blow.
"EDear cousin what is the matter I? ,
said r
81 now saw, by motion of her hand +,
hat it held, tightly clutched, a piece of
'aper She reached it to me- 1t was a o
etter, and read: :
"'We cannot live happily together, p
Helen. You are not what | believed my G
elf getting when we were marrled-not q
he sweet, levely, lovable girl that charmed +
ny fancy and won me from all Others. s
\ las for us both that it is so There has +
,een a shipwreck of two lives. Farewell @
shall never return Il
And this was all but it broke the -
cart of my poor cousin. 10 this day, il
hough nearly three years have passed, she
as never heard from her husband. {
81 saw her last week in the country II
ONE to which she has been taken by her G.
riends-a wreck both in mind and body. d
he was sitting in an upper room, from IL
be window of which could be seen a beau z
ful landscape She was neatly attred, n
nd a locket, containing her husbands Ii
icture, hung at her throat. Her head ri
-as drooped, and her eyes upon the floor, b
hen ! entered but she raised her eyes
uickly, and with kind of start | saw
momentary eager flush in her face, dying h
ut quickly, and leaving it inexpressibly II
,d :,
"'I thought it was John, she said ~ ~
lournfully. Why don't he come 2" e.
had to stop her, for Maggie broke out "
lddenly into n wild fit of sobbing and N,
-ying, which lasted for nearly a minute. .
" w hat ails you, dear p | asked, as she q,
egan to be little composed. ro
"Oh you have frightened me so, If c(
ohm should" &,
She cut short the sentence but her in
ightened face left Inc in no doubt as to 70
hat was in her thoughts. wv
She arose and walked about the room ia
an uncertain way for some moments, all
I'd then sat down again, drawing in her eff
'eath heavily. b,
" If young wives" ! remarked-beiev- ha
q that in her present state the truth was yo
le best thing to say" would take half cl,
le pains in making themselves personally tn
.tractive to their husbands, that they did tb
, charm their lovers, more of them would
nd the lover continued in the husband.
a man, think you, less admirer of wo in,