Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-05-04
WOODSTOCK VT., THURSDAY, MAY 4 1871.

ciliarou. My temper became more an
more violent, aud at length, in Que q
our frequent quarrcIs, | proposed sep
aration. Had serpent stuug her, sh
would not have ga2ed on it us she di
on me, Never shall | forget her look
SO deadly pale, as she came near m
and placed her hand on my arm.
"Philip," said she, "do you think
can survive such an act? Do you thinl
would cast stain upon my youngc
sisters? DO You think | would senc
my gray.haircd parents sorrowing tC
the grave, or bear the worlds sneern!
pity? Never! never' she exclaimed
81 will die first. PerSccute me, tortur,
me, inAict every roHNement of cruelty
upon me, if you will, but never will
consent to such proceeding; never
shall tie world call me other than youl
wife while we both shall live! Yol
came to me when was young and hap
py; you took me from a home where
had never known sorrow; you have
blighted the hopes Of my young life,
and now you seek to cast me away, like
a toy Of which you are tired"
recoied at myself; but | remained
unchanged.
We had been married four years, and
Fanny had greatly altered in the time.
The gay, light.heartcd girl had become
the calm, dignied woman. The world
looked upon us as examples Of matri
monial happiness, for we were both too
proud to bctray th. truth.
Of late, Fanny's manners had chang
ed she ceased to reply to my fits OF
passion, neither did she now come aud
seek to effect a reconciliation with me.
An icy calm reigned between us. This
existed for sometimes but, while |
wished it broken, my pride prenented
me from making the first advances.
Fain would | have had it dispelled by
any means which would not humliaIc
me; for with llmy unkind2css, ! really
loved my wife, regretted the violence OF
my temper, and lamcnted my want of
selt-control. But now-what should |
do! My pride forbade any advances on
my side, aud | feared that none would
come from hers.
AT length | saw that her pride was
aroused, and [ dreaded that she would
obey It's 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 suffered :;
but my fendish pride would not sue
cumb. Sometimes, when | had almost
conquered myself, and had determined
to effect reconciliation, when next we
met, cold bow from her, with her
stately mauner, would again awake the
demon within me, and my good resolu-
tous 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, commenced up
braidiug her about some trihe. She au.
swcred not, but continued her work---a
piece of delicate embroidery. Enraged
at her silence, | snatchcd it from her
hands, threw it on the carpet, and
placed my loot on it, The blood rushed
to her pale checks, her eyes flashed with
their former fire as she sprung to her
feet, aud bade me restore it TO her.
"Oh icicle,' replied, "are you melted
at last? Give it to you No, indeed. l
will teach you more respect for your
husband than you have lately shown.
See continued, as l picked it up
and tore it to fragments-"see, there is
the frippery which you think more wor-
thy of your attention than your hus
band
"Auything is more worthy of it thau
my husband at this momeut," she re
piled.
Say you SO? say yon SO, madam"
| exclaimed, grasping her by the arm,
and kissing the words through my teeth /;
then what say you TO separation?
You need not refuse l will have one {;
| will live no longer with such wife,
Do you consent Answer me i |
cried.
" AS you please she replied !"
''nothing can be worse than this"
"Then you consent at last" | eX-
claimed. "WelI, this very day'I will
commcnce arrangements"
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.