Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-11-21

The hand - sooa 70 b bic 0Wa. no sos
eoula dosbs his love Cor the fais vsoAa
sho Stood before him.
They had spoken Of many subjects. when
he said, suddenly. :Mr. Pslner hes. told
me a yenr generous wishes. Misisa. .:sieh
segard 70 money. / cannot seenseas7 to
this. In time. 1 may prove kss entirely
I diResad vsalsh when my sow ives
made 10 you- Il h true. NO must hass
ls<.isA.,l..xsr 5seossI- I-eould so6ss yos Q
hone, bot I viii uin my way to fortune
jet"
He lifted his young. noble head as he
spoke, tossing the dark curls from such =
frank. manly face. 90 full Of brave. bright
resolution, that Miriam wondered iu her
heart how any one could look into his
eyes and suspect him Of one merecnary
thought Or desire.
She said nothing in answer TO his i'm
pc,uous speech she only smiled. and
nestled her hand into his. She vas not
earessing woman-rather coy IN her sweet
maidenly dignity but xhcre she gave
levc and confidence. she gave them fully
and freely.
The days of betrothal sped rapidly
During the day Wilton stock at his desk.
lingering over massive ledgers. and dream
ing of future happiness, and Miriam Sc
Iected her house aud furnished it, aud
kept dressmakers. seams,ress and milliners
busy. She had no objection to her step
fathers wish to have house and furniture
settled upon herself. but was resolute about
the remainder of her large fortune being
left subject to the control Of her future
husband.
Eusy days were followed BY happy even
ings. The young people were favorites
in society. and friends would insist upon
social festivities to celebrate the bctrothal.
The quiet home evenings were pleasant be-
yond these. when two loving hearts learn
ed TO re.d each other. while Wilton loved
more deeply every day. Miriam was Civ
, lug such respect to his worth and manli'
ness as made her future look brighter ev-
cry day.
, But the days Of bctrothal were short
A gay wedding. happy tour. and the
young people came home to settle down
; iu the handsome new house as quiet mar.
} ricd folks.
Two years Of happiness followed. vii
ton was rapidly rising in the esteem Of bus
: mess men-having purchased his position
, Of junior partner in the frm Of Myers 4
. Co.. at Miriam's ear - W But
: although attentive tos L. .ssas ssas'.s en- p
Miriam % found f ffftisDe limp ever Wiling es,
cort to party. ball or opera, and the home
: evenings were given to music. or read
: ings, or such bright intellectual intercourse
: as had had its power Of mutual attraction
: before their marriage.
o There were sage people who shook thci'
$ heads over the young wife's extravaganza
8 but Wilton seemed most happy when she
n was gratifying some new whim or desire
, and she had never known the need fol
: economy. Money had always been at he,
! command, and there was no new restrain
upon her expenditure. For fine dress she
= cared but little. though she was tasteful
and her costumes were always rich and ap
y propriatc; but she was generous and char
liable. loved to collect exquisite trifes o
O art around her. patronized rising artists
y and found no difficulty in exhausting he
| uDerai Income edcu year.
It vas during the third year Of her mar
: ried life Miriam began to find cloud upo'
the former brigh. happiness of her life -
o Wilton was changed In these three word
: the loving heart ofthe young wife sunmc,
: up all her forebodings. He had been tn
sunlight Of her life. loving. tender
thoug ghtful; bu, it became evident to he
c that some absorbing interest was gradu
j ally winning him more and more from he
q side.
J. Evening after evening he left her. o
t one pretext or another. oftcntimcs s.ayin
away from her till long after midnight
j His sleep became restless and broken, IN
some absorbing care kept his face pale, b
K eyes clouded, his manners grave. Thcr
n was no uukindness to complain of. Mir
Z am met ever a tender caress, lovin
" word but she went alone If she sougl
:, society; she missed the pleasant home II
,e tercourse; and a strange. duh fear crcl
,- into her heart. Wilton was becomin
IN miscrly.
He denied her nothing. but would SOM
he times sigh heavily if she challenged h
aOuHSttVu " Sotiic uSu OEcss VI oftAauneu
:" aud it was evidcn, that he was curtailin
ar his personal expenses to the merest ncce
sites. Too proud to complain. Mira
h suffered silently. praying that she mig
en- not learn to despisc her husband as me
e. money making machine. At first. she G.
IT, deavored to win his confidence. but
ru kindly cvaaed her inquiries. and she ma
" no further cfoTts.
D But her home grew disiaseful. missil
IN the eompanionship that had made the hou
lie there fy SO swiftly. She had never {,
L. household cares. trusting everything to
= experienced hcuse-keeper. She had
children to waken mother love and Cal
70. so she plunged into fashionable follics. .
q tried to forge. her loueli-e... Never b
: = her toilets teen chosen with more fau
less taste never had her beauty be
o,- more marked than it now became; q
es- she snsgh. for excitement as she had q.
ed er done in The ira happy years Of |
marriage.
al And while Mrs Seymour was thus ses
IL. ing for happiness abroad that could !
tho be found a. homo. her husbands &
bur grew daily paler and thinner. and be
re came more aud more absorbed By b.
ew ness cares Ole year more passed. a
the hearts that had been SO firmly bou
me together seemed to Be drifting entir
a's apart
.p- Miriam vas sitting adIy in her dr'
cii ;ng. room enc eysnipS, waiting fos the