The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-04-04

tact. Juliette, busy about some SOW
ing, came towards me with Il radiant
face, the expression of perfect happi-
ness upon which was only compara-
bic with the entire cOntenlment with
which every look of her husband
was full. OF course had been pre-
pared for this, yet could not help
looking at that poor face, emaciated
by suffering, which nevertheless cX-
hIbited unalloyed satisfaction. He
followed with his eyes every move
mcnt of his wife, watching her with Il
sort of alteration. When, having
made Il long visit, | arose to depart,
he babe me goOd-by in feeble voice,
adding that he was very happy to be
sick.
Alas Juliettc often repeated to me
later that these six weeks were the
happest of her life.
Look at him." said she to me the
evening when the doctor, having
been able for the first time to leave
his bed, lay extended upon Il sofa
and asleep, after having tlalted gay
~ with lls,--"look ut him. Don't
you think that his sickness has re-
Juvenatcd him? What does DR.. Co.
ionge think? DO you wish for any
thing, my dear?n she continued see
ing the patient make Il Slight motion !;
and instantly she was by his side
lavishing her cares upon him and
murmuring Carcssing words in his
ear.
1t was half dark in the room;
was seated in u corner and the doc
tor, apparently forgetIul Of my pre-
sence, passed his hand tendcrly
through his wife's hair.
"My dear Julictte, my dearly he
loved, we have been very happy for
little while"
"IIave been ~ said she in Il tone of
gay reproach;
les, we have bccnW he replied
bitterly, and threw himself back with
groan.
Juliette was frightened and called
me. He became calm instantly. "Is
Madame Co!onge here still? | sup
posed you had gone, madame. Where
are you? come here | beg ofyou."
Every trace of agitation had disap-
pcared. lie chattcd playfully the
rest of the evening. some hours
later | was alone with him, Juliettc
having been obliged to go out to do
some errands. We spoke Of indillcr-
ent matters. The conversation was
languishing, when without any pre-
face he remarked that he was much
troubled about his wifc'3 health.
| was never more astOnished.
tried 10 make him notice what was
quite true, that she appeared in much
better health than on her arrival in
the country, and that she found her
self stronger than she had been before
for II long time.
"Gou may he sure" he persisted
"that her constitution could not en-
durc being always confined in this
chamber.n
at does not appear to have suffer
ed yet," | replied, with a little inn
patience, for something in his manner
lrritated me in spite Of myself.
"Could you not"-anL while speak
ing he avoided looking at me--"per-
suade her to go away for Il little while,
to visit her friends, in short to make
her understand that she ought not to
remain constantly with me?o
"Can you think Of it? advise
your wife to go aWey-to go and
amuse herself now that you are re-
covered or nearly so? ! encourage
her to leave the only place where, |
know, she is perfectly satisfied |"
as it 50? Can she not be content
ed? Can She not be happy without
ne? Heaven pity usW
JuIicttc returned just then. re-
turned home rather irritatel than
sOrTOwlul, and | remember to have
subjected my husband at dinner to a
long discourse (tO which he listened
with his usual paticnce) upon the
sellslness Of men in general and OF
husbands in particular. | ended 10y
repeating my conversation with the
doctor. He heard me attentively
asked me 10 repeat several phrases,
and to my great surprise made no
comment whatever. BY the desire c
my husband and the repeated en-
treaties of the doctor we passed near
" every evening at the chalet.
could not help observing that the re-
lations between DR.. and Madame
Fauvel changed, became cold and
constrained aS in the past. a barrier
of ice seemed again to have arisen be-
tween them. Juiette did not com
plain, but needed none of her con-
iidenccs to understand the situation,
and observe how little our reunions
r2semhled those which had taken
place in the same room but II few
minutes before.
One evening the Doctor had for the
first time tried to walk, and succeeded
in taking few steps with the mel p OF
my husband. We were preparing to
go, supposing him tired, when he
stopped US. Remain a few minutes
longer, Colcnge, | begyou; a moment,
madame | wish to tell you some
thing"
We humored his whim. He dropped
back in his chair, and covered his face
with his hands. We remaied silent,
few moments passed thus, his wife
approached him uneasily.
" You must leave me, Julette,n he
broke out all at once, looking at her
with u stern, cold expression. You
must go this very day"
"Go?" 7 cried
"Hush, Valentine!" The emphasis
my husband gave these words stopped
me ut once.
Juiette sobbed.
"Paul, dear Paul, let me stay with
you. Ah what have done now?
Let me stay until you are well, entire
ly we'll" She threw her arms around
him.
"1ake her away, madame Colcnge;
take away my poor wife. You love
her. / cOufide her to you. You know
also, do you not, how much ! love
her, and you will tell herr"
His face, flushed with fever, looked
frightfully.
at you love her'-I stopped sud-
denly, feeling the hand of Mitchell rest
ing on my shoulder; he was looking
fixedIy at DIR. Fauvel. / saw the
features of the latter relax, little by
little, and the burning redness, which
had for moment suifused his cheeks,
give place to mortal pallOr.
"My friend,"-he seemed to speak