Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-15

Lieutenant's eutreaties at length scattered
ny scrupes, and resolved to 20.
My early life-my girIhood days--had
been passed in strict seclusion, and my hus-
bands quiet tastes had made my married
life almost as solitary in regard to society.
Is il 80 much Of wonder then that | was
almost carried away by the gay scenes2
The evening came, and in company with
DR.. Stanhope aud wife and Lieutenant Nor
ris | went to tho ball. The Lieutenant
was exceedingly attentive, and received
many attentions from others; still was i'll
at ease. Several times | caught myself
wondering If people would think me uu-
married or worse stil his wife; and once
or twice | fancied that the Lieutenant half
smothered the Mrs. when he introduced
me to his friends.
Have you enjoyed the evening, Mrs.
b. " he inquired as we walked homewards.
Oh, very much J" | replied with much
lervor.
81 hope nothing will keep you away
from such gatherings in future"
"That is more than can promise myself.
You know that Captain B. does not enjoy
balls"
But it is unfair to keep you from them.
Perhaps in his younger days he was more
favorable toward them.n
Perhaps So" replied but he isn'tan
old man yet"
That depends upon what comparisons
one might make" he replied.
saw, or fancied saw, in bis remark
an allusion to the disparity in our ages
but ! made no reply.
The next day brought my husband
" DO you care that | VENT" | asked
after / had told him how | had employed
my time.
." Not at ALL 1t is very lonesome here
even when am with you it must be in
tolerable when | am gone. am glad my
little girl enjoyed it,
There is to be a horseback party to-
morrow, - nervously toying with the buttons
Of his coat
is there ? Well 2"
"Sball we GOT" | asked.
q" 1t would oe hardly any pleasure for
me, us have been in the saddle for nearly
ten days"
Although 1 said nothing my face must
have expressed my disappointment, for he
very soon said
Do you wish to 20, Clara?
Very much.'
"Wculd you be satisfied to go without
me ?"
Hardly"
"Then suppose We stay at home. 1
should enjoy reading this volume with you
more than riding out, and he tossed q beau
tifully bound little volume in my lap.
At another time should have screamed
with delight for it was what had so much
Ionged to sea copy Of " Enoch Arden"
But now there came no response, no
word Of thanks from my lips. He seemed
disappointed but said nothing as he went
out.
was just in a mood to feel unkindly to.
ward every one, and most unkindly of all
toward my noble husband. What right
had he to make me conform to his tastes.
Then fell to thinking how cruel it was to
J bring me away from all my earlier friends
and bury me alive in that miserable, dull
7 town. Surely all men were not so reserved
| or so iogyish as he, and wondered if should
/, not have been more satisfied with one near
I er my own age Then found myself max
, ing comparisons, ever dangerous train of
thought for wife. Somehow, uppermost
3. in my mind during all this mental harrangue
was Lieutenant Morris, with his handsome
r face and congenial ways. blush now with
!, shame as | recall those thoughts, but was
angry and disappointed then, and Just in q
7 mood to think myself very much abused.
. must have behaved shamefully i'll that
+ day, for in the evening my husband came
: up to where | was sitting, and laying his
hand upon my shoulder said in very low
G calm voice;
. Clara, would not willingly give you
pain or deny you one pleasure l cannot
r ATTEND you tomorrow, but if you wish will
+ provide you an escort"
&" Oh, do !" | exclaimed, so eagerly that
| the calm look in his eyes grew painfully
penetrating as he fixed them sadly upon
my face.
went with the party, nomnally under
z. the escort Of Dr.. Stanhope and wife, but
: it was Lieutenant Morris who rode by my
side, who praised my riding, my figure aud
general appearance with more warmth than
z pleased even my Unsuitable vanity.
After that day my husband seemed diff
: lerent. He was as kind to me as ever,
even indulging me moro than formerly, but
r the old tenderness was gone. missed the
n stolen caress, the pet warmth-the thous-
II and little tendernesses that had before
made my life so sweet
+ Had any one given me a whispered hint
|, that my heart was growing disloyal to my
T. husband or that Lieutenant Morris sought
d my society with pleasure, should have re-
/ ceived the accusation with indignation. |
had no thought Of anything wrong. But
y then why was 1 so pleased with his society ?
c Why did | care 80 little whether it were he
or my husband who rode by my side; who
: walked with me, and seemed always ready
e to attend me? 1t was because | loved
b fiattery, and he filled my measure to intox-
: cation.
The summer had riponed into autumn,
), and autumn was fast merging into winter
a still, contrary to all our expectations, we
Q were yet detained at the station. "Mrs.
Stanhope had set her active brain to work
= conjuring up festivities for the winter, and
7 her programme was the promise Of oyster
suppers, card parties and balls enough to
c suit tue iyeliest taste and |, so far from
I being surfeiled with society and pleasure,
y was almost beside myself with the delight
e some privileges.
The old home delights of reading and
: conversation that had once been SO pleasing
to me were now disliked and neglected, ex-
J eept at intervals, when prudence and duty
I would assert their sway.
My husband never rebuked me, and but
: seldom accompanied me to those gay
i, scenes but had become so accustomed
to appearing without him that it scarcely
, mattered anything whether he attended me
I or not.
Where all this blind foolishness might
have led me to | shudder to think. But a
mercilul God interposed. With plying
eve He saw my folly and sent messenger
of grace-a sweet pledge of love-to sncath
me, it may be, from ruin. | was about to
become mother When the fact first be-
came known to me | was very angry and
E, mortified | had planned such gay win
1 ter. and TO be disappointed was so sore n