The Van Buren press., 1873-02-11

bOtn were 10 Dlaius, DuS suo uoss,
l replied. John Harding, like your
husband, was one Of the neatest and most
orderly of men Anything untdy in his
home or in the person of his wife, annoy
ed and often put him cut Of humor; but
he did not, ns ks should have done, speak
plainly to his wife. and let her see exact
" how he felt. and Ia what he should
like change Ii he had done SO, Helen
would have tried--as every good wife
should--to conform herself more to his
tastes and wishes But he was a silent
moody sort OF q man when things did
not go just to suit him, and, instead OF
speaking ont plainly, brooded over Hell
ems faults and worried himself into tits
of i'll humor And what was worse than
all. grew indifferent to his home and wife,
and sought pleasantsr srrrsundings and
more attractive company abroad.
Every man thus estraaged from his
home is in danger, and Harding was no
exception to the rule. Temptation lay
about his feet, and that commonest temp
tation Of all, the elegantly fitted up bill
lard saloon.
"They had been married just about as
long as ysu and John have been when
the sad catastrophe Of their lives took
place. I had called to spend the day
with Helen and found her in her usual
condition of personal untidiness and dis
order When her husband came home
to dinner. I noticed with painful coacern
that he had been drinking-not very free
lv. but Just enough to show itself in ca
pitious i'll humor. Helen had net dress
ed for dinner, but presented herself at the
table without even q clean collar, ana an
old faded shawl drawn about her shoul
ders, and looked anything but attract
| i've
Il saw her husbands eye glance to
ward her across the table with an expires
sion that chilled me. It was hard. an
gry, determined explosion. He was
scarcely civil to me, aud snapped his wife
sharply two or three times during the
meal. At its close he left the table with
out word and went up stairs
"What's the matter with John" l
asked "
"'Dear alone knows" replied Helen.
He's been acting queer for good while.
| can imagine what's come over him
Does he come home in this way Of
ten, asked,
"'Yes, he's moody Md disagreeable
most Of the time I'm getting dreadful
" worried abeut it,
LAS we talked we heam John moving
away with heavy foetfas in the rooms
above. Presently he came down and
stood for awhile in the hail vt the foot OF
the stairs AS if in hesitation. Then he
shut it hard after him
Helen caught her breath with astart.
and turned a little pals.
What is the matter? asked, seeing
the strangoness Of her looks.
81 dent know, she replied in chok.
ing voice. laying her hand at the same
time on her resst, but feel as If some
thing dreadful wss goiag TO happen
"Shc got up from he table, and !
drew nv arm around her. | too felt
sudden depression Of spirits. We went
slowly ND to her chamber, where we
spent tho afternoon; and Ithen took up
on myself the Office of friend. and talk
ed seriously to my cousin about her neg
lsct of personal neat ness. limiting that her
husbands estrangsment from his home,
and altered manner toward herself might
all spring from this cause She was
little angry with me at frat, but | press
ed the subject home with tender serl-
business that did the work Of conviction
and AS evening drew on. she dressed with
care and neatness, and with fresh rib
bon tied in her hair and color little
raised by meatal sxcitsment, she locked
charming and lsvable. | waited With in
tersst to see what impression sns would
make on her husband He could not
help being charmed back into his love. |
was sure, But he did not come home to
tea. We waited for him a whole hour
after the usual time, aud then sat down
at the table alone but neither 0f us could
do more than sip little tea.
IL went home soon after with pres
sure Of concern for which could not ac-
count. At night dreamed uncsmferta-
BILE dreams In the morning, soon after
breakfast, ran over to see Helen. l
found her in her room, sitting in her
night dress. the picture OF despair
a.What is it 2 asked eagerly. What
has happened" !" She looked at me heav.
ily, like ono not vet recovered from tho
shock OF stunning blow.
"Doar cousin what 10 the matter, :"
I asked,
"Inow saw by motion Of her hand,
that it held. tightly slutchsd, y piece of
paper She reached 1t to mo. 1t was .
letter. and read:
".We cannot live happily together,
Helen. You are not what believed my
self getting when We were marred-not
the sweet, lovely, lovabs girl that charm
ed my fancy and won me from all others
Alas for us both that it 10 90. There has
been n shipwreck OF two lives. Fare
we'll! | shall never return
"And this was all but tt brsks the
heart Of my poor cousin. To this day,
though nearly three years have passed,
she has never heard from her husband,
~ saw her last week in the country
home to which she had been taken by
her friends. . wreck both in body and
mind She was sitting in an upper room
from the window Of which could b. seen
4 beautiful landscape. She was neatly
attired, and q loekst, containing her hus
bands picture, hung at her throat Her
head was dropped, aa1 her eyes on the
6oor when | entered. but she raised her
.kk l. ...l -