The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-07-31

husband, fondly believing that in you
love my heart would regain its youthful
ness, and that you would find comfor
and happiness in being an old man
darling. That have been disappointe'
freely acknowledge; that you hav
been | can but infer. realize now tn
vanity of the hope which led me to unit
old age with youth, since our tastes are 81
dissimilar. What have to say to you
however, is this: that desire you to re
linquish, in a measure, those trivolltie
which are separating US so surely and 81
utterly"
Margery looked for moment into hi'
face, and said:
Suppose do not desire to renounce
those pleasures which you seem to con
denim SO heartily"
"Then l shall resort to that authority
which, as your husband, is vested in me. :
And if | do not choose to submit to
that authority"
That is not a question to be discuss
ed between US" he exclaimed, emphati-
| cally, now thoroughly aroused and lrate.
&c am master of this house, as you will
| find to your cost. That you have never
cared for me except as the representative
of the wealth which purchases your plea
sures, is too plain a case to admit of ar
gument. But there is one thing Of which
you may rest assured; whilst you bear
nly name it must remain as unsullied as
when you received it, do not wish you
to regard me as a brute, nor yet as a
tyrant, but this continued dissipation
must cease. am too old to be dragged
from one scene of gayety to another,
tied, as it were, to the wheels of your tri-
umphant chariot, and since cannot at
tend you, you must confne yourself more
at home. You can retire now if you
please, but remember that | expect your
compliance with my wishes"
Thank you for the privilege =" she
returned, sarcastically. g shall not re-
tire, however, until this question is def
nitely settled" Her eyes glowed like
midnight stars, and upon her white fore
head the beads of perspiration sparkled
like diamonds in the full blaze of the
chandelier beneath which she stood.
" That | do not love you, Colonel Les
lie, you seem to be well aware. l mar
ried you because l was dazzled by those
visions of splendor which you placed be-
fore my eyes, and [ sighed for them as
those who travel in the sandy deserts
thirst for water. Fashion and society
are my idols, and disconnected from
them would not turn over my hand to
live another hour. l shall not give them
up without struggle you may rest as
sured, but the victory is not always to
the strong. Goodnight" she added,
turning from him and leaving the room
with the air of an empress.
Colonel Leslie, stunned and mortified
by her confession, buried his face in his
hands. This was the bitter ending of
his pleasant dream; this cold, calculating
woman, the wife who presided over his
home.
6 She shall have her own way" he
suddenly, stoically resolved. g If she
married me, as she says, for my wealth,
she shall not be cheated in the bargain.
She shall enjoy her freedom unmolested
while | live, and my wishes shall here
after remain untold"
Two-four years passed away and then
the end OF it all came. Margery was sit
ting alone in her elegant drawing-room
whence an hundred guests had just de-
parted, when Colonel Leslie entered
hastily and drew chair to her side. She
gathered her trailing robes of amber satin
more closely around her, as if fearing
He noticed the move
ment, and exclaimed, alphabetically.
g | vowed years ago, Margery, that |
never would again, by word or look, de
tract from your happiness, and faithfully
until now have | kept that vow. This,
however, is a perilous moment for both
of us, and must account for this intru-
sion. l have a communication to make
which will startle you, but you must hear
it. Are you listening? l am bank
rupt, Margery, bankrupt"
" A bankrupt J" she exclaimed, hOarse-
ly. Are you in earnest p
(" Yes, in terrible, terrible earnest, as
proceedings will show.
have not a dollar in the world which |
can honestly call my own. For your
sake l regret it. You worship wealth |
and position you told me once, and /
have never forgotten it. God knows l
pity you"
"What are we to do?" she asked,
for, try as she might, the tears
would not be repressed.
:" | do not know" he answered, vague I
ly. " The tidings reached me but few
hours ago, and since then [ have thought
of nothing but how l should tell you |
without breaking your heart. | am not |
too old to work for you, Margery; but |
how will you endure our misfortunes? !
You will doubtless reprOach me for not !
having provided against this contingency |
when we were married, but L did not |
know then that You sold yourself to me. |
| thought that you loved me a little, not
the disparity of years be-
tween us"
He ceased speaking, and abruptly left |
the room. For a moment Alargerys |
heart softened towards him, but the next |
she rose up, and, sweeping her eyes over
the magnificent apartment, said, bitterly: /
" No, no, | cannot live without them.
She assembled to her chamber, where
her maid was awaiting her coming. She |
YEARLY submitted herself to her skillful
hands, and having substituted morning
wrapper for the party robes, she dismiss
ed her sleepy attendant, and sank into |
an easy chair which stood before the fire.
She folded her white jewelled hands in
her lap, and thought over the events of
the past few years
"What vain, profless life have
ived!" she murmured, regretfully-
g Who has been benefited by it? Not
even myself. And with the abundant
means have wasted, how much good |
might have donel Have /, indeed, been
happier than l was when | sat in my
little chamber, the only ornaments | pos
sessed white rose for my hair, and nv
mothers old fashioned wedding-ring for |
my fnger?" And with her mothers
memory came back a tenderness, a soft
ness to the heart of Margery Leslie which |