Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-06-17
MIS- scEilAHEous.
FROM SHADOWS TO SUNSHINE

cVEfl all 4LlI OaElIon ana Ethel Gordon met
1EtC at Newportone summer, danced together
few times. rode together once or twice. went
on two or three picnics and sailing parties
where he acted as her devoted cavalier. and
in four weeks they were engaged
Ethel was quite young and very attractive.
Shc was an orphan and poor. Her aunt sent
her to boarding school after her parents
died, gave her one winter in society, and took
her to Newport in the summer She meant
to do her duty by her. but after all, was anx.
ious to havo her settled in life and off her
hands. She saw that Walter Carlton seemed
attracted towards her niece, and she took care
that no obstacle should be placed in the wav
of his wooine.
When Ethel h!ushingly told her that he
had made her formal offer of his hand. she
| congratulated her warmly. and scarcely listen
ed to her family offered objections.
COZ course yon will accent him, my dear"
said she. ''Hou did perfectly right in asking
for little time to consider his proposal 1t
would not look well to appear too anxious to
fall into his arms. But of course. YOU will
accent him. He is comparatively rich. and
rapidly rising in his. profession You will he
very foolish to let this chance slip by: and
really, my dear, it wnuld he relief to me to
feel that you arc comfortably settled in life
on have no fortune but your face. aud will
probably, never receive such an offer apnin
Ethel was very young, rs I have said. and
her derepdeut position was rather e-a1lino m
her pride. So she accepted Walter Carlton.
and in few weeks they were married. know
ing rs little Of each others inner lives and
aspirations as entire strangers
During their very short courtship each had
only seen the best side of the other. Their
faults had been carefully hidden from sight.
Walter had never seen Ethel cry or pout be-
cause she could not 90 to this or that party.
or because she could not have tho new silk
she coveted; and Ethel had never heard
Waiter grumblc at his valet or abuse his Office
boy.
After the marriage the veil was torn aside.
The fnults which were sedulously kent ont of
sight before marriage, were pninfully appa>
rent after. Walter found Ethel far from
being the angel he had imagined, and she
found her husband very unlike her lover
They were neither Of them better nor worse
than tho majority of neople, but their tastes
did not assimilate. That was all. Ethel was
fond of society and took childish DELIGHT in
receptions, balls and parties. Her husband
considered these things childish and frivolous.
Ills days were spent in his Office, and hia busi
ness gave him little time for fashionable dis.
sipation.
Ethcrs nature required much loving and
retting. She tried to love her husband hut
she did not understand him. If she spent an
evening alone with her husband. she wanted
him to notice her, talk to her, and interest
himself in what interested her.
Walter felt no such craving for symnathv
tie wanted his dressing gown and slipocra
bis law hooks or newspapers, and they satisfied
MN. lie loved his wife of course if ho
mad not, he never would have married her
hen why should he repeat it every dav p
1t might do for the spoony days of courtsl,ip.
but they were married now, and what was the
use of being soft and sentimental anv lonror
One evening Ethel was unusually eluted
She had been shopping with friend and had
received an Invitation to a grand partv that
following week. She sat down on low stool
by her husbands side and commenced to rrat
tie about the gossip of the day, and the
splendid party at Mrs. Denver's. like the win
some, sweet but thouehtless child she was,
He was thinking of perplexins lawsuit.
and her small talk bored him. He spoke i'm
patiently:
81 have more important business than at
tending parties, aud you should have. Ethel
You are so childish, dear ; married women
ought to think of other things than parties.
dress, aud scandal"
He meant to speak playfnlly, but he really
spoke harshIy. The tears started to E,he's
eyes.
Il do think of other things" said she
"l think of you. but you do not think of me.
nor any thing but those tedious lawsuits"
es, you think of me in one wav. SUP.
pose, " said he. 'Y ou want some one to listen
to your nonsense, talk nonsense in return. and
pay for the silks and laces yon wear. cam
not talk sentiment during the few hours that
| have at home. You have MANY leisure
! hours every day, which might be improved.
You might read instructive books. for one
thing, that would be better than idling awav
your time, or going down town with Mrs
Enderby In that way you could fit yourself
to be an entertaining companion for thought
full man."
As much as to say am not entertaining
M y o.-nln;...al =