The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-05-29

The days of betrothal sped rapidly.
During the day Wilton stood at his
desk, lingering over massive ledgers,
and dreaming of future happiness, and
Miriam selected her house, furnished it,
and kept dressmakers, seamstresses and
milliners busy. She had no objection
and furniture settled upon herself. but
was resolute about the remainderof her
large fortune being left subject to the
control of her future husband.
Busy days were followed by happy
evenings. The young people We're IA
vorites in society, and friends would
insist upon social festivities to celebrate
the betrothal. The quiet home evenings
were pleasant beyond these, when two
loving hearts learned to read each other.
While Wilton loved more deeply every
day, Miriam was giving such respect to
his worth and manliness as made her
future look brighter every day.
But the days of the betrothal were
short. A gay wedding, a happy tour,
and the young people came home to
settle down i'll the handsome new house
as quiet married folks.
Two years of happiness followed.
Wilton was rapidly rising in the esteem
of business men-having purchased his
position as junior partner in the firm Of
Myers e Co., at NLiriam's earnest re-
quest. But, although attentive to his
business, he was no mere drudge, seek
ing money as the only end and aim of
life.
Miriam found him ever a willing es-
cort to party, ball, or opera; and the
home evenings were given to music, or
reading, or such bright intellectual in
tercourse as had it's power of mutual at
traction before their marriage.
There were sage people who shock
their heads over the young wife's ex-
travagance but Wilton seemed most
happy when she was gratifying some
new whim or desire and she had never
known the need of economy. Money
had always been at her command, and
there was no new restraint upon her ex-
penditures. For fine dress she cared
but little, though she was tasteful, and
her costumes were always rich and ap-
propriate but she was generous and
charitable, loved to collect trifes of ex-
quisite art around her, patronized rising
artists, and found no difficulty in ex
hausting her liberal income each year.
It was during the third year of her
married life that Miriam began to find
ii cloud upon the former bright happi.
ness of her life. Wilton was changed
In these three words the loving heart
of the young wife summed up all her
forbodings. He had been the sunlight
OF her life, loving, tender, and thought
ful !; but it became evident to her that
some absorbing intarnet e~ndually
winning him more and more from her
side.
Evening after evening he left her, on
one preteXt or another, oftentimes stay
ing away from her till long after mid
night. His sleep became restless and
broken, and some absorbing care kept
his face pale, his eyes clouded, his man
ner grave. There was no unkindness to
complain Of Miriam met ever tender
caress, loving word. She missed the
pleasant home intercourse and a strange
dull fear crept into her heart. Wilton
was becoming miserly !
He denied her nothing, but would
sometimes sigh heavily if she chal-
lenged his admiration OF some new.dress
or ornament, and it was evident that he
was curtailipg his personal expenses to
the merest necessities. Too proud to
complain, Miriam suffered silently,
praying that she might not learn to de-
spise her husband as a mere money
making machine. At first she endeav-
ored to win his confidence, but he kind
Iy evaded her inquiries, and she made
no further effort.
But her home grew distasteful, mis-
sing the companionship that had made
the hours fly so swiftly. She had
never felt household cares, trusting
everything to an experienced house
keeper. She hadno children to awaken
mother love and care, SO she plunged
into fashionable follies, and tried to for.
get her loneliness. Never had her toilet
been chosen with more faultless taste
never had her beauty been more marked
than it now became and she sought
for excitement as she had never done
in the first happy years of her married
life.
And while MIS-. Seymour was thus
seeking fer happiness abroad that could
not be found at home, her husbands
face grew paler and thinner, and he be
came more absorbed in business cares
One year more passed, and the hearts
that had been so firmly bound together
seemed to be drifting entirely apart.
Miriam was sitting sadly in her draw
ing-room, one evening, waiting for the
carriage which was to convey her to {
large social gathering at fashionable
friends. She was dressed in costly lace
over rich silks, and every detail of he
elegant costume was faultless in finish
and of the choicest quality. Her face
was pale, and her eyes very sad.
She looked up as the door opened
hoping to see Wilton, though it wa
long since he had spent an evening il
her society. Instead of his tall, grace
ful figure, the portly form of her step
| father entered the room.
Miriam sprang forward with a glat
smile.
81 am so glad to see you," she ex
claimed warmly.
"But you were going out ?"
"Only to be rid of my loneliness anC
myself. / shall be happier here will
YOU"
"Truly, Miriam, will you treat me a
your father tonight? l have come her
on painful and delicate errand and
want your confidence"
She was silent a moment and thel
said, "You shall have it.
"You love your husband, Miriam ?"
Great tears answered him.
" Do you love society, dress, and ex
| al to,,oo,f haitian tbop Won 1o Wilton oo