The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-26
n,,,o ,,ox.. dar bro,,rht nv husband,

The next dav brought my husband.
500 YOU care that I went"' asked AFTER
I had told him how ] had employed ny
time. =, IL.
sfNot at all. 1t is very lonesome here even
when I am with you; it must Re intoleraDle |
when / am gone. am glad my little girl en-
..There is to be horseback party to-mor-
row. nervousy, toying with the buttons of
his coat. IfG. vrt rcf ct-.
SIS therea Well?''
''tShali we go?' asked. stt
1T would be handy any pleasure for me,
as 1 have been in the saddle for nearly ten
days. fsr mass. s....-..-. =.
Although l said nothing, my face must
have expressed my disappointment. for he
very soon said:
''Do you wish to go, Clara ?"
very much.'' .
me?'' .aas-e - ss9s..f.o 70 aeH
"Hardly." .-jas-,I rav7 '51.'
"Then suppose we stay at home. 1 should
enjoy reading this volume with you more
than riding out" and he tossed a pe*utiiuiiy
bound little volume into my lap.
At another time l should have screamed
with del;cht. for it was what had 50 much
longed to sea copy of ''Enoch Arden"
Rrt now there came no response, no word
of thanks from my lips. He seemed disap-
pointed. but said nothing as he went out.
| was Just in mood to feel unEindly to-
ward every one, and most unkindly of all to-
ward my noble husband. What right had he
to make me conform to his tastes. Then 1
fell to thinking how cruel it was to bring me
away from my earlier friends and bury me
alive in that miserable, dull town. Surely all
men were not so reserved or so togyish as he,
and wondered if should not have been more
satisfied with one nearer my own age. Then
! found myself making comparisons, ever a
dangerous tram of thought for wife. Some
how, uppermost in my mind during all this
mental harrangue was Lieutenant Morris,
with his handsome face and genial ways. |
blush now with shame as | recall those
thoughts. bat was angry and disappointed
then, djust in a mood to think myself very
much abused.
must have behaved shamefully i'll that
day, for in the evening my husband came up
where was sitting, and laying his hand up-
on my shoulder said IN very low calm voice:
''Clara, would not willingly give you pain
or deny you one pleasure. l cannot attend
you tomorrow, but if you wish will provide
you an escort'
''Oh, dop' I exclaimed so eagerly that the
calm look in her eyes grew painfully penetrate
ing as he fixed them sadly upon my face
went with the party, nominally under the
escort of DR.. Stanhope and wife, but it was
Lieutenant Morris who rode by my side who
praised my riding, my figure and general APP
pearance with more warmth than pleased ev-
en- my Unsuitable vanity. .-s-.
After that day my husband seemed differ
ent. He was as kind to me as ever, ever in
dulging me more than formerly, but the old
tenderr ess was gone. missed the stolen Ca
ress, the pet warmth-the thousand little
tendernesses that had before made my life so
sweet.
Had any one given me whispered hint
that my heart was growing disoyal to my
husband, or that Lieutenant Morris sought
my society with pleasure, / should have re.
PEELED the accusation with indignation. had
no thought OF. anything wrong. But then
why WAC so pleased with his society? Why
did care so little whether it was he or my
husband who rode by my side; who walked
with me, and seemed always ready to attend
me? II was because I loved fattery, and he
filed my measure to intoxication.
The summer had ripened into autumn, and
autumn was fast merging into winter; still,
contrary to all our expectations, we were yet
detained at the station. Mrs. Stanhope had
set her active brain to work conjuring up fes-
tivities for the winter, and her programme
was the promise of oyster suppers, card par
ties, and balls enough to suit the liveiest
taste; and 1, so far from being surfeited with
| society and pleasure, was almost beside lay
| self with the delightsome privileges. ,r
The home delights of reading and CONVEX
sation that had once been so pleasing to me
were now disliked and neglected, except at
intervals, when prudence and duty would as
sert their sway.
My husband never rebuked, me and but
seldom accompanied me to those gay scenes !;
but had become so accustomed to appearing
without him that it scarcely mattered any,
thing whether he attended me or not
Where all this blind foolishness might have
led me shudder to think. But a merciiul
God interposed. With pitying eye He saw
my folly, and sent a messenger of grace "a
sweet pledge Of love-to snatch me, it may be
from ruin.r was about to become mother.
When the fact first became known to me
was very angry aud mortified. l had planned
such gay winter, and to be disappointed
was so sore trial. l fear that if l hau then
studied my own heart should have discov-
cred that the loss OF Lieutenant MOrrtss So
ciety ard catering speeches was what would
disappoint me most. But as months passed
on became reconciled to all this, especially
as it brought back all the old tenderness OF
my husband; and the pleasant hours of social
intercourse so long neglected and unappre-
ciated. In May my child, beautiful little
daughter, was born. All the maternal love
within me was born with it, and society, gay
ETY. and adulation were all forgotten in the
dear sweet treasures of home.
Oh, how loved that child! often Won.
dered if all mothers thus loved herd
children. And from the love born with
its birth there sprang such new feeling OF
tenderness toward my husband that l had
never dreamed could exist. Had realized
then, as l do now, the mission of that child, l
should have been prepared more for what fol-
lows. But that was not revealed to rue till
nv heart throbbed with the agony of desoia
ton. r4es -.L f7-r-.~s.., $3.50,
For three years this messenger of love and
peace cheered our, home and hearts. Then
death robbed me of my treasure. Never was
death more desolating nor sorrow more deep
and murmuriug, followed by sweeter, calm
err, holier submission, -
/ Though years have passed since then my
old love of gayety has never returned. The
whispers of vanity have been UNDECIDED, the
loyalty of my heart has never been question
ed, because find purer joy in a life Of de-
votion to Him who, when folly had well nigh
ruined me, raised His holy arm in my behalf
And to-day, as scatter fresh spring flowers
over the grave of her whose guileless soul led
her mothers feet back to duty and right,
bless in my Utmost soul Him "who gave, who
took, who will restore-who doeth all things
well.' -A--A*7 50 Cd SARAH HART.