Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-01
CnRIssIE'S FAULT.
BY JEANETTE RAY TATE.

':How very fortunate you are,
John, and what an unlucky dog l
have ever been. How long did you
say you had loved hcr-half her life
timer"
eyes, eyer since she was a little
thing-loved steadfastly up to this
hour, and expect to unto the end"
And John Goner left no equivOca-
ton, no possibility to doubt him,
by any weakness of voice or en-
phasis.
Strong and handsomely muscular
in form and face, he possessed an
honest, hearty spirit, indomitable
perseverance and energy, and posi-
tiveness-a completeness about ev-
erything he said or did, which gain
ed him the approval and co-opera-
ton of a host of influential men,
which was no inconsideFable item TO
a young and struggling barrister.-
He undertook in every case TO do
the right, and believed the strength
within him to enable him TO carry it
out.
For a year before the beginning of
this chronicle, John Goner's busi-
ness had thrived aud prospered Won
derfully. under his strong earnest
hands and steady brain. lie began
to see his way into the world little
clearer. lie laughed and told his
idle Young friend, Julian Marrow,
that he had, with one prOdigiOus eff
fort brushed down some of the cob
webs which had festooned his earlier
path. lie also advised his compan-
ion 10 do likewise-to rise from his
stagnant inanity-to come out of
the old she'll and no longer be a
grub; to make man of himself.
But Julian Marrow, like very
many ''NVilkins Micaw bers," waited
for something 10 turn up-waited
for one tidal wave OF destiny to
watt him high up on the shore of
fortune, without an effort on his
part to gain the Olympian nights,
but up TO his twenty-seventh year
fortune or destiny had failed to put
in an appearance to the longed-for
effect, and so had remained grub
that was not so nightly insipid, in
asmuch as he had always found q
way to plenty of loOse-itting, styl-
ish clothes, nobby hats, and respect
able friends on whom he could de-
pend for most of his dinners, and of
late he had found il to be not the
least of his pleasures to sit in the
comfortable downtown Office of his
busy friend, John Goner, all day,
and at the last minute accept an Of
| fer of dish OF coffee and cigar at
| the Cosy hose of Mr.. and Mrs. Goner
for John was married, and he al
WAYS said with a suspicious mois-
| ture about his fine eyes, that he had
| the sweetest, dearest little wife in
all the world.
/ But as all husbands OF six months
are wont TO declare the very identi-
cal Sc me thing, it's yet, to be legen-
diary, and we look at it as Ii matter
of course, all young wives are the
sweetest and dearest in the world
at least, their spOuses ought to think
so.
John Goner had been very proud
of his wife from the first, because
she had been the pride of all who
knew her, and the envy of a few
who could not initiate her beauty
aud amiable disposition. And haV
ing been for long while q charity
boy, he had started out with firm
unfaltering step, determined to VIII
name and fame, but had not allowed
himself to look or hope for grea
and sudden success, and, when a
the comparatively young age o
twenty-five, he found himself thu
happy possessOr OF a cosy, well ap
pointed home, a tolerable income
and n beautiful, accomplished wife
his first and only choice, he cOulC
scarcely credit his rare good for
tune, and sometimes with his ha
crushed down over his broad
smooth brow, he could close his eye
TO the reality, and half bring him
self to believe that he had been 90
ing on in a dream, walking on slip
, perry stones through bright-huet
flowers, with the song of the siren
in his ears, and that ere long h
should awake and find his enchant
ing visions fleeing before him hk
, clouds in the morning.
At such times q hard cold loo
would settle on his face, and tn
light almost die from his eyes. III
; loved his wife almost to idolatry
with a wild impulsive passion b
wondered at, since she was indispJ
| tably his own, and none had arisen
! combat his right. What had he