The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-01-04
MARA;
OR,
The Girl Without References.
III.
M ARA;
IFrom COrnhill Magazine.l

From Cornhin Magazine.l
Three years passed. After we had |
taken our degrees, Merry, Cloves and |
/ were scattered each to our vocatiOns. |
Cloves took root in a northern vicarage;
Merry went to grow mangies on his es-
tate; and myself finished eating my
terms at Lincoln's Inn, and was called
to the bar. / frequently saw Halsey,
who lived jim London. His family had
been slow to forgive his marriage; but
he had a sister who was fond of him
and an ally of this kind ends by remov-
ing, even such mountains as family
pride. She had brought the rest of the
Halsey household first to extend pardon
to Arthur personally, then to call on his
wife, and lastly to admit that the latter
was not vulgar OF Odious, indeed was
inoffensive. The concession went no
further than this; perhaps because Mara
did not evince any wish to penetrate
into her husbands family. Halsey's sis
ter, who was married, often called upon
her, and seemed disposed to strike up an
intimacy with, and pet her. Mara
showed herself grateful for these at
tentiOns but she had grown more re-
served since her marriage than before
it. She was sweet, kind, and amiable
with all her husbands friends; but she
made no efforts to widen her circle of
acquaintances, and she never went into
society.
This afflicted Halsey, who would have
liked to take her everywhere, and glory
in her beauty; but doubtless his home
was all the happier for Mara devOting
her whole mind and neart to it. 1t Was.
certainly the happiest home man could
have pictured to himself, even in a
dream. IA year after their marriage Il
child-a baby Mara-had been born to
them and the young mothers life was
wholly abandoned to the two beings
she loved best on earth. A wish of her
husbands was law to her; his comfort
the aim of her every waking thought.
Arthur was called to the bar, but did
not practice, having by family interest
obtained a post under Government
which kept him absent several hours
every day. But, when he returned
home, he was sure to find every day the
same tender smile of welcome on Mara's g
face, the same mother-t taught crow of
love on the lips Of his child; so that
sometimes he would exclaim, half
laughing, half-seriously, "What have
l done to be so happy z"
| IF he said this in his wife's presence,
as he often did, she would turn to him,
and answer softly: IF you are really
happy, Arthur dear, you deserve it all
for the happiness you have given me-"
But do you know get fancy I have
taken somebody else's share of happi-
ness as well as my own? Providence
must have made q mistake; and there
is some poor devil walking about, won
dering what has become of the lot OF
bliss intended for him, and misappro-
priated by me.H He said this, smiling
one winter evening as he met me on the
steps of our club !; and he invited me
to accompany him home to dinner, add
ing that Mara had not seen me for &
month, and would treat it as pleasant
surprise. His spirits oyerfowed; and
as contented men generally like to SCI
the reflex Of their own prosperity OF
others, he said, with abrupt kindness
"But, by the way, let's talk about your
self. You've no briefs yetq Well,
think can promise you one that ma!
lead to others. Houilier, one of tht
coal people whose mines have got int
the common pleas, was telling me to
studiOus, pushing junior woul(
really read up his case. Those whom
his solicitor has recommended him at
muffs, cousins Of the solicitor, of course
So mentioned you and he booked it..
Poor fellow! he little guessed, n
more did I, how soon I should be hold
ing brief upon which vital concerns 0
his own, not coal interests, would de
pend. , ss H. Il,
He lived in a pleasant house, out Ken
sington way; and we drove there in aeaE
Cheeriness and comfort greeted us fr0H
the threshold. A well brushed pag
opened the door, a bright fire was glow
ing in the dining room, where tabI
shining with glass and silver was lai
for two; and q thick crimson caTpe
imuf1ed the staircase leading to til
draWing-roOnl, which might well hay
satisfied q richer man from its elegan
furniture and coziness. Mara had gOn
out shopping, SO the page stated, an
was not yet returned; but there wa
work of hers with basketful of gay
colOred Worsted balls ON the small tahl
: at which she usually sat, near the fire
screen; and ON a handsome piano, Whic
was open, lay pieces of new music.
See that said Halsey, resting
< hand on my shoulder. "Doyou remen
4 ber that advertisement Mara put int
j the paper ateSandbeaeh three years ag'
7 saying she could not play the piano
2 Well, she can now. had bought TIN
: : with the rest of the furniture, thinkin
. we might occasionally give parties an'
I knowing liked music, she engaged
+ music mistress to give her lessons eye1
morning unawares to me. The oths
night, after dinner, she told me to shi
my eyes; and then she sank down an
i, i played the tunes she had heard d
t praise He turned and brushed SOM
!, thing away from his eyes when lie. ha
I, said this, then rang for the nurse
:, bring down Baby Mara, who was led
y toddling, and with q afinger Id her mout
. He caught her up and covered her Eos
f cheeks with kisses, then passed her {
h to me to do likewise, and said, "Wl
don't you marry, too, and set MP {
imitation of this? What comparison
: There between this life am leadinghe1
Land that cluh-and- chambers existence
should have been dragging on with "
y fellows If had not met Mara?r
y was rejecting just the same thin
When should be In u position to ma
ny, like Halsey, and feel that 9th
q lives and happinesses were entwint
I'd with mine9 Not probably till m
of past middle age, and unable to exist
" " my home with the same force Al
y freshness as Halsey did in his. At t
best, I should be welded to some d
much younger than myself; and the
R could never be between us that fl
IS, communion of spirit which comes fro
la aa a parity of ages, and consequently
~ ~ hopes. I had reached this point, al
was seated near the fire holding Ba'
Mara on my knees, when the clock