Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-10-01
TOO LATE,


here y
The question vas curt, rude. rough,
even; the reply impetuous. cuttingly sar-
castle. and with hot dash Of anger in
Its tones. You would never have though I
that William Maillard could have spoken %
TO bis sweet young wife. just a. any coars e,
fiery man might. in On inperious mood,
TO an Intrusive servant or an annoying
begear. Nor would have thought. either.
that lovely Alice Msilla.d could have
grown so flushed and disturbed, and ven-
ted such reply 20 the husband she. losed
better than life itself. and then turned and
walked away with such a queenly step
from his presence.
1t certainly was an unpleasant and un-
fortunate mood the merchant was in that
evening. The close of the year was near
at hand, and all day long he had been
perplexed by n thousand cares incidental
to bis large business; besides be had dis
covered gross error in the books,
and had taken them home with him that
evening TO endcayor to trace its source and
rectify it,
1t was in this mood. his brows knitted
with peiplezity, that his girl-w came
upon him in the quiet library, whith-
er he had retired after dinner; and steal
ing softly up behind him, had playfully
blinded his eyes with one of her whitc
hands. a. the same time pushing away
the tlick ledger over the table
N an instant the quick. rough question,
that spoke of annoyance. burst from his
lips; and IN an instant more. the white
hand was snatched away. the little, grace
ful head tossed high. red pot ieaped to
both cheeks. aud the cutting. sarcastic
answer Was flung back.
In afew moments more the merchant was
left alone. his handsome " shaped head.
covered with thick. iron gray locks, bent
again over his books. bnt with n compres.
sion of his lips and glitter in his eve
one seldom saw there; while the pirl-wife
was ting III the parlor. quiet as a statue,
but with the same hig color and excited
mlen with which she had left the libra
jry.
For some minutes Alice Maillard sat
thus. perfectly y motionless. looking straigh.
before her. then her mien softened-a
grieved, wounded lock crept over her
eyes: her shut lips relaxed and quiyered
with feeling. and she burst into tears, and
sobbed as though her very heart would
break. The sobs swelled tempestuously.
and the tears rolled over the checks
now ralo with emotion; but after q time
she grew ca,mer.
i am sorry srokc So she said, confess
ing her fault to herselfwith as much earnest.
hess rs though her husband were listen
er. Il am sorry. lfWilliam was rough
here the lips swelled again. Il was has,
ty. | suppose those trcsome books troub-
led him. | will 60 and apolocixe;' and,
rising. she left the room and walked
,hroushthe hall to the library. But. layiny
her hand on the knob Of the door, she
was surprised to End it fastened. The kcy
was turned
'uukind ! she said now. the rcd spots
deepening again on the cheek; and, noise
lessly rs she had come, she returned to
the rarlor.
Two hours crept away; lonesome enough,
felt the solitary Alice. striving to pass the
time with her work. upon which now and
then tear dropped silently. All that
time. however. her thoughts were busy and
che cluns TO the frst resolve not to sleep
until she had made peace with her hus-
band. For 1t was new thing to this
lovely young crea'ure-the pet Of her
eirshood and the bride of less than a year
to hear harsh word or utter an un-
kind one; and all that long evening, whi o
she sat there in tears. seemed an age To
her. All little Alice, can such exquisite
y keen suffering ever. ever come again e?
Ten. eleven o'clock struck; and then
abe heard the library door open, and her |
husbands footsteps along the hall. Bu,
they did not pause at the parlor. though |
the door WAS partially ajar; they passed |
"n. aud he n cended the staircase to their |
chamber. This was too much. Hot tears
again swelled in the large. sensitive eyes: |
aud womanly indignation again promp, d |
her TO remain below till she was calm;
aud when she wen, up to her room, her |
husband was. or pretending to be, fast
locked in sleep.
Next morning. at breakfast. the young |
wife was quite prepared to expect the way
u's"t Vc eaSicE lot the establishment |
OF peace between them; but there was
reserve and icincss in Mr.. Maillard's
manner which quite frustrated this in,en-
tion. He buried through the meal, wen,
TO the library for the books. looked into
the breakfast room again for q courteous
'good-mcrniag,' bu, did not unbsni to
bessow the customary parting kiss.
Alice felt more than ever griaved. thus
thrown back upon herself. All day long |
she was mos. unhappy. and could not
settle herself about her usual employueu,s.
The feelings she suffered were So new to
her. 1t was something she had never !
though, could happeu-,O speak quick.
angry word to one who was al the world /
to her. no matter though she had been |
betrayed into the uttcrance. she never
could be happy again till it had been ex-
p'ained aud forgiven. She would speak
to her husband before sleep again sealed
her eyelids-al,hcugh very sound. indeed.
had been the slumber that visited her las.
night.
When evening arrived. and Mr.. Mail
lare came home to dinner. Alice met him |
a. usual with an adectionate greeting, and
put up her lips for the customary kiss.
but very icy vas the sslutaticn, and such
tone Of restrain. pervaded his manner
{ iha, she found herself deferred from us.