The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-08-03

spirit should be broken to her hus.
bands. When I think she is sufficient
ly punished, I shall take her back TO
my heart again."
And the poor girl above was taking
her first lesson in that bitterest knowl.
edge that ever comes TO woman's heart
the realization that she Is treated un-
fairly and unlSindly.
Days, and weeks, and months FOL.
lowed that first rupture between VII.
liam Maillard and his wife; and,
though, 10 oil outward appearances,
they were attentive, and, in society, as
happy as ever, yet Alice felt that the
gnlf between them had never been
bridged. She had, indeed, often essayed
10 fling across 1t the rosy bands Of af-
fection ; but In that chill, 10y mir they
had withered speedily ere they reached
him, standing on the other side. And
yet, had any one come To that man,
and said 10 him: "You are TO blame,
and arc daily adding To your sim" he
would Indignantly have denied 1t,
The Truth was, his imperious will,
pampered by that FIRST entire submits
sion on the part Of his wife, had grown
with what Il fed upon until 1t over
shadowed his whole nature.
Situated as she was now, Alice grew
daily more unhappy. Week after week,
month after month went by; and she
hungered after the word Of love that
never came. Sometimes, goaded al-
most to agony by the slow torture, she
grew capricious but the cool eyes,
the lofty manner, and that steady
negatiyec ecourseo Of her husband neither
repellant nor inyiting-only added to
her sorrow. 4
"Her spirit Is not broken yet, MIR.
Maillard said, TO himself and SO he
kept up his system Of wiiely training.
II was at this time that q summons
came from Alice's girlhood home. Her
widowed mother, long m invalid, was
rapidly failing and the elder sister
good, kind, taotherly Hester-and her
high-browed, student, twin.brothei
Horace, sent an urgent message for her
presence. She departed In haste-Ho
hastily that the train was reached with
in hour after the receipt Of the tele-
gram /; and she travelled alone, as Mr..
Maillard's business engagements were
Of that nature 10 detain him at that
season.
When the merchant, evening after
evening, returned TO his handsome
house, deserted save by the servants,
he began to grow more dissatisfied with
It's checrless aspect than he thought
could be possible, or would have ac-
knowledged TO another. Once, enter
ing the drawing.room, 80 dreary and
empty ooking, Of an evening after he
had visited his club, he paused before
m exquisitely.crayoned portrait on the
wall, and said, with more feeling than
he lad shown for many month:
"Home is lonely without you, Alicel''
All, II he had only, bethought himself
10 write such q sentence toheri
The days went by and in her girl.
hood home, the trio watched around
the bed OF their dying mother. The
summer vines clambered up against the
walls; the roses Redeemed in the gar
den; the June grass grew tall and
waved in the warm south winds while
the hectic deepened on the consump-
tiye's cheek, and the life.tide ebbed
more family through her heart.
At the close OF one Of those perfect
days, when the last red sunset arrows
slanted through the windows, the end
came the earth-life lapsed into the
Better; and the meek eyes, closing
here with maternal love lingering last
In their gaze, opened again to look upon
the glories Of the Beautiful Land where
illness never comes, nor Deaths dark
pinion droops.
On the day following tho funeral,
Mr.. Maillard bore his wife back TO
their home again. AT the parting, Alice
wept unrestrainedly upon the bosom Of
her twin.brother, then turned to receive
her sisters farewell kiss.
81 must be mother TO you new,n
said Hester-faithful, devoted woman,
ten years older than the weeper she
held in her arms; and then she whis-
pered: "ln your trial / will come to
you. Keep up good heart, darling /;
and don't brood too much on our grief,
for the sake Of your own health nov" +"
After the carriage had rolled away,
Horace stood by the window o long
time, in deep thought; (; then he turned
suddenly 10 his sister, and said, in o
somewhat restrained voice:
" Hester, do you think William Mall
lard makes Alice happy?p
"Certainly-whyn Horace? What
o question | No one could fail 10 see
how attentive he Is; and / wonder
such thought could enter your
mind"
Good Hester's answer was quickly
but O line that corrugated
her own brows betrayed what she
would not allow her lips TO utter, even
TO her brother.
"They say that twins have o mag
netic sympathy for their mates. Il
seem to feel that Alice Is not as light
hearted as when she left US. Nineteen
tomorrow, and she looks Eve years
older than when she left us, o year and
d half ago. II Naillard don't make her
happy, / shall hate him |" and o stern,
bitter expression settled on the youths
face. atf
"why, Horace, how strangely you
do talk r. persisted Hester. HOf
course, Ally wouldn't seem Us usual.
Mothers death you know" and here
The usually calm, seli.centered woman's
lip quiyered.
Horaee's own deep hazel eyes:fllled.
The boy had o tender, womanly heart.
at may be my fancy only. / hope
80, Hester l'-but he stood long In
..ll