The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-06-11

There is profound philosopy in Sake
Holm's little story of "How One Woman
Kept Her Husband" worthy of con-
sideration by every woman who hopes
land what good woman does not p to re-
form and influence any man.
The tale runs thus; Mrs. John Gray
was faithful, affectionate, but rather
undemonstrative wife. John GRAY was
an easy, good natured man, a kind hus-
band, found father of five children.
Into the contented, perhaps prosaic at
mosphere of this family circle came one
of Mrs. Gray's early friends, Emma
Long, now beautiful widow, brilliant,
ardent, impulsive woman, the direct OPP
posite of the quiet, seii-contained mother
of the household. The contact of her
magnetic presenc awoke in John Gray
feelings of which he had not hitherto
dreamed. A new existence opened be-
fore him a communion of heart in
poetry, music, art, which, by its very
novelty, entranced and intoxicated him.
In short, he became infatuated with
Emma Long, and she with him. Not
clandestinely, because there was no need
of secrecy, since Mrs. Gray shared, to all
appearance, her husbands admiration
for their common friend, but undisguis-
! edly and confessedly. Mrs. Gray not
only put no barriers to their intimacy,
but even afforded facilities for it under
her own roof repeatedly inviting Mrs.
Long to her house, and, as If by accident,
leaving her and Mr.. Gray to enjoy each
others society undistured. In fact, she
behaved, in every respect, as if this
mutual interest were perfectly natural
and proper, in no way compromising
their reputation or affecting her position
as wife.
People burst not hint to her a suspic-
ion of danger, so unconscious did she
seem. Not even her own sister ventured
to breach the subject; and all agreed
that Mrs. Gray was stolid, if not heart
less. But Mrs. Gray suddenly fell ill,
and, in crisis of affairs, confded to her
old family physician and to her sister
the truth that she was wasting away
with hidden anxiety and distress. She
had known every thing, but she had re-
solved to betray to her husband by no
signs that she suspected him of wrong
to her. Once to discover her jelousy
would be-. she felt sure, to transform the
frank, Outspoken admiration into a con-
suming clandestine passion. To attack
him with reproaches and tears would be
to irritate, to exasperate, perhaps to alien
ate him forever; to ruin him, her friend,
and her family; to make them all a
scandal and by-word. Moreover, she
believed in her husbands love for herself
She knew she was better wife to him
than the brilliant Emma Long would
have been; and she felt that he knew it,
if he could but be made to realize it.
She believed in his love for his children,
also; and she was confident her husband
could stand the test of the fiery ordeal
if only she could keep up brave heart,
and suffer. and pray, and smile on, in
silence. But nature was giving way.
She could not trust herself much longer.
She must 60 away, lest she should be
too sorely tempted, and must leave her
husband for time, although to do it
cost her agony. She persuaded her ply
sician-who could conscientiously enough
say ito advise Mr.. Gray that his wife's
health required change of climate. TAX
ing her young children, she left Alice,
the eldest, to be her fathers companion
Sin mammals place." her aunt to keep
the house, and the sister in whom she
had confded to play her own former
part in society by giving countenance to
Mr.. Gray's intimacy with Mrs. Long,
and redeeming it from any charge of
secrecy, or any appearance of danger of
illicit companionship.
But, though absent in body, separated
by the breadth of the ocean, she was
more close to her husband in spirit than
she had ever been before. Letters, into
which she breathed tenderness for
which she had never before found voice
little hetes within notes left behind and
sent to be given by Alice "to papa" on
various occasions, all assuring him of
the constant affection of his wife, and
his children's loving remembrance of
their father,---surrounded and enveloped
him in an atmosphere of love. He
learned to look forward with eager long
ing for those precious letters, and trem-
bled with sudden shudder when the
doctor, with wise craft, limited at the pos
sibility of separation whose solitude no
mutual missives could cheer.
So, in the dawning realization of the
treasure which was his, and in dread OF
it, John Gray ceased to compare his
wife unfavorably with Mrs. Long. He
was saved, lured from the dizzy depths
into which he might have dragged down
an innocent if indiscreet woman, back
to the safe and sure and satisfying paths
of steady, true, pure, home love and
trust. The strong, accomplishing affec.
ton of John Gray's wife had "kept hel
husband"