Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-02-14

Not oftener than lie can help. lie
Is much engaged, and his occupation
he was secretary to fashionable author
leads him Into 81 great deal of ac-
quaintance. He is SO much admired
you can't think-in every circle where
he goes. r
DO you go with him?' /.
For had heard somewhere of the diff
ference in this respect between literary
men and literary mems wives.
Sometimes do-when my health al
lows. He is very careful over me-too
almost. Ahi harkn
His quick run up the steps, knew it
well! his loud, rapid knock. The wife
was another creature in a moment.
is that you, my dear? Really, Mar
jory, why will you open the street.
door? p
He came in, threw down his hat,
shook back his curls. He was the same
fine handsome fellow as ever-or hand
somer. She was mere pale shadow by
his side.
Bless my soul-Charlotte Why, Mar
iory what pleasant surprisen
Yes, indeed. We had begun dinner,
you see. She has been here ever since
tive.'
'What a pity! I would have come
home half an hour earlier had known
Il knew you would 8t'
Marjory, thou vert truly of the angel
kind! For worlds could not have ut
tered those four words with that perfect
smile.
We sat around the fire, my brother,
my sister, and I. Alwyn was unfeign-
edly glad to see me. Whatever might
be the vagaries OF Imagination, and the
attachments pertaining thereto, his af-
fection for me was always firm and sure.
He told me of all his plans, aims, and
hopes, which had taken far wider
range within the last year. His mar
riage had, unconsciously to himself.
been the maturing of his character, the
stepping-stoues to his future-a future
which to me and his fond wife seemed
limitless.
Marjory did not talk much. She sat
idling over some light sewing, often
laid down, that from under her shading
hand she might look across the table at
Alwyn, with fullness eff admiring love.
She did not hover about him or try to
win bin from those little attentions
which young wives rejoice in and ex-
pect; it seemed as If she neither were
used to nor required them. His mere
presence in the room was sufficient to
her; she desired no more.
Iuever, save this once, saw an instance
of a creature solely wrapped up in an
other human being, whose love was too
humble to be exacling, too self existent
to burden the recipient.
Alwyn was very kind and tender to
her. with the sort of tenderness which
springs from habit. He would go on
talking for hours in his brilliant, charm
ing manner, without seeming conscious
<,T l,o ht,f hnn l,o tod
anything, it was Marjory-where' g
Marjory9'
On the whole, if had been a person
satisfied with the outer surface of
things, should have said they were a
very happy married couple-happy in
the sort of calm content, which general
ly comes after ten years of union; a
content which ten more years would
probably add to rather than diminish.
But for that wild dream of youth the
perfect love which of two makes one
flesh, the satisfied mutual love which in
ripper years becomes more and more a
vital necessity of existence, which, re-
ceiving as much as it gives, is rest,
and stay, and blessing, beyond any
other blessing which earth can afford !;
if Mariory ever thought of or longed for
this, God help her!
i
lay down to sleep for the first night In
my .brother's house.
The next night slumber was forbid
den to my eyelids. Poor, simple, coun-
trified me! / was plunged into the very
midst of that whirling Maelstrom-s
London literary party. st
1t was a gathering of lions at grea;
lions house. Alton of twenty years
ago, when they roared much louder
than they do now, when they used to
meet exclusively among themselves for
the express purpose of using their
lungs, and proving how much greatel
they were than minor beasts.
l never much liked literary people
they talk so fast and so continually
| about themselves. They seem to think
it is the grandest thing in the world to
handle pen, to write about virtues in
stead OF showing them, to narrate noble
lives instead of living them. Alas!
fear me the former is often supposed to
preclude the necessity of tho latter.
Thus thought when Aiwyn for the
| first hour kept me on his arm. Bless
him he was not the least bit ashamed oi
his countrified old sister; pointing out
| to me one after another, the clever peo.
pie, the celebrated people, the people
| who were hung out as lanterns in the
world; adding to each description vari
| Gus biographical or personal comments
| frequently so caustic and severe thai
| they made me regard him amazed, anC
caused Marjory's half demonstrating
half pathetic, whisper, 'Oh Alwvnr
| After time he left us to take care O.
| one another, and we watched him, bril-
liant among the brilliant, noticed ever
among the most noticeable, in the very
| center of the throng. Marjory's eve
followed him continually with the fond
est, proudest gaze. Few people came t,
| speak to her, indeed no one would hav,
guessed She was his wife; she sitting il
a corner with pale face and plain higl
silk dress-her wedding dress, the boas
of our village dressmaker, but qnitc old
fashioned here.
'Marjory, my dear, how pale yol
look? Had we not better go homer
Hush! he likes to stay late. Dom
mention such a thing.'
But l did mention it, being very dar
ing and determined person, and not il
the least afraid of my brother. VIII
should /? He was but flesh and blood
His wife and his sister need not alway
be his humble, obedient slaves. So
represented the case.
go home, my dear Charlotte? TO b
sure will, Immediately. She is not i'll
hope, poor child? She is too delicat
for these crowded rooms; must g
alone next time. Come, Marjory.'
He led her out, leaning on his arm
They could hardly get through tn
crowd they were so beset. by acQuanl
ances. She seemed quite u stranger I
most of them.
Who Is shes' ! head asked hehin
them.