Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-05-22
"GRIEVOUS WORDS"

Dc CiI tlul, Ncllio! w Oluo 1lho tIloSC
from the lips of wife bear bitter frui
sometimes. Take care''
The speaker voice was not stern, and
it was a eountenance more in sorrow than
in anger that faced the flushed cheeks and
flashing eyes Of the other. But the Oil he
sought to pour on the troubled waters ad-
ded only fuel to the flame of woman's
unreasoning wrath.
s'['ll brave the consequences. was the
reckless reply. SThey can, OF be more dis
astrous, OF the fruit more bitter than those
of softer words spoke only a year ago,
and repeat I am sorry that we ever met );
sorry THAT we ever married sorry for
what is likely to bind us together in the
future''-the woman within relented, but
the mad fury drove her on f'and wislgit
might never be ~
At the cruel words the man staggered as
if he had been dealt a blow, but at sight
and sound of the passionate tears and wild
sobs that followed this outburst, Dire W
near again with pity in his face and tears
in his voice and eyes.
"Nellie, DEAR he said, "you told me
once that you were the victim Of quick,
impetuous temp er, that might some day
wound and sting me with harsh and cruel
words. Nellie, that day has come, but as
told you then, my love can bear them all,
knowing they are but the utterance of rash
lips and are not prompted by the cooler
judgment or loving heart Within and he
drew nearer still and put his arms about
her.
But the demon that possessed her was
not yet to be exercised even by such long
suffering, tender love, and she repulsed
him. A sigh escaped the br ave, true heart,
but with new tenderness in look and
tone, he said; ''Nellie, darling, I ,oill not
quarrel with you at this time. Nothing
you can say or do shall tempt me to it.
But since my presence annoys you'll know
dear, you are i'll and nervous-I will leave
for while. Perhaps you will feel more
kindly towards me when am gone" And
leaving kiss upon her hair, her head bent
meanwhile upon her hands, and waiting q
moment in the hope she would recall him
for their usual tender parting, he slowly
left the room.
Once alone the storm Of passion soon
spent itself, and with woman's charming
inconsistency the first words that escap ed
the sobbing lips were those Of love and
tenderness for the man whom she had just
driven from her presence with cruel and
nd tho ,sf, .iaI
and sternest men among you all who, ten
minutes before had congratulated himself
on the fact that he, thank heaven, had no
part OF lot in the affections Of any woman
would have pitied her in her abandonment
of grief and despair, as she recalled
all she had said and done. And even
were he told that all this storm arose
from a.cloud no larger than mans hand;
that the cause Of all this misery and wasted
passion lay i1f the refusal, tenderly given,
and with reasons wisely set forth on the
part of the young husband, to attend a
certain party in the neighborhood, we
would still find excuses for the fair penl-
tent, if for no other reason than that OF
the poet, ssShe's far too lovely to be wrong.
Oh, yes, she was beautiful, Of course. 1t
is only pretty woman that can safely in
dulge in such vagaries.
WE'LL half an hour was spent in fruitless
regrets and self-reproaches, and then, I'M
patient Of the interninable day before her
pride all gone; and love and penitence NIL
ing the full heart to overlooking and de
manding action for relief, her bell pealee
forth an imperative summons, and the OF
der came quick and decisive: "Tell JONI
to have the carriage at the door as sool
as possible; then return and help mi
dress, But before her preparations wer'
complete, over-taxed nature gave way;
sick headache came on, the natural result
Of all these tears and the nervous excite
ment through which she had passed, ant
for hours she could not lift her head iron
the pillow. 1t was late in the AFTERNOON
when John drew up the grey ponies
front of steel & Scrivner's law office, AM
pretty face, pale and nervous looked tim
idly from the carriage to the open 400
: way. :,
.sOh, Mrs. Scrivner, good afternoon
: and portly gentleman crosses the sloe
,r,,ll, ~ the carriage door. Il am SOFT