Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-04-07

the buttons OF MS cCal.
"ls there? Well"
"Saall we go?T asked.
at would be hardly any pleasure Tor
me, as | have been in the saddle for
nearly two days
Although | said nothing my face must
have expressed my disappointment. for
he very soon said:
"Do you wish to 60, ClaraP"
Very much"
Would you be satisfied 10 60 without
mc?"
"llardly."
Then suppose we Say al home. !
should enjoy reading this volume with
YOU more than riding out" and ho tossed
Il beautifully bound volume in my lay.
At another time should have screamed
with delight, Tor il was what l had SO
much longcd to sce-a copy of "Enoeh
Arden"
But now there came no response. no
word Of thanks from my lips. lie seem
cd disappointed, but said nothing as he
went out.
was just in mood to feel unkindiy
towards every one, and most unkBdly
of all towards my noble husband. What
right had he To maze me conform TO his
tastes. Then fell to thinking how cruel
it was TO bring me away from all my
cirlicr friends and bury me alive in that
miserable. dull town. Surely all men
were not so fogyish rs he, and wonder.
cd il | should not have been more salts
fed with one nearer my own age. Then
found myself making comparisons,
over \ dangerous train of thought Tor a
wilu. Somehow uppermost in my mind
during all this mental haranguc, was
Lieutenant Morris. with his handsome
iace and genial ways. | blush now with
shame rs record those thoughts, but
was angry and disappointed then, and
,st in 4 mOol to think myelt very much
abused.
ImAs. have behaved shamelully iii that
day, for in the evening my husband came
up to where | was sitting and laying his
hand upon my shoulder, said in very
low, calm voice:
"Clra, !. would not willingly give
you pain or deny YOU one pleasure. ]
cannot attend YOU to morrow, but ii you
wish will provide you an escort
"Oh, do" l exclaimed. so eagerly
ihat tho calm look in his eyes grew pain.
fully penetrating, as hc fixed them sadly
upon my face.
went with the party nominaly under
The cscol, Of Doeior S:anhopc and wife,
but it was Lieutenant Morris who rode
by my side, who praised my riding, my
figure and general appearance with more
warmth than pleased even my Unsuitable
vanity.
After that day my husband seemed
changed. lie was rs kind to me as ever,
even indulsing me more than formerly,
but the old tenderness was gone. ]
missed the stolen caress, the pet warmth
-.hc thousand little tendcrnesses that
had before made my li(o with him so
sweet.
Had any one given me whispered
hint that my heart was growing disloyal
to my husband, or that Lieutenant Morris
sought my society with pleasure, should
have repcl.ed the accusation with indig'
nation. had no thought of any thing
wrong. But then why was so pleased
with his society? Why did | care so little
whether il was he or my husband who
rode by my side; who walked with me,
and seemed always ready 10 attend me ?
1t was because loved nattery and Lie
flied NY measure 10 in,oNicalion.
The summer had ripencd into autumn
stili cOn,ary to all our expectations we
were detained 1t the station. Mrs. STAN
hope had set her active brain TO work
couuiing up festivities FOR the winIer.and
her programme was the promise OF oyster
suppcls, card parties and balls enough to
suit the liyciicst taste, aud |, SO far from
su.lrilcd with society and pleasure, was
almost beside myself with the delight
some privileges.
The old home delights OF reading and
conversation that had once been so pleas
| ing to me, were now dislked and neg
lcctcd except at inte rivals, when prudence
and duty would assert their sway.
Ny husband never rcbuked me- and but
seldom accompanied me to those gay
scenes; but had become SO accustomed
to appearing without him that it scarcely
malercd anything whether he attended
me or not.
Where all this blind loolishness might
have led me 10 shudder 10 think But
a mercilul God intcrposed. With plying
eye lie saw my lolly and sent a messen'
ger of grace-a sweet pledge Of love
to slanch me, it may be from my ruin. l
was about 10 become mother. When
The fact first became known 10 me was
very angry aud mortified. had planned
such gay winter and 10 be disappointed
was so sore trial. fear Il had then
studied my own heart | should have dis.
covered that The loss oil Lieutenant Nor