Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-06-11

Margery gathered her cloak moro closely
about her shoulders, and resting both hands
upon the back Of the chair by which she was
standing, SAID almost defiantly:
"If you havo anything to say, please say It
as quickly as possible. l am tired, and have
need of rest my demands for tomorrow are
pressing"
"And mine, Margery, you will find, arc
more so. | have been trined with, and my
expressed desire neglected long enough.
You will remember hereafter that | stand
first in this household, and that my wishes
are entitled to somo consideration"
perhaps you had better EXPLAIN she
said contemptuously; II do not know that
l have the honor of comprehending your re-
Marks
81 shall certainly be more explicit then, !"
he answered, mildly, still determined not to
appear irritated by her indifference. 1--WE
have been married almost three years, Mar
gerry, and in all that time l have been but
"A slave to your bidding. It is true that 1 am
moro than twice your own age, but | be-
came your husband, fondly believing that in
your love my heart would regain its youth
fulRess, and that you would find comfort
and happiness in being an old mans dar-
ling That have been disappointed l free
ly acknowledge; that you nave been l can
but infer. l realize now the vanity of the
hope which led me to unite old age with
youth, since our tastes are so dissimilar.
What l have to say to YOU, however, is this
that l desire you to r~elinquish, in a measure,
these frivolities, which are separating us so
surely and so utterly"
Margery looked for n moment in his face,
and said:
Suppose l do not desire to renounce those
pleasures which you seem to condemn so
heartily"
Then l shall resort to thai authority
which. as your husband, is vested in me-"
And if | do not chose to submit to that
authority ''
That is not a question to be discussed be-
tween us" he exclaimed, emphatically, now
thoroughly aroused and irate. IL am mas
ter of this house, rs you will find to your
cost. That you have never cared for me
except us tho representative of the wealth
which purchases your pleasures is too plain
a case to admit of argument. But there is
one thing of which you may rest assured
while you bear my name it must remain rs
unsullied as when you received il. / do not
wish you to regard me rs n brute, nor yet rs
a tyrant, but this continued dissipation must
cease. l am too old to be dragged from one
scene Of gayety to another-tied, rs it were,
m tho Nsrhna15 Af ,vo,,, N.,-.-I..N ,I.-s-k
and since / cannot attend you, you must con-
fine yourself more at home. You can retire
now if you please, but remember that | ex-
pect compliance with my wishes"
THANK you for that privileged" she return
ed sarcastIcally 81 shall not retire, how
ever, until this question is definitely settled!'
Her eyes glowed like midnight stars. and
s~piratlon sparkled like diamonds in the full
blaze of the chandelier beneath which she
stood. That do not love you, Col. Leslie,
you seem to be well aware. | married you
because l was dazzled by those visions of
splendor which you placed before my eyes,
and l sighed for them as those who travel in
the sandy deserts thirst for water. Fashion
ehN oONiSNJ " IA iiOisS Nuu ulsCOiHOCltu
from them l would not turn over my hand
to live another hour. l shall not give them
up without n struggle, you may rest assured,
but the victory is not always to the stro ng.
Goodnight" she added, turning from him,
and leaving the room with the air of an en-
press.
Col. Leslie stunned and mortified by her
confession, buried his face in his hands.
This was the bitter ending of his pleasant
dream this cold, calculating woman, the
wife who presided over his home.
'She shall have her own way" he sudden
ly, ~stoically resolved. IF she married me,
rs she says for my wealth, she shall not be
cheated in the bargain. She shall ENJOY her
freedom while l live, and my wishes shall
hereafter remain untold
Two-four years passed away, and then
the end of it all came. Margery was sitting
alone in her elegant ~drawing-room, whence
a hundred guests had just departed, when
Col. Leslie entered hastily and drew a chair
to her side. She gathered her trailing robes
of amber satin more closely around her, rs
if fearing contamination. lie noticed the
hlONCAhCht, ~ CACltliiiCu upOlOSCllCully
II vowed years ago, Margery. that | never
would again, by word or look, detract from
your happiness, and faithfully until now,
have | kept the promise. This, however, is
a ~perilous moment for both of us, and must
account for this intrusion. l have a COM
munication to make which will startle you,
but you must hear it. Are you listeningP
l I'M a bankrupt, Margery, a bankrupt
"A bankrupt" she exclaimed, hoarsely.
"Are you in earnest?"
Eyes, in terrible, terrible earnest, rs to-
morrow's proceedings will show. l have
not a dollar in the world which / can hon
estly call my own. For your sake | regret
it. You worship wealth and position, you
told me once, and l have never forgotten 1t.
God knows ! pity you"
"What are we to do?" she asked brokenly;
for, try as she might, the tears would not be
depressed.
81 do not know" he answered vaguely.
THE tidings reached me but n few hours
ago, and since then l nave thought of moth
ing but how | should tell you without break
ing your heart. 1 am too old to work for
you, Margery; but how will you endure
our misfortunes? You will doubtless re-
proach me for not having provided against
this contingency when we were married,
but | did not know then that you had sold
yourself to me. l thought that you loved
me a little, Notwithstanding the disparity Of
years between us.n
He ceased speaking, and abruptly left the
room. For a moment Margery's heart soft
ened toward him, but the next she rose up,
and sweeping her eyes over the magnificent
apartments, said bitterly:
mo, no., 1 cannot live without them"
She assembled to her chamber, where her
maid was awaiting her coming. She wear
lily submitted herself to her skillful hands.
and. hnvinp substituted a morning wranner