The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-09-11
So PER ANNUM.

les my poor, dear Cousin Helen. L
is Of her | am going to tell you"
" | never knew why her husband went
off as he did," said MAggy. "Some said
he was to blame, and some put all the
fault on her. How was it2"
Both were to blame; but she most"
replied, "John Harding was, like your
husband, one of the neatest and most
orderly of men. Anything untidy in his
home, or in the person Of his wife, annoy.
ed and often put him out Of humor; but
ne did not, as he should have done, speak
plainly to his wife, aud let her sec exactly
how he felt, and in what he would like a
change. fhe had done so, Helen would
have tried-as every good wife should
to conform herself more to his tastes and
wishes. But, he was a silent moody sort
of man when things did not go just to
suit him and instead Of speaking out
plainly, brooded over Helen's faults, and
worried himself into fits Of i'll humor
And what was worse than all, grew at
length Indifferent to his home and wife,
and sought pleasanter surroundings and
more attractive company abroad.
=" Every man thus estranged from his
home is in danger, and Harding was no
exception to the rule. Temptation lay
about his feet-and that commonest temp
tation Of all, the elegantly fitted up billiard
and drinking saloon.
"Thsy had been married just about as
long as you and John have been, when
the sad catastrophe of their lives took
place. l had called to spend the day with
Helen, and found her in her usual condi-
tion Of personal untidiuess and disorder.
When her husband came home ut dinner
time, / noticed with painful concern that
he had been drinking-not very freely, but
just enough to show itself in captious i'll
humor. Helen had not dressed for din
ner, but presented herself at the table
without even clean collar, and with an
old faded shawl drawn about her should
ders. She looked anything but attractive.
9" / saw her husbands eyes glance TO-
ward her across the table with an expires.
sion that chilled me. Il was hard,
angry, determined expression. He was
scarcely civil to me, and snapped his wife
sharply two or three times during the meal.
At its close, he left the table without
word, and went up stairs.
whats the matter with John?" l
asked.
Dear above knowsl" replied Helen.
"He's been acting queer for good while;
| can't imagine what's come over him"
Docs he come home in this way often2"
| asked.
"Yes, he's moody and disagreeable as
he eau be most Of the time. I'm dread.
fully worried about it.
As we talked we heard John moving
about with heavy footballs in the rooms
above. Presently he came down and
stood for little while in the hall at the
foot Of the stairs, as IL in hesitation. Then
he went to the street door, passed out and
shut ii hard after him.
Helen caught her breath with start,
and turned little pale.
"What's the matter2n l asked, seeing
the strangeness Of her look.
al don't know" she replied in a chok-
ing voice, laying her hand at the same time
on her breast, "but | feel as if something
dreadful were going to happen"
"She got up from the table and drew
my arm around her. too felt sudden
depression Of spirits. We went slowly up
to her chamber, where we spent the after
noon; and l then took upon myself the
office Of friend, and talked seriously to
my cousin about her neglect Of personal
neatness, limiting that the cause Of her
husbands estrangement from his home
aud altered manner toward herself, might
al spring from this cause. She was q
little angry with me at first but / pressed
the subject home with tender serious
ness that did the work Of conviction and
as evening drew on she dressed herself
with care and neatness. With fresh
ribbon tied in her hair and color little
raised from mental excitement, she looked
charming and loyable; / waited with in
terest to see the impression she would
make on her husband. He could not help
being charmed back into the lover | was
sure. But he did not come to ten. We
waited for him whole hour after the
usual time, and then sat down to the table
alone; but neither Of us could do more
than sip little tea.
"Iwent home soon after with pressure
Of concern at my heart for which / could
not account. All night l dreamed un-
comfortable dreams. In the morning soon
after breakfast, / ran over to see Helen.
| found her in her room sitting in her night
dress, the picture of despair,
"What is it?" l asked eagerly, "what
has happened" ?"
She looked at me heavily, like one not
yet recovered from the shock Of stun.
ming blow.
Dear cousin what is the matter2" l
said.
l now saw by motion of her hand, that
It held, tightly clutched, piece Of paper,
She reached II to me. It was letter,
and read;
awe cannot live happily together,
Helen, You are not what I believed my.