Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-03

oil pretty clothes and pleasant journeys that
her nesh was mortified. n there was a rare
concert 1t was not she who went TO IL; opera
was an unknown region 10 her; such things
were needed TO feed the artists renins.
We can't both 60" he would sigh. Then
you must 60 alone, dear" she would answer;
and he went. When at dinner, too. she
denied herself the dainty to which Mr.. Far
ley was helped repeatedly, the act was un-
observed when she sat up, night after night,
with sick child, Mf. Farley slept the sieep
that we hear belongs to the lust; and when
the child died, it was she that had to make
all the heart-breaking funeral arrangements,
because Mr. Farleys nerves were too delicate
for such cruel encounter.
Yet Mr.. Farley had a conscience. Il was
his conscience that made it necessary to ac-
centuate any unworthy thing which be found
in his wife, and to Law stress on it with
whomsoever happened to be present If she
uttered a mild "Oh, wouldn't" at some
imprudent act, a quick word at some un-
bearable yeXatiou. it was his part TO catch
up and dilate upon il until the hearsr could
not but be convinced Of egregious wrong on
her part. To put her in fault was the sole
excuse for HIMSELF aud he used the excuse.
But though at first, hurt and tcased beyond
power Of expression, she allowed him 10 sue
tanned absolute silence, and only wished she
were out Of SIGHT, out .ii hearing, out Of the
world.
One day friend, who had seen too much
of their inner life, took il upon himself TO
demonstrate. Mr.. Farley assured him of
his error, spoke Of his wife's pecuiarities
declared not only that he had been forced to
this course, but his wife really preferred it TO
a tenderer one, which detracted from her
singular ideas concerning the dignity OF
woman as a mate and not pet---explained 50
much away, in short, that his friend was half
convinced in spite OF his own eyes and ears.
But when his friend had departed. This
is the last straw that breaks the cainel's
back" exclaimed Mr.. Farley. {" To be ac-
cused Of this. after all the sacrifices have
made But for you, and the necessity of
providing for YOU and yours, should be lux
uriating with my art in that Italy which is
the natural home Of art | should be bound
down to no petty canvases and contemptible
fahcies for the sake Of selling them TO put
bread in your mouth | should be soaring on
the wings of my genius in that heaven of
tame which was my natural Inheritance,
but between which and me- You and your
children have stood, till you forced me to
grovel.' He really believed it, and his elo-
quence moved him enough to cloud his mind
and make him morose for days and he never
rose in the hemorning without making the day
dark for his wife with ill-temper, and he
never laid his head on the pillow at night
till he had made his wife wet hers with tears.
Life ceased to have any charms for little
Mrs Farley. Abuse, hardship and privation
had destroyed what elasticity there ever was
in her composition, and she drooped daily;
the children, one by one, had died there
seemed to be nothing for her to look forward
to she had forgotten how to smile, though
her husband assured her she remembered
how TO sulk she dreaded the light every
morning when she opened her eyes she sell
dom closed them without half a hope that
she was closing them for good and ALL Every
morning Mrs. Farley felt little more disin-
clined to begin the day, every night little
more inclined not to see the next--all the
time little more nervous, little more ready
to break down, little weaker, little sad
der. A neighbor, realizing her condition,
sent her some delicacy; Mr.. Farley ate it up.
A good joke and a good dsh," said Mr..
Farley. Mr.. Farley never realized her con-
dition, urged on her no delicacy procured
her no tonic never dreamed of doctor. lie
reproached her Just as severely for any short
coming, quarreled with her as ficrcey "if
she differed, quarreed if she dropped the
difference. All, me - sighed the poor little
fool II were only pretty, he would be
afraid that he might lose me-" Strange as
il seems, she loved him through it oil.
One evening Mr.. Farley was smoking
with bon camarade, in the adjacent room,
when friend who had been sitting with
his wife, ran in breathlessly to send him for
the doctor. Mrs. Farley was bleeding at the
lungs "Tell her to put some salt in her
mouth" he said, as he went. But Just be-
fore he reached the doctors door, he met
with an acquaintance who was wildly en-
over some effect of cloud and
spire and moon, and whom he found it so
difficult to shake off, that before he was
aware the contagious enthusiasm had seized
him, and he was studying and discussing as
eagerly as the other. When he reached the
doctors door, that worthy had left only the
moment before, and it was a couple of hours
ere he returned d" An hour earlier" said
the doctor, and should have saved herr
She was lying on her pillow, white as
though she were already dead when her
husband came in--some friends about her,
the doctor holding her pulse. The little
plain woman was, for that moment, radiantly
beautiful; there was smile on her face that
transiigured it ii was her first selfshness.
She held out her other hand to her husband
as he paused, awe-struck. And all at once,
It came over him that she was going, and he
would be alone that the ground was falling
under his feet, the sky shrivellng above
him. lie fell on his knees beside her, sob
bing aloud. lie sprang to his feet and caught
her in his arms, and implored her not to
leave him, and reyiled himself for neglect Of
her. "Oh, no, no, my darling said the lit
tie creature, smiling gloriousy "you have
nlade-have made me so-yery happy ]"
And then she was at rest at last-dying, for
bis sake, with lie upon her lips.-Hdrper's