Connecticut western news., 1876-08-11
church with you in this old one, I don

C&ro.
 Mir. Taylor was extravagantly fond of plants, and had magnificent cactus in full bloom; it was rare species, and this was the first towering. Fanny had been considering the plan for some time, and one day suitable opportunity pre- senting itself when they were on the piazza together, managed to lose her footing and fell, turning the vase over and completely crushing the flowers in her descent.
 "Victory!" thought she, as she beheld his distressed, anxious face. But no it was not tho cactus, but his good-for- nothing wife he was tenderly picking up and feeling so anxious about.
 "He certainly must love me a little after all," thought she; "but I don't know, he is very kind, and would prob ably have been just as concerned if the accident had happened to any one else.'
 "IH go home," sobbed Mrs. James Taylor that evening. "I'll see how this horrid man can live without me-
 "How long do you intend to remain2" asked her husband, very coolly, when informed of her determination.
 "Oh! six months," she replied. "I am tired to death of staying here, and it will be so nice to see William and Frank and all of them. My cousin Archie is there, too, and we will have famous rides and drives"
 "I hope you will enjoy yourself" re- maaked her husband, quietly. Fanny relinquished her teasing operations grad ually before her departure from overwhelming him with questions and remarks when he was in a serious mood, and playing sad when he was in- clined to be merry. She would no lon ger throw down his new hat (for which he had a particular affection) @ dozen times day, and pretend that it was en- tirely accidental, and invite disagreea- ble company when he was least in the mood to bear it. It required all her res olution to leave her husband; she felt wretched and unhappy at the very idea, and would walk around the house think ing of his loneliness, and wondering whether he would ever feel sad or re- member her abominable behavior when she had gone.
 Her very heart was bursting the morn ing she left, and it was with the great est difficulty that she could restrain her tears. Yet one never would have sus- pected it, for she was gay to an excess. "I leave you with the comfortable conviction that you'll not miss me at all, she said, lightly, as her husband as- sisted her into the carriage.
 He smiled, said "Good bye," and the horse started. MT. James Taylor would have been fattered if he had known that Fanny cried all the way home, and her pretty face was so swollen and disfg- ured that she did not even see Archie or half of them till the following morning.
 "I'll punish him by not writing" :" thought she; "he never even asked me if I would !''
 And write she did not for fortnight, till at length, growing desperate to hear from him, she penned an epistle abound ing in questions and directions, orders and counter orders, with a feeble hope at the end that it might find him fourishing. He replied immediately by a very kind letter, not love-like, but in unison with the rest of his conduct, aaectionate, proper and amiable. Fanny waited fortnight again, then sent for him to take her home. And now was MT. James Taylor, if he had the least love for his amiable helpmate, to under go slight purgatory.
 She was absent when he arrived (of course she intended to be), riding with her cousin Archie, and walked her horse leisurely up the avenue talking gayly to her escort till her husband reached her side. Nothing could be more coolly we'll bred than their meeting. No rap ture or emotion on either side. She "hoped he was we'll ;" " had she enjoyed her visit?' "yes; more than tongue could tell"
 "I don't believe he is we'll" thought Fanny, as she glanced at him afterward
 "how pale and thin he has grown, and he looks more melancholy than ever. l wonder what is the matter with him, D murnaured Fanny to herself. It was surprising how many plans Fanny had with her cousin during the three days that her husband remained. She had not been particularly civil to him before, for he was an old lover, and she did not care to be but now there really was no end to the jests and excursions they got up together she gayest of the gay, and he carrying her wild fancies with all the zeal in the world.
 'I don't think James looks either well or happy. Fanny" said her mother one day.
 "Don't you2" returned Fanny, and she felt quite charmed at the idea, and
 racing after her husband, who was at the foot of the garden, she proposed Der mothers remark without the slight est circumlocution. He looked for 8
 moment at her animated face, then re,
 piled gravely that Che was perfectly we'll" Fanny was uncertain again, yet rather troubled.
 : "You must go and take a walk with me, James, down by the river," she
 said, "where we used to go before we were married;" and putting her hand in his arm she continued, "now you must go-I have you captive, surrender al discretion"
 Never had Mrs. James Taylor beer more charming than on this identica afternoon. She behaved (there is nc denying it) moro like 8 wild bewitchine child than decorous married lady; but still she was very sweet. Her husband yielded himself unhesitatingly to the
 magic influence of her smiles. "Take care Don't go there, Fanny, : he exclaimed, as she stopped over the ~ bank of the river.
 "But I must have them.' She returned, and bending an incl further lost her balance and fell in. She heard a deep, agonizing groan, had { sense of suffocation, and lost all con ; sciousness. When she revived, she was 5 on the bank of the river, her husband 3 bending over her clasping her hands pressing her wildly to his heart, ant
 with every tender and endearing tern 3 entreating her to look up and speak te l him again but she could not. She fel :, deathly faint and relapsed into sort O. t half stupor and heard his agonized cries t his vain appeals for help, with naugh
 but the wind and leaves to hear his wild desperate misery, and with that deathly 8 sickness yet upon her, Fanny had Q de