The Van Buren press., 1876-04-11

Well, then, question dfAt. replied
"What WAS the chief cause Of your sep
arAtion? Did you not love Josie 7"
"Love her! did, and do, now, bet
ter than my life." he replied
Why, then, did you separate from
her3 Did she not love you IN return ?
l asked.
"Fondly and devotedly," he replied
sadly.
why, then are you thus hv:nI
apart ?" asked.
Do you remember what you told m
about Josie's ungovernable temper. In
conversation which we held prior 70 m,
acquaintance with her2 Do you moi
still. call to mind the fact that told yo
l had. also, an uncomfortable temper
Now, add to this the dreadful willfulnes
OF her nature, and her extreme obstins
cy and persistency, aud you imnsdiatel
discover the wedge that his disunited th
tenor Of our lives"
And yet you love one another. yo,
say 2'
"Yes. know Josie loves me, and
love her, and yet, despite all this. sh'
and l must live apart" and his fran,
trembled with emotion, and tears fell il
showers down his cheeks.
"Do you not think there Is something
that can be done to bind up and eventual
ly cure this dreadful ulcer in your mar
ried life p
mo, no." he sobbed." Josie has &C
long been her own mistress. aud her dis
position has been SO fearfully distorted
by the mistaken education of her child
hood that she can In no sense brook con
trolling"
"And you think there 10 no possibility
Of your living together as man and wife,
any more2' said I, in plying. sympa.
thisiLg voice.
"Ah, no, Il never can be it is a con-
summation for which l hardly dare to
hope"
l perceived that our conversation was
becoming oppressingly painful to him,
and / changed 1t into one more pleasure
BILE in its character
After l had parted from him. l deter
mined to do everything that lay in my
power to heal up the terrible breach that
had been made between these two dear
friends of mine. had been the means
of their acquaintance and marriage, and
now was determined to be the one who
should render their now rugged course Of
love more smooth.
The accomplishment Of the task which
| had allotted myself, required that
should perform on act. in itself ever en-
interfere between man and
wife, in order to the amicable adjustment
Of their difficulties. For this purpose |
visited Josie. She met me at tho door,
hut oh, hoW changed; that face, once 50
beautiful WIS now streaked with the fur
rnEs .af a can kero4s care; trouble Looked
tiful eyes, aud anxiety Kept nu u''er,"s
watch along the rugged highway Of her
life. Tears were no longer strangers to
her eyes. and from her heart had depart
ed all its buoyancy. looked down into
her beautiful eyes, and their dimmed lus-
tre told me of the deep regret that peo-
pied her heart with its dark shadows.
JOSIE" l said, 81 have always been
a friend Of yours, have not"
"Yes, Mr. Peters," she said, :" and
consider you as good q friend now. But
why this question:
Because am about to talk to you.
upon delicate subject, and one that
greatly interests you-your domestic
woes"
"Oh, oh, oh, Mr.. Peters," she sobbed,
Z" do you indeed sympathise with me2"
"Yes. Josie,' replied, ~ do, with
all my heart, and am willing to do all in
my power to turn aside this fearful cur
rent of woe that beleagures your path.
way, and sweeps away with its dreadful
pillows your barque of bliss"
"Ah, yes, Mr. Peters," she replied, in
most pitiful accents. :" you have always
advised me well, and had been mindful
of your monitions l should not now
know the psngs Of anguish that gnaw
like dreadful viper. at my heart"
"Tcll II e, JOSIE l asked tenderly
"do you love your husband p
"God knows my heart, Mr.. Peters,
do" she replied solemnly.
"Do you wish to be restored again tt
his lover"
"Oh, yes. Mr.. Peters," she replied, th'
oldtime FIRE sparkling in her tear. be
dimmed eyes" am terribly lonely With
out his love. Yen cannot conceive II
any manner of the terrible shadows tha
have darkened the pathway of my life
My husband and eat at different table,
in different apartments, and sleep in sep
arate rooms. cook for him and attend
to his room, but VIC never meet, Our lit
tie Amy-the perfect picture of Gordon
goes to his room. every time he comes
home, and hear him lavishing upon he
those caresscs and cndearmcnts that ono
fell so tender and soft upon my cheek
and ears, as he kissed away my frowns
and whispered to rue oflove. She woult
run from bis room to mine, and putting
her tiny arms around my neck, woul'
lisp, Ma, isn't pa so good' just Sc
what he has given me! Why don't yo'
90 in and see him ? This was more thai
could stand. and my whole frame woul'
throb with emotion, as l would tell he
to run out and play. have q husband
but am widowed wife, for, thougl
living, he is dead to me, in that no NOR
enjoy his love / had rather share hi
love, and weep over the easket that deatl
had robbed OF its jewel, than that h'
should be alive. and yet dead to my
heart. The house is ever to me hous'
OF woe.' On every side see things
that are continual remembrancers OF him