Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-04-13


Rowland was alone. She had left her hus-
band in the little room where they usually |
sat together through the evening, while she
put the children 70 bed.
Mrs. Rowland did not feel inclined 70 re-
turn TO the family sitting room where she
had LEFT her husband, bat remained with
Ia the chamber with her sleeping little ones
10 tnusng. brooding, unhappy state Of
mind. Something Of GOODNESS and alienation
bad been growing up between her and her
hnsbandi for long time past. The old ten
derness Of manner which had been 30 sweet
was all gone. lie was kind, thonghtful 10
regard 70 her comfort. honorable aud true.
but getting more formal and loss aifectiouate
In manner every day. His wife, who bad
loved him very tendorly, and still loved him,
had failed 70 give her life adequate responses
70 his---had, in the fret and fever Of disci-
plinary existence, suffered herself to work
amid disturbing and disssFdAnt elements in
stead OF taking her place serenely by his
side Aud 30, harmonious things had been
permitted TO jar, where all might have been
peace.
IL was pressing upon the mind Of Mrs.
Rowland that her husband had ceased TO
love her, aud this conviction was taking oil
the sweetness out OF her life. II did not
once occur 10 her that she was herself grow
ing uulovely, that she had laid aside nearly
ali the external things BY which, when
maiden, she had sought TO win hiu--the
sunny countenance, the alluring voice and
manner, the scrupulous attire, the Difference
TO his taste and opinions, the guard upon her
temper, the womauly elevation Of character
that made her seem IS ono Who rulcd 10 the
kingdom Of her own soul. This was
the being be had loved, this was the woman
he had taken to walk with him through lifs.
Alas, for the fading idea He had found.
instead, one who made scarcely an effort at
self. government, whose feelings and impulses
we're not springs Of actions. Deeply, pas
sionatsiy she loved him, but not wisely !
self. abnegating love pleases both itself and
the object Of its devotion. Without some
change on the part Of Mrs. Rowland il was
impossible for them to grow together again.
For nearly half an hour after her chill
dren we're asleep the mother sat in her
wretched mood, apart from her husband and
feeling no inclination 10 join him.
"All love has died." said she, al am moth
iug now" Aud as she said this her heart
shivered with an instructive realization Of
what her words involved. Then fear for the
loss Of n thing SO precious as husbands
love seized upon her soul aud inspired new
purpose A love wo.th winning was surely
worth an effort to retain. Aud was not the
way to win, the way to kept A new light
broke into Mrs. HowIaod's mind. She be.
gan TO see things in herself that were very
far from being 10 harmony with her life when
. maiden--things that would certainly have
repealed lover, and were they bonds for a
husbandf
These thoughts startled tho awakening
wife. Then old memories were revived,
bringing back old states, pictures warm with
the hues Of love came out Of the dim past.
lis the cup broken and the wine spilled p
she asked of herseif-"God forbidw came
from her lips in due utteraDoe. Then she
left the chamber where her children slept,
and with silent feet went towards the apart
ment in which she had left her husband
alone. NF~ ~
|, On the way she paused, stood still for a
moment., then returned. The gas was burn
ing low. She threw up the light and caught
reflection Of herself in the toilet glass One
elansed suf6ced That was not the style 10
which she appeared before her lover. TAX
ing down her hair, she applied comb ADD
brush rapidly for some moments, add then
I arranged the glossy masses with taste and
skill. Next the soiled and tumbled wrapper
} was removed and her person attired 10 a
neatly fitting dress, around the neck Of which
, was laid snowy linen collar fastened by a
small coral pin, her husbands gift Of Other
: days. Already her cheeks we're filled with
glow and her eyes filed with light. One
long glance at herseIfin the mirror revealed
a wonderful transformation. How tho old
memories were crowding in upon her How
soft her heart was growing How fall Of
tenderness was every thought Of her husband
) Her lips we're athirst for kisses
And now Mrs. Rowland left her chamber
again. Her slippered feet gave no sound al
they moved over the carpet, and she came tC
! the open door Of the sitting room without
betraying sign Of her approach.-There sh'
stood still. Mr.. Rowland was not at thu
table reading as she had left him, but at hi
secretary which was open. He was reclining
, his head on one hand and gazing down upoT
something held in the other, aud seemec
Q wholly absorbed. For more than n minut,
he remained in this fixed attitude, his wife
was as still as himself Then a long sigI
trembled on the air, and then lifting the OBJ
ject toward which his gaze was directed Mr.
Rowland pressed it to his lips, kissing it al
! most passonatcy, three or four times. 4
wild throb leaped along Mrs. Rowland
veins. Then her heart grew still as in thu
presence Of some unknown but stupendou
evil. Something impelled her to spring for
j. ward and read this mystery, and somethin
: as strongly held her back. As she stood
q pale now, and in tremor it was kissed agaiI
and then returned to drawer 10 the score
tary from which il had been taken. 10 thi
act, for an instant, the miniature Of q lad
met the gaze OF Mr. Rowland. Locking th
It drawer her husband put the key in his peck
: ct. and then resting both arms on the leaf G
the secretary, buried his face in them an
sat motionless.
Turning away as noiselessly as she ha
p approached, Mrs Rowland fed back to h
3. chamber in wild fright, and sat down pau
IF ing and in beWilderment. As soon as though
n began to move 10 determined way, the fir'
:. result was food of indignation, a burnin
~ sense of wrong, and it was only by an effo
If that the outraged wife could hold herse
IN back from confronting her husband and dc
mandiug to see the miniature. A calmer, b.
b. not less painful state succeeded, in whic
= conscience whispered of Indifference or mel
~ lect. Had she turned habitually, her mo-
a or her least attractive side TO her husband
q Had she kept herself lovely in his eyos-lOV
n " in temper and lovely 10 persOnf Her hea
: sunk it grew darker and darker round heI
- life seemed crushed out.