The Russellville Democrat., 1877-05-31

dren were asleep, the mother sat III ner wretcEed mood, apart from her husband, and feeling no inclination to join him. 1 "All love has died" said she, am 1 nothing now" And as she said this her heart shivered with an instinctive reali- zation of what her words involved. Then fear for the loss of thing 90 precious as d husbands love seized upon her soul and inspired new purpose. A love worth winning was surely worth an l effort to retain. And was not the way to win, the way to keep? A new light broke into Mrs. Howland's mind. She began to see things in herself that were very far from being in harmony with her l fife when a maiden-things that would have certainly repelled a lover, and We're they bonds for husbandS
 These thoughts startled the awaken | ing wife. Then old memories were re- vived, bringing back old states, pictures warm with the hues ot love came out of | the dim past.
 Isthe cup broken and the wine spill. ed ?" she asked of herself. "God forbid!' came from her lips in due utterance. Then she left the chamber where her children | slept, and with silent feet went towards l the apartment in which she had left her husband alone.
 On the way she paused, stood still for moment, then returned. The gas was burning lew. She threw up the light and | caught reflection of herself in the toilet glass. One glance sufhced. That was not 1 the style in which she appeared before her lover. Taking down her hair, she l applied comb and brush rapidly for some moments. and then arranged the glossy ma ses with taste and skill Next the soiled and tumAled wrapper was removed, and her person attired in neatly fitting ] dress, around the neck of which was laid a snowy linen collar fastened by small coral pin, her husbands gift of other days Already her cheeks were filled with glow and her eyes filled with light. One long glance at herself in the mirror revealed a wonderful transformation. How the old memories were crowding in upon her !! How soit her heart was growing How iull of tenderness was every thought of her husband! Her lips were athirst for kisses
 And now Mrs. Rowland left har cham Der again. Her slippered feet gave no sound as they moved over the carpet, and she came to the open door of the sitting room without betraying sign of her ap- l proach. There she stood still. Mr. Rowland was not at the table reading, as she had left him. but at his secretary 1 which was open. He was reclining his head on one hand and gazing down upon something held in the other, and seemed wholly absorbed. For more than min. ute he remained in this fixed attitude, his wife was as still as himself. Then a Iong sigh trembled on the air. and then lifting the object toward which his gaze was directed Mir. Rowland pressed it to his lips, kissing it almost passionately, l three or four times. A wild throb leap- ed along Mrs. Howland's veins. Then her heart grew still as if in the presence of some unknown but stupendous evil. Something impelled her to spring for ward and read this mystery, and some- thing as strongly held her back. As she stood, pale now, and in tremor, the eb- | ject was kissed again, and then returned ! to the drawer in the secretary from which it had been taken. In this act for an instant, the miniturc of lady met the gaze of Mrs. Rowland. Locking the drawer her husband put the key in his pocket, and then resting both arms on the leaf of the secretary, buried his face in them and sat motiOnless.
 Turning away as noiselessly as she had approached, Mrs. Rowland fled back to her chamber in wild flight, and sat down panting in bewilderment. As soon as thought began to move in determined way, the first result was flood of indig- nation, a burning sense of wrong. and it | was only by an effort that the outraged wife could hold herself back from con- fronting her husband and demanding to sec the miniature. A calmer. bus not less painful state succeeded, in which conscience whispered of indifference and neglect. Had she turned habil ually her most or her least attractive side to her husband? Had she kept herself lovely in his eyes-lovely in temper and lovely in person? Her heart sank: it grew darker and darker around her; lie seemed crushed out.
 "Who is it? This question marked change in the current of Mrs. How lands thoughts. Rapidly she passed in review one lady friend alter another, but without an incident to fix suspicion. The times and seasons in which her hus- band had been absent from home were dwelt upon. Once week regularly he welt out in the evening, occasionally twice. The regular absence was for the purpose of attending a literary society," at least so he had informed his wife. Now, for the first time. doubt of his truth crept in, and this doubt was the sweeping away of all the sure founda- tion on which her soul had rested. For time Mir. Rowland remained sit ting at his secretary with his face buried in his bands. At length, rising with slow weary motion, as if of one exhausted by bodily or mental exertion, he drew out his watch.
 "Halfpast nine!" was eiaculated in surprise. And then he looked through the door over towards the chamber whither his wife had gone with the children, and stood listening for some sound. All was silent. For short time he moved in an uneasy, irresolute way about the room, and sitting down, tried to find interest in the pages of book. But in little while the volume closed in his hand. Thought was too busy in another direction to dwell even with a favorite author.
 "Ten o'clock !" The bell was ringing it's clear notes from neighbering steeple. Mir. Rowland started up,and turning out