Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1877-12-21

/ Cu uncOmi0rtanlc urCalnS. IN the
morning, soon after breakfast, | ran
over to see Helen. | found her in her
room, sitting III her night-drcsS
the picture of despair.
"'What is it," asked eagerly,
What has happcned?' She looked
nj me heavily, like one not vet re
covered from the shock Of i stunning
! blow.
Dear cousin, what is the matter9'
asked
now saw hv motion other hand,
that is held, tightly clutched, Il piece of
paper She reached it to me. 1t was
Il letter, and read
We cannot live happily together,
Helen. You are not what l believed my
self getting when we were married-not
the sweet, lovely, lovablo girl that
charmed my fancy, and Won me from
all others. Alas for Us both that it is
SO There has been u shipwreck Of
two lives. Farewell shall never re-
turn.
And this was ALL but it broke the
heart Of my poor cousin. TO this day,
though nearly three years have passed,
she has never heard from her husband,
saw her lst week in the country
home to which she had been taken by
her friends, wreck both III mind and
body She wins sitting in M upper
room. Ieom the window of which could
be seen beautiful landscape She was
neatly attircd, and Il lockct, containing
her husbands picture, hung ut the
throat. Her head was dropped and her
eyes Oh tic floor when entered but
she raised her eyes quickly, and with u
kind Of start. saw momcntary
eager flush in her face, dying ont
quickly and leaving il meXprcssihly sad.
- Thought it WAS John, She said
mournfully. Why don't he comc?'
i had to stop here, for Maggy broke
out suddenly into wild fit of sohhing
and crying which lasted for nearly Il
minute.
What ails You dear?' ! asked as
She began to be II little composed
Oh you have frightened me So. If
John should d-"
She cut short the sentence; but her
frightened face left me in nodoubt lis To
what was in her thoughts,
She arose and walked about the room
i'll an uncertain way for some moments
and then set down again, drawing in
her breath heavily,
If young wives" ! romarked-be-
lieving that III her present state the
truth was the best thing to say" would
take half the pains in making them
selves personally attractive To their
husbands, that they did TO charm their
lovers, more Of them would find the
lover continued i'll the husband. Is u
man less admirer Of womanly grace
and beauty after he becomes n husband
than he was bcfore?"
Hush hush p she said in Il chok-
ing voice. +" see it all ] comprehend
it all And she glanced down at her
self Il look hateful and disgusting" !"
After plain earnest talk with Maggie
! went home. give her own words rs
to what happened afterwards:
was watching all the afternoon.
John has acted worse nt dinner time;
and what you had told me about poor
Helen set my fears in motion and
worric me half to death. Long he
fore the time he usually came home,
dressed myself with care selecting the
things heard him admire. As looked
at myself il the glass, | saw that was
attractive; felt rs | had never felt be-
fore, that there WAS power i'll dress
that no Woman can disregard without
loss Of influence, no matter what her
position Or sphere Of life.
Supper time came. ! had made
something that | knew John liked, and
was waiting for him with II nervous
cagcrness it was impossible to repress.
But the hour passed and his well known
tread along the little garden walk did
not reach my anxious ears. Five, ten
twenty minutes beyond his hour for re-
turning, and still was alone. Oh |
shiyer rs recall the wild fears that be-
gan TO crowd upon me- Twas standing
at the window, behind the curtain,
waiting and watching All at once
saw him 4 little distance from the
house, but not in the direction from
which he usually came. lie was walk
ing slowly, and with eyes upon the
ground. His whole manner was that Of
one depressed or suffering ! dropped
the curtain, and went back into our
little breakfast room to see that supper
was qickiy on the table, John came in,
and Went up stairs, as be usually did, to
change bis coat before tea In few
minutes rang the tea bell, and then
seated myself at the table to wait for
him He was longer than usual in
making himself ready, andthen ] heard
hin coming down slowly and heavily,
w If there was 10 spritin him.
Ny heart beat strongly. But
tried " look bright and smiling. There
was, Oh 50 dreary look on Johns
face as first saw it in the door. IL