Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-10-27
TEN YEARS AFTER MARRIAGE.


TEN YEARS AFTER MARRIAGE.
Ten wears since the wedding day,
Mrs. Rowland was alone. She had
left her husband in the little room
where they usually sat together
through the evening, while she put
the children to bed.
Mrs. Rowland did not feel inclined
to return to the family sitting room,
where she had left her husband, out
remained in the chamber with her
sleeping little ones, in a musing,
broOding unhappy state of mind.
Something of GOODNESS and aliena-
ton had been growing up between
her and her husband for long time
The old tenderness of manner, which
had been so sweet, was all gone. He
was kind, thoughtful in regard to
her comfort, honorable and true, but
getting more formal and less affec-
tiOnate in manner every day. His
wife, who had loved him very ten
derby, and still loved him, had failed
to give her life adequate response to
his; in the fret and fever of discip-
linary existence, suffered himself to
work amid disturbing elements in
stead of taking her place serenely by
his side. And so, harmonious things
had been permitted to jar, where all
might have been peace.
1t was pressing upon the mind of
Mrs. Rowland that her husband
ceased to love her, and this cOnvic-
ton was taking all the sweetness
out of her life. 1t did not once Oc-
cur to her that she was herself grow
ing unlOvely, that she had laid aside
nearly all the external things by
which, when a maiden, she had
sought to win him; the sunny count
enance, the alluring voice and man
ner, the scrupulous attire, the defer
ence to his tastes and opinions, the
guard upon her temper, the woman
~ elevation of character that made
her seem as one who ruled in the
Kingdom of her own soul. This
was the being he had loved, this was
the woman he had taken to walk
with him through life. Alas, for
the fading idea He had found, in
stead, one who made scarcely an eff
fort at Self-gOVernment, whose feel
ings and impules were not springs
of actions. Deeply, passiOnately she
loved him, but not wisely; self-ab-
negating love pleases both itself and
the object of its devotion. Without
some change on the part of Mrs.
Rowland it was impossible for them
to grow together again.
For nearly half an hour after her
children were asleep, the mother sat
in her wretched mood, apart from
her husband, and feeling no inclina-
ton to join him.
"All love has now died, ;" said she,
al am nothing now" And as she
said this her heart shivered with an
instructive realization of what her
words involved. Then fear for the
loss of thing so precious as hus-
bands love seized upon her soul and
inspired a new purpose. A love
worth winning was surely worth an
effort to retain. And was not the
way to win it the way to keep it ?
y new light broke into Mrs. How
lands mind. She began to see things
i'm herself that, were very far
from being in harmony with her life
when a undertakings that would
have certainly repealed lover, and
were they bonds for husband?
These thoughts startled the wife.
Then old mememOries We're reviv-
ed, bringing back old states, pic
lures warm with the hues of love
came out of the dim past.
'lS the cup broken and the wine
spilled ?'' she asked herself. "GOd
forbid - came from her lips in due
uttcrance. Then she left the cham
Der where her children slept, and
with silent feet went towards the
apartment i'm which she had left
her husband alone.
On the way she paused, stood still
for a moment then returned. The
gas was burning low. She threw up
the light and caught a reflection of
herself i'm the toilet glass. One
glance Suticed. That was not the
style in which she appeared before
her lover. Taking down her hair,
she applied comb and brush rapidly
for some moments, and then arrang-
ell the glossy masses with taste and
skill. Next the SOiled and tumbled
wrapper was removed, and her per-
son attired in a neat fitting dress,
around the neck of which was laid
4 snowy linen collar fastened by "A
small coral pin; her husbands gift
Of other days. Already her cheeks
were flied with light. One long
glance ut herself i'm the mirror re-
Vcaled wonderful transformation.
How the old memories were crowd
ing in upon her? How soft her heart
was growing! How full of tender
ness was every thought of her hus-
band Her lips were athirst for
kisses!
And now Mrs. Rowland left her
chamber again. Her slippered feet
gavenosounda s they moved overthe
carpet, and she came to the door Of
thesitting room without betraying q
sign OF her approach. There She
stood still. Mr.. Rowland was not at
the table reading as she had left him.
but at his secretary which was open.
He was reclining his head on one
hand and gazing down upon some
thing held in the other and seemed
wholly absorbed. For more than a
minnie he remained in this fixed at
titude. his wife wasas still as himself.
Then = long sigh trembled on the
dir and then lifting the object to-
ward which his gaze was directed
Mr.. Rowland pressed to his lips,
kissing it almost passionately three
a. fonr times. A wild thrOb was leap
;rg ALONG Mrs. HOwland's veins.
M T6an' her heart grew still, % ifin the
a,ssence Of some unknown but stu
pendous evil. Something imPelied
~ 10 snring forward and read this
.le,.sterJ and something as strongly
I'D her hack. As she stood pale
ne,1 ~ I trsnor. the object was kiss
ed again, and then retufneu - '''e