Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-12-20

nome IL III udIlSeT, anu f1dful1g was no
exception to the rule Temptation lay
about his feet, and that commonest
temptation of all, the elegantly fitted up
billiard and drinking saloon.
"They had been married just about
as long as you and John have been
when the sad catastrophe of thuir lives
took place. / had called to spend the
day with Helen, and found her in her
usual condition Of untidyness and dis
order. When her husband came home
at dinner time, noticed with painful
/ concern that he had been drinking
not very freely, but just enough to show
itself in captious ill-humor. Helen had
not dressed for dinner, but presented
/ herself at the table without even a clean
collar, and with an old faded shawl
/ drawn about her shoulders. She looked
anything but attractive.
saw her husbands eyes glance
/ toward her across the table with an ex-
preston that chilled me. 1t was hard,
/ angry, determined expression. He was
scarcely civil to me, and snapped his
wife sharply two or three times during
the meal. Atthe close, he left the table
without word, and went upstairs.
"'What's the matter with John? [
asked.
Dear alone knows > replied Helen.
He's been acting queer for good
while. [ can't imagine what's come
over him.
Does he come home in this way
often?' [ asked.
Yes, he's moody and disagreeable
most of the time. Pm getting dread
/ fully worried about it.
As we talked we heard John moving
about with heavy footballs in the rooms
above. Presently he came down, and
stood for a little while in the hall at the
foot of the stairs as if in hesitation.
Then he went to the street door, passed
out, and shut it hard after him.
"Helen caught her breath with a start
and turned little pale.
"What's the matter?" | asked, see
ing the strangeness Of her look.
81 don't know she replied in
choking voice, laying her hand at the
same time on her breast, but feel as
if something dreadful were going to
happen.
"She got up from the table, and
drew my arm around her. [ too felt
a sudden depression Of spirits We
went slowly up to her chamber, where
we spent the afternoon; and took up
on myself the office of friend and talk
ed seriously to my cousin about her
neglect of personal neatness, limiting
that her husbands estrangement from
his home, and altered manner towards
herself, might all spring from this cause.
4 at or If
/ pressed the subject home with ten
der seriousness that did the work of
conviction; and as evening drew n,she
dressed with care and neatness, with a
fresh ribbon tied IN he hair, and color
a little raised by mental excitement,
she looked charming and lovable. [
waited with interest to see the impress
sion she would make on her husband.
He could not help being charmed back
into the lover, [ was sure. But he did
not come home to tea. We waited for
him whole hour after the usual time,
and then we sat down at the table alone;
| but neither of us could do more than
sip little tea.
went home soon after, with prs
sure Of concern at my heart for which
I could not account All night dream
ed uncomfortable dreams. In the
morning, soon after breakfast, | ran
over to see Helen. [ found her in her
room, sitting in her night-dress
the picture of despair.
80 What is it," | asked eagerly
What has happened?' She looked
at me heavily, like one not yet re-
covered from the shock of stunning
blow.
"'Dear cousin, what is the matter?'
| asked.
/ now saw by a motion Of her hand,
that is held, tightly clutched, piece of
paper. She reached it to me. 1t was
a letter, and read:
We cannot live happily together,
Helen You are not whatI believed my
self getting when we were married-not
the sweet, lovely, lovable girl that
charmed my fancy, and won me from
all others. Alas for us both that it is
so! There has been q 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.
Il saw her last week in the country
home to which she had been taken by
/ her friends, wreck both in mind and
! body. She wins sitting in an upper
room. from the window of which could
be seen beautiful landscape She was
neatly attired and a locket, containing
her husbands picture, hung at the
throat Her head was dropped, and her
eyes on the floor when | entered but
she raised her eyes quickly, and with
kind of start. [ saw momentary
eager flush in her face, dying out
quickly and leaving it inexpressibly sad.
"' thought it was john she said
mournfully. why don't he Gomez?
l had to stop here, for Maggy broke
out suddenly into wild fit of sobbing
and crying which lasted for nearly
minute.
"What ails you dear?" 1 asked as
she began to oe a little composed.
cob you have frightened me so. If
John should"
She cut short the sentence; but her
frightened face left me in no doubt as to
what was in her thoughts
! She arose and walked about the room
in an uncertain way for some moments
and then set down again, drawing in
her breath heavily.
hE"If young wives" I remarked-be-
lieving that in 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 in the husband. Is
man less admirer of womanly grace
and beauty after he becomes a husband