The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-10-25
aR. enssrERrIElp,' FolL'.

7 utkU &AfFie4 NulF hAA eUAfk Ns4nsAtf NAiA
already her husband was waning 10 bic
aevotios Twice lAr noaih be bad
srcnt hiseyeniogs a. bis cat. Tonight
be Was ats supper, given bin By bic
bachelor friends, AID when she bad some
wha demonstrated With bim, be bad
said
You know hAd rather be with you,
dear but could hardly refuse Hal,
when he gol the thing up for me. Run
over 10 your mothers, like brave little
! woman. Oae Of the boys will bring you
home. wou't stay late, promise you,
Then, With a good.by Kiss be was
gone,
Six months ago, could such plea have
drawn him from her sIdef All, bow
happy had she been. how proud on her
bridal day Of her splendid lover! how
tlmidly she bad looked into bis hand
some face, and for The first time called
him husband, wondering II every wife
was as gloriously content as she
Then follow those weeks Of radiant
hsppiness when they two forgot the
world aud al else, save that each existed
for the other. til the time approached
for the homecoming, aud she found
awaiting her the prettiest house wiz
could find, furnished throughout 10 ex-
qulsite taste by her lndulgent father.
When she had kissed and thanked him,
did she dream beneath its roof ever TO
shed one tear, think one unhappy
thought? Yet even now the blue eyes
are wet. the lashes are heavy with mois-
ture, aud her lip trembles, when knock
at her door disturbs the unpleasant tenor
OF her thoughts.
A servant, entering in obedience TO her
summons, bears a salver, and on il
card, which he presents with a respectful
bow.
Upon the pasteboard is written, in a
bold Characteristic hand, the name Hale
Raymond.
Her first impulse is TO be excused, on
plea of illness; then bright thought
rushes into her brain.
Tell the gentleman, James, | will be
with him presently.
She has heard somewhere that hus-
bands are apt to grow weary OF their
homes, and seek elsewhere the excite
tnent not obtsinable 10 that pure atmos-
phere, but that, if the wives absent them
selves aud indulge in little quiet recrea-
ton, il soon srouses their liege lords to a
sense of their duty. Well she knows
Will does not admire Hale Raymond-in
fact, treats him with polite coolness,
which he is too thorough man of the
world not to see, but which he chooses to
ignore. However, he certainly cannot
object TO an evening call; and, If he is
not here TO share his attentions, she is
not responsible.
So, hastily rising and standing before
the large Psyche mirror in her dressing
room, see took from bouquet beside her
tea rose and put it in her hair,
Certainly the glass reflected vision
which any man might be proud TO call
bis own. Ofmedium height, with violet
eyes shaded by long dark lashes, hair of
that rare auburn tint which turned TO
gold in the suns bright light, mouth
and teeth in exquisite perfection, figure
beautifully moulded, draped in black
velvet, with light tissue over dress
what wonder that, as she entered the
parlor and Hale Raymond rose to greet
her, The regrets with which he met her
excuses for her husbands absence were
mere lip service?
But be notes, as she speaks, The fever.
ish sparkle in her eye, the quick flush
upon her cheek, aud resolves accordingly
upon bis plans of the siege.
Though ! am sorry not TO see Mr..
Chesterfield, cannot but anticipate with
pleasure an hours quiet chat alone with
you. But how comes it that am 10
such rare luck? What imperative busl-
ness has called your husband from your
side?
do not know If we may call dinner
imperative business, but such is the
cause Of Mr.. Chesterfied's absence. It
was given him By one OF his oldest
friends, and be, OF course, could not re-
fuse.
suppose not, as husband As lover,
one manages to escape such bores; but
then we are not sure Of the prize, aud
with the race all untried before us, we do
not dare rest for a moment upon our
oars. presume when the goal il reach
ed the reaction sets in; but unfortunately
| cannot speak from experience.
! Imagine you are entirely TO blame for
so lAmenlable condition Of affairs.
Not perhaps so entirely as you believe
me TO be. When one watches in the
midst Of garden of exoiics one Queen
Rose, .airer, more beautiful than any Of
ils sisIers-sees it ripen day by day, into
moro perfect sweetness, such loveliness
that ones own unworlhiness teaches him
hesitation in approaching it, until be
wAkens from his dream Of hope TO lnd
be has waited too long -otber fingers,
rAsber, bolder, have plueked the flower
from the stem--,hen is there left only q
faint fragrance perfuming The air, filling
him with the torture Of the might have
been. But IL Is growing late, Think Of
my story, MF. Chesterfield. Perhaps
you can give msils sequel. Good night!
And bowing low be len her, wonder
Ing At his meaning.
Could he have been so bold IS 10 have