Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-10-09
A WIFE'S CONFESSION.

Ibid not marry for love. Very few
people do, so in this respect l am
neither better nor worse than my neigh
bors. No, l certainly did not marry
for love; | believe 1 married Mr..
Cartwright simply because he asked
me.
This was how it happened. He was
the rector of Devotion, and we lived at
the Manor House, which was about ten
minutes walk from the church and
rectory. We had daily service at
Devotion, and nearly always attend
ed it and it came to pass that Mr..
Cartright inv ariably walked home with
me. 1t was matter of custom now,
and l thought nothing of it; it pleased
him, and on the whole it was rather
pleasant to me also.
Imust confess, however, l was rather
surprised when, one morning when we
GOT to the avenue which led to the
Manor House, Mr.. Cartwright asked me
to be mis- wife.
Ihave never been able to find out
why ! said yes, but l did; perhaps L
thought it a pity to throw away so much
love; or, perhaps it was because he was
so terribly in earnest that 1 dared not
refuse him; perhaps I feared his pale
face, and his low, pleading voice would
ever haunt me if rejected his love;
or, perhaps, it was because he only
asked me to marry him-he did not
ask me if l loved him, for 1 think he
guessed did not. perhaps it was all
these reasons put together, but anyhow
lsald yes, and in due time we were
married.
ought to have been very happy, for
ne was a most devoted husband, but
was not, and though l did not notice it
then, know now that for the first six
months after our marriage he was not
happy either.
TWAS all my fault either would
not Or could not loye him: accepted
all his devotion to me as a matter of
course, but l made no effort to return
II; and am sure he had found out
That he had made mistake in marry
ing woman who did not love him.
one morning, about six months after
our marriage, he told me at the break
last that he intended leaving me alone
lor few weeks. to stay with his mother,
VINO was not very well. He watched
sne effect OF this announcement on me,
out though | was really displeased, l
concealed my annoyance, and asked
carelessly when he would start.
lie replied, the next day, if had no
oolectlon, and so it was settled.
lie was more affectionate than usual
mat day, and l was colder than ever:
gnly once alluded to his journey; and
mat was to ask if l might have my sis
'er r; Maud to stay while he was gone.
me next morning l was anxious to
a'oid a formal parting, so l drove to
uIe station with him. AS the train
moved OIL, | remembered this was our
ts. parting since our marriage, and |
"shed l had not been so cold.
Mhen got home the house looked
~ ufeary and empty and there was no
Sle 70 meet me; presently one of the
wants came for the shawls, and with
n' gt Nero, MIR. Cartwright's retriever,
".icn, when he saw l was alone, set
o ~ now Tor his master. Ipatted him
gu anu tfled to comfort him, feeling rebuk-
~ Dy his grief as he followed me,
s Inning, into the house. Every room
o fLenlea empty, and each spoke of the
HSsoht master. At last wandered into
a ,ra asT,ulay, where he spent his mornings,
T, .. lked me to sit and work; and now
=, .elne.mbered how often l had excused
rnss' saying | preferred the drawing
Ill Nh, and this reflection did not add to
NO mere n was photograph OF me stand
.be o,i MS writing table, and another on
tro enininey-piece; on the walls hung
bs S VI 'hree of my drawings, which he
80 90 legged of me when we were en-
saged; indeed the room was full of little