The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-11-20
a wIFE's CONFESSION.

/ did not marry for love. Very
few people Go, so in this respect |
am neither better nor worse than my
neighbors. No, / certainly did not
marry for love; ! believe | married
Mr. Cartwright simply because he
asked me-
This was bow it happened. He
was the rector of Doveton, and we
lived at the manor house, which was
about ten minutes walk from the
church and reclory. We had daily
services at Dcveton, and | nearly al
ways attended it, and j. came to pass
that Mr.. Cartwright invariably walk
ed home with me- It was q matter
of custom now, and l thought nothing
of it; it pleased him. and on the whole
it was rather pleasant to me also.
| must confess, however, | was
rather surprised when, one morning
as we got to the avenue which led up
to the manor house, Mr. Cartwright
asked me 10 be his wife
have never been able to fud out
why | said yes, but ] did; perhaps |
thought pity to throw away so
much love; perhaps it was because be
was so terribly in earnest and ! dared
not refGse him; perhaps | feared his
pale face, and his low pleading voice
would ever haunt me if ever reject
ed bis love; or perhaps, it was be-
cause be only asked me to marry
him-he did net ask me if | loved
him, for l think be guessed | did not;
perhaps it was ali those reasons put
together. but anyhow / said yes,
and in due time we were married.
] ought TO have been very happy,
for be was a most devoted husband.
but | was not, and though | did Lot
notice it then, | know now for the
first six months after our marriage be
was not hsppy either
1t was all my fault either would
not or could not love him; | accepted
all the devotion to me as matter Of
course, but | made no effort 10 return
it; and | am sure that be has made q
mistake in marrying a woman who
did not love him.
0He morning, about six months af-
ter our marriage, be told me at break
fast that be intended leaving me
alone for few weeks, to stay with
his mother, who was not very well
He watched the effect Of this an
on me, bat though | was
really displeased, concealed my an
and asked esrelessly when
be would start.
He replied, the next morning if |
had no objection, and so it was set
tied.
He was more affectionste than U.s.
ual that day, and | was colder than
ever.
| only once alluded to his journey,
and that was 10 ask If | could have
nv sister Maud 20 stay while be was
gone.
The next morning | was anxious to
avoid formal parting, so 1 drove to
the station with him
AS the train moved off, / remem.
bered this was our first parting since
our marriage, and | wished | had not
been so cold
When ! got home the house looked
so dreary and empty AID there was
no one 10 meet me; presently oae q
the servants came for the shawls,
and with her Nero, Mr.. Cartwright's
retriever, which, when be saw vas
alone, set up bowl for bis master.
| pat'ed bin snd tried to comfort
him, feeling rebaked for his grief. as
be followed me, whining, into the
house.
Every room seemed empty, sna
zach spoke Of the absent master
At las, ] wandered into bis study,
shere be spent his mornings, and
;ked me TO sit and work and now
remembered how often | bad excused
nyself, saying | preferred the draw
ng room, and this reflection did not
add to my happiness.
There was a photograph Of me
standing on his writing table, and an
oiher on the chimney piece; on the
walls hung two or three of my draw
ugs, which be had begged of me
when We were engaged; indeed the
-oom was foil Of little remembrances
of me; l opened book / had given
him. and in i. was his name in my
hand writing, and underneath bis
own, ''from mr. darling wife"
laid it down sith & sigh, as /
thought bow carefully be treated
l had ever given him, and
now little care / took of al, bis gifts
% ne.
Everything ! attempt ed everything
looked q. reminded me Of his good.
ness to NE and Of my co!dness and