The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-02


Iy felt against myself on the innocent Mrs.
Cartwright.
'Why, Nelly" said Maud, 81 thought you
liked Mrs Cartwright so much, and thought
her so nice, that you even wanted her to
live with you, oniy your husband, very
properly, as mama says, objected"
80 did," answered; but 1 did not
know then that she would ever entice my
husband away from me in this way, or, of
course, l should never have liked her"
Really, Nell, you are very hard on the
poor woman; for, as / understand, Mr.. Cart
wright went TO her of his own free will, be-
cause she was not well, and he thought his
company would do her good" said Maud.
Nonsense; am sure he would never have
left me alone unless she had put him up to
it," replied. rather Grossly.
'The truth is, Nelly, you are so much in
love with your husband that yon are jealous
even of his mother, and you are making
yourself miserable about nothing. Why,
Mr.. Cartwright will be back in fortnight,
and dare say you Will get letter from him
every day. So cheer up, and let us go for
drive said Maud.
agreed to this plan, and giving Maud the
reins. lay back and thought of her words.
Was she right after all? Was jealous? Was
/ really, as Maud SAID, in love with my hus-
band? Had 1 only found it out now was
deprived of his company? Was this the rea-
son that could do nothing but inwardly re-
proach myself for my conduct to him2 And
the longer / thought the more convinced 1
became that Maud was right, that was ieal-
Gus, and that was in love, as she called II.
This knowledge did not make me happier.
for no sooner knew 1 loved him than l
longed to tell him so, and make up, as far as
l could, for all my former cruelty, for 1
could call my conduct by no milder word.
passed a sleepless night, and as lay awake
| composed various letters OF confession
which resolved to send the following day;
but when morning came my pride stepped
in, and began to feel it would be impossi-
Bile TO write aud l settled / must wait till
my husband came home, and then tell him
how his absence had sl cred me.
got up early and walked out to meet the
postman, so ANXIOUS was l to get letter
| from him. 1t was the first L had ever re-
ceived from him since our marriage, and
| no girl was ever so anxious for, or so pleased
over her first love letter as / was over this.
1t was a long letter, full of loving M esssges
aud terms of endearment, all OF which cut
| me to the heart, for they sounded like so
many reproaches; in reality. think there
was tone of gentle reproof throughout the
letter He gave me an account of his jour
ney and of his mothers health; begged nae
| to write to him few lines every day, put he
said not word about returning.
spent the morning in answering it, nuch
| to Maud's amusement, who, OF course,
and complaints OF my temporary widow
| hood. After tearing up about dozen sheets
| of paper, at last sent a short note, cool and
with no illusions to my misery. The more
1 tried, the more impossible 1 found it to
| write any expression of love or penitence,
though was huDgeriDg to do so.
| For a whole week went on in this way
/ suffering more acutely every day. and every
/ day receiving long, loving letters from Mr..
| Cartwright, and writing short, cold answers.
| lost my appetite, could not sleep at
/ night, and the tJrture that l was enduring
made me look so i'll that Maud became
| frightened, and declared she would write
and summon my husband home, and tell him
/ / was pining away for him. / forbade her
doing this so sternly that she dared not dis
| obey me, for | was determined that he
| should never hear from any lips but mine
that at last his hearts desire was attained, !,
| or / loved him.
At last when he had been away for ten
/ days. could bear it no longer, for | felt
| sh u Ii have brain fever if went on in this
way, and so l determined to go on to Melton.
| where Mrs. Cartwright lived, and see my
| husband. / came to this decision one night,
and went into Mauds room early in the
morning to tell her my intention. 1 expect
| ed she would laugh at me, but think she
guessed something was wrong for she seem
ed glad to hear it and helped me to pack a
| few hiDgs and set off in time to catch the
|
| morning train.
1t was three hours journey They seemed
| three yea TO me, for the nearer got to my
| husband the more impatient 1 was to see
him. At last we got 10 Melton, q largish
| town. or course, as / was not expected,
| there was no one to meet me, so took fly
to Mrs Cartwrights house, where 1 arrived
about O'Clock.
learned afterward that Andrew was with
his mother in the drawing room when l
drove up but thinking | was only visitor,
he escaped into another room, so found my
| mother-in law alone.
By her side was some of my husband s
socks which she was darning socks which
had handed over to the servants to mend.
and which / now longed to snatch away
from his mother. His desk stood open, a
letter to me which he was writing lyingo on it.
The servant announced me as Mrs An
drews, my voice failing as | gave my Dame,
so that Mrs. Andrews held up her hands in
| astonishment when she saw who it was
"My dear Nelly Has anything happened
How i'll you lookl What Is it?" she ex-
| claimed.
~ want my husband" gasped, sinking
on a chair, for | thought | should have
| fallen. Without another word Mrs. Cart
wright left the room. Ifeltsure she guessed
all about II, and / can never thank her
| enough for forbearing 10 worry me with
questions as 10 what had come for.
She came back in few moments with q
glass Of wine. which she made me drink off
saying she would send him to me at once if
| took 1t. / complied, and she went for
him. In another minute | heard his step
outside the door. and then he came In.
Nelly, my love-my darlingl What is
itG' he cried. rushed into his outstretcbed
arms and hid my face on his arm, sobbine
bitterly. For some moments 1 could not
speak. AT last i recovered myself enough
TO sob out:
"Oh, Andrew, my lovel my dear love
can you ever forgive me? 1 came to ask you
and tell you why can't live without you.
l would have said more, hut his kisses
stopped my mouth, and when at length he
let me go there were other tears upon my
cheeks besides my own.
That was the happiest hour OF my life in
spite OF my tears; and before my mother-in-
law again joined MS which she discreetIy
avoided doing till dinner time, I had poured
out all had TO tell into my husbands ears,
and had learned from him that he had left
me to try what effect hisabsence would have
on me, for he bad felt for some time that
my pride was the great barrier he bad -