The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-19

her wants were gratified She was Creature
for the sunshine, not for the storm, and
when the storm came she bad no power to
face it, for she had never learned the
meaning of those sublime words, renun-
citation, self-abnegation.
A sale in the housed That was terrible
thing for the proud spirit of the young wife.
"Why, where are we to go, John?"
Take lodgings, Mary" was the answer.
81 am sure that we can be happy anywhere,
so long as we are together"
"If you want to see me dead, to kill me
outright" she exclaimed, petulantly, put
me into plain lodging house. I'd not sur
vive week. l did not marry you for that, /"
and she began to cry.
You married me for better for worse
The worst has come now, Mary; are you not
willing TO accept all that it brings?"
''Pll return 60 my fathers house" she re-
piled.
John Rutherford looked stunned by this
declaration. -
II can not go to your fathers house
and will you go and leave me in the
storm
LET me go there and remain until you re-
cover yourself, and"
Her husband interrupted her,.
In the meantime you doom me to the
solitude OF my own sad life. Are you not
willing to endure poverty for my sake?
Mary, Maryl" he continued in tones OK ten
der reproach, 81 do not thus understand the
solemn vows we pledged each other one
year ago. l believed that no earthly power
nor circumstance should part us-we who
took each other for better, for worse. Now,
above all other times when the storms of
life are gathering around us, nothing should
part our footsteps upon the wilds.' Togeth-
er we might strengthen and sustain each
other; apart we must be miserable indeed.
Let us not break the tie which should last
for all time"
COB, John. did rot mean to separate for
ever; only until the storm blew over"
He looked at her sadly. Her love had
been tried in the balance and found want
ing
The handsome furniture was sold at auc-
ton, and the home of the Rutherfords
passed into other hands. Mary had sought
the luxury of her fathers house, and left
hsr husband to meet his destiny of poverty
as best he cauld. In doing so she never
realized that she had violated any sacr5d
duty, nor proved recreant to any bIgh
trust. She had never lived any other life
but that of luxurious self indulgence and
she set gold above love, and sef.lntere st
above duty. She was willing to perform
her duties so long as they were pleasant,
but she did not recognize them as duties
when they ceased 20 be agreeable.
man once down in the world finds it
difficult to rise again. John Rutherford
had a resolute will and strong spirit but
somehow he did not succeed-the shining
goal was always affair." He lost, at length,
hope and faith in himself, and grew dis
spirited and reckless. The powerful mo-
tive for exertiOn was gone; his wife was
comfortably housed in her fathers house,
and need not keep up brave heart for her
She gave him no sympathy in his lonely
life, for she felt none; eDgrossed by her own
pleasures she never thought how few he had,
and she never dreamed of the arrow She
bad planted in his heart, and which was
cruelty ranking there. "Her love had been
weighed in the balance and found wan ting, y
was the one sorrowful thought that clouded
the life Of John Rutherford. How much
hett &e could haveendured our reverses"
hs said, IF we had endured them together"
Together ALI the strength, the power of
that ore little word!
The mi came when death stepped in
aud completed the work poverty had be-
gun.
When John Rutherford lay dying, and
pale, and sorrowing, his wife stood beside
him. RemOTse began Its work. He uttered
no reprOaches The time was past for that
was over for regrets-for sorrow. Eternity
was N airing. A mysterious future was ap
preaching, over which the sorToTs of this
life can east no shadow.
"Ah, john for better for worse. Why
did L not )oner understand the meaning OF
those wOrds?" sObbed his wife
"Until death did us part" he gasped ont,
as clssping her hand, bis spirit passed away