The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-12
Select STORY.
A WIFE'S CONFESSION.

pcOplc 10 ~. III lnB Itspecl L uul ucltHcl
better nor worse than my neighbors. No
l certainly did not marry for love; be.
lieye | married Mr. Cartwright simply be.
cause he asked me.
This was how it happened. lie was the
rector Of Devotion, and we lived ut the
Manor House, which was about ten min.
utes walk from the church and rectory.
We had daily services at Devotion, and |
nearly always attended, and it came to pass
that Mr.. Cartwright invariably walked
home with me- 1t was manner Of Gus.
tom now, aud l thought nothing of it; il
pleased him, aud on the whole it was rather
pleasant to me also.
| must confess, however, that | was
rather surprised when one morning, as We
got to the avenue which led up to the
Manor House, Mr.. Cartwright asked me
to be his wife.
have never been able to find out why
l said yes, but did; perhaps thought it
pity to throw away SO much love; per.
haps il was because he was so terribly in
earnest that dared not refuse him; per-
haps feared his pale face, and his low,
pleading voice would ever haunt me il 1
rejected his love; or perhaps ii was because
he only asked me to marry him-he did
not ask me if | loved him, for | think he
guessed did not; perhaps it was all these
reasons put together, but anyhow | said
yes, and in due time We were married.
ought to have been very happy, for he
was a most devoted husband, but was
not, and though did not notice it then, |
know that for the next six months after
our marriage he was not happy either
IL was all my fault either would not
or could not love him; accepted all the
devotion from him as matter Of course,
but made no effort to return ii, and am
sure that he has made mistake in marry
ing woman who did not love him.
One morning, about six months after
our marriage, be told me that he intended
leaving me alone for few weeks, to stay
with his mother, who was not very we'll.
He watched the effect Of this announce
ment on me. but though | was really dis
pleased, concealed my annoyance and
asked carelessly when he would start
He replied, the next day if had no
objections, aud so it was settled.
He was more afiectionate than usual that
day, and was colder than ever. | only
once alluded to his journey, and that was
to ask If could have my sister Maud to
stay while he was gone.
The next morning | was anxious TO avoid
formal parting, so drove to the station
with him.
As the train moved of, remembered
this was the first parting since our marriage,
and | wished | had not been SO cold.
When | got home the house looked so
dreary and empty and there was no one to
meet me; presently one of the servants
came for the shawls, aud with her Nero,
Mr.. Cartwright's retriever, which, when he
saw | was alone, set up howl for his
master. patted him and tried to comfort
him, feeling rebuked for his grief, as he
followed me, whining, into the house.
Every room seemed empty, and each
spoke of the absent master. At last
wandered into his study, where he spent
his mornings and liked me to sit and work;
and now remembered how often / had
excused myself, saying J. preferred the
drawing room, and this recollection did not
add to my happiness.
There was photograph of me standing
on his writing table and another on the
chimney piece; on the walls hung two or
three drawings which he had begged Of
me when We were engaged; indeed tho
room was full Of little remembrauces Of
me. | opened book had given him,
and ID Il was bis name 10 my handwriting,
and underneath 10 his own, "From my darl-
ing wife" / laid il down with a sigh, as
thought how carefully TO treated every
thing had ever given him, and how little
care | took Of all his gifts to me.
Everything attempted, everything |
looked at, reminded me Of his goodness TO
me and Of my coldness and ingratitude to
him. At last went to bed, where, after
working myself into fever of anxiety lest
ne should not have reached the end Of his
journey in safety, | at length cried myself
TO sleep.
The next morning | went down to break
fast with heavy heart, for | knew |
couldn't hear from him till the next day;
II seemed so strange to breakfast alone and
Nero appeared to think SO too, for he was
almost unhappy, shifting around his mas
ier's chair in the most melancholy manner,
My plate, for the first time since my
marriage, was empty, as sat down to
breakfast, for my husband, who was au
carly riser, always had little boquot to
greet me With every morning; frequently
| forgot al about il, and left il to be put
into water BY the servant; this morning |
would have treasured il most carefully II
he bad gathered H.
After breakfast | determined to rouse
myself and 90 aud visit some Of The poor
people ia the village, 50 filled my bosket
with some little delicaeies for tho sick and
set out
Wherever went Il was the same story.
All held forth on my husbands goodness