The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-04-19
CHOICE FICTION.
A WIFE'S CONFESSION.
A Story of Domestic Life.

better nor worse than my neighbors No
| certainly did NOT marry for love: | bDliev,
| marrer Mr. Cartwright simply hec;ust Ii.
asked lie.
Ihi" wa.' how il happened. He was III,
rector of DnNeion, and we lived at tn,
Manor House, which was about ten min
ute>' walk from the church and r,.ctorv
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 custom now
and thought nothin. of it it pleased him
and On the whole it WAS rather pleasant t,
me also.
| must confess, however, that w:iS rather
| surprised when one morning, us We got Il
the avenue which led up 10 the Manor
HoaS" Mr.. Cartwright asked me To I've hi,
wife.
| have never been able to find out why
] said yes, but did perhaps thought il
hapS it was because he was so terribly III
earnest that | dared moi refuse him per-
hapS | feared his pale face and his low,
pleading Voice would ever haunt me ii re-
jectcd his love; or perhaps it was because
he only asked me to marry him-hc 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 We're 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 mar
riage he was not happy either.
1t was all my fault either would not or
could not love him | accepted all the de-
votion from him matter of course, but
made no effort to return it. and | am sure
that he made Il mistake in marrying IL wo-
man who did not love him.
One morning. about six months after our
marriage he told me that he intended le;iv-
ing me alone for Il few weeks, to stay with
| his mother, who was not very well. He
| watched the effect of this announcement on
me, hut though | was really diSplcaSed,
concealed my annoyance and asked careless
| ~ when he would start
He replied the next day if | had no OBJ
.iectionS, and so it was settled.
| He was more atfectionate 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
| fnr,tl.;1 ,,rrtinu | ,lrnI-,a IN tbn Stptsn
| with him.
As the train moved off remembered this
was the first parting since orr marriage, and
| wished had not been 50 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, and with her Nero, Mr..
Cart wright'S retriever, which, when he saw
was alone, set up a howl for his master, !
patted him and tried to comfort linn, feeling
rebukc,i Tor 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
hi. mornings and liked :nr t. sit and work :
and now remembered how often had eN-
ru'c'l myself. saying preferred the draw
ing-room. and this recollection did not add
to my happiness.
There was a photograph of Inc standing
on his writing table and another on the
| chimney piece: on til" walls hung two or
three drawings which he had begged of me
| Il ip,l,aI =
was full of little remclnbranceS of me-. |
opened book | had given him, and in it
was his name in my handwriting, and I'M
derneath in his own, From my darling
wife" | laid it down with Il sigh, Us
thought how carefully he treated everything
| 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 GOODNESS and ingratitude to
him. At last went To bed, where. after
working myself into fever of anxiety lest
he should not have reached the end of his
journey in safety. | at length cried myself
to sleep
fast with Il heavy heart, for | knew |
couldn't hear from him till the next day :
it seemed so strange to breakfast alone and
Nero appeared to think 50 tco, for he
was almost unhappy, shifting around his
masters chair i'll the most melancholy
manner.
My plate for the first time since my
marriage, was empty, rs | sat down to
breakfast, for my husband, who was an
early riser, always had Il little bouquet to
greet me with every morning frequently
| forgot all about it and left it to be put into
| water by the servant this morning would
have treasured ii most carefully if he had
gathered ii.
| After breakfast determined to rouse
myself and 90 and visit some Of the poor
| people in the village, SO | filled my basket
with some little ,lclicacies for the sick and
| sci out.
Wherever | Went il was the same story.
All held forth on my husbands goodness
and kindness. for all had been helped by
| him in some way or other, and all loved
| and respected him. As | listened with
| burning cheeks ! felt is if | was the only
| person on earth who had treated him with
cruel ingratitude and WAS the very person
! whom he most loved and cherished.
At last | Went home, tired and sick ut
| heart but there was no on" to notice w;t'
| pale and worn out, no one to get me wine
| or soup 10 revive me, no one to make me
lie down and rest, us he would have done
| hld he been there. Oh, how | missed
| him Was there ever Il woman loved and
| cared for as | had been! Was there ever
Il friend 50 grateful: | was sure he would
never come back. Why had he gone
away
| And conscience II. Ncrsl. ''lou arnv.'
| him he gave You all he had To give, and
in return YOU gave him nothing hut cold
looks and unkind words: and SO he left
YOU I" seek love and sympathy from his
| mother.
| This thought almost mad,lened me-. In
fancy 1 SAW her sitting in my place by his
side. loving and careS>Ing him rs | had
the best RICH, /" love and carcSs him. |
| pictured her receiving tcnderly the it'll"
loving acts | had received coldlv, and
how | was seized with Il Jealous anger
against her i mentally accused her "t
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