The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-02-28


when it turned that way, had pictured an
ideal man as true and noble as she was pure
and lovely a man, who grateful for the
gift of so precious thing, would cherish for
her the teuderest regard and give her the
added blessing of considerato and devoted
| son. There has been times when another
| picture, truer to our weak and selfish hu-
man nature, had suddenly spread itself be-
fore her eyes and the sight of it had made
her heart sick, and cast a shadow around her
from which she cond never wholly emerge.
That George Cleveland was not her ideal
man, 1t did not take Mrs. Fleetwood long to
discover. If she had entertained any serious
doubts on the subject before she gave her
reluctant consent to the marriage, no long
time passed after an engagement ring had
been placed on Mary's finger, before they
were dispeled Another might not have
seen any change in the young mans bear
Jealous observation, the signs of Indifference
too surely became visible. The little courte-
sizes and attentions which the young man
had been so quick to OFFER began to have
less warmth and freedom in them and
were sometimes omitted altogether. He was
not so ready to defer to her tastes and opin-
ions and did not listen when she talked
with the old apparent interest So it went
on, month after month, each day giving its
new revelation of the truth, and making it
palmer and palmer to Mrs. Fleetwood that,
while loving the daughter, he was indffer-
ent to the mother, and that there nev-
er would exist between them any true rela-
ton of confidence or affection.
But Marie had come back to the old
home again Not so the old home was
large enough had many untitled chambers;
but the young husband wanted his beloved
all to himself So he made for her a home
in which they might dwell together, and be
happy in themselves.
To share any of his blessings with another
and so increase his capacity for still higher
enjoyment was something out of the range
of Ceveland's philosophy. What he had
made his own, so to speak, was his own, to
hold and to enjoy for himself alone. Marie
was now his wife, and in becoming his wife,
her old duties and relations as a daughter
had come to an end. In marrying the
daughter there had been no intention on
his part to assume any obligations in re-
gard to the mother. The question did not
even come up in his mind for debate. In
| l. "a hahi
tons involving duty. Others must take
care of themselves as he was taking care OF
; himself He had gained for his wife one Of
the purest, truest and sweetest of women
and he was happy in the possession of sc
rich blessing. But he had never thought
of putting himself in the mothers place and
trying to imagine what would be hel
sense of loss, what her loneliness and desc
lation of spirit, when the light of her life
should be taken away from her.
Alone, With her desolate and aching heart
Mrs. Fleetwood began the difficult task o
adjusting herself to these new conditions
Were the reverse forces still in her possess
, ion strong enough for the WORK Could
life which had flowed on in sweet rhythm
,, for twenty years, be suddenly ARRESTED
in its course and turned into a new ant
> strange channel, ever move on again viii
the old freedom and delight ? Not so tn
+ mother hid her heart as best she could, an
O tried to rally herself and put on the sem
blance of resigned and contented spirit
t And Marie was so happy in her new home
and in the love Of her husband, that she d
4 not see what others saw in the face of he
widowed and now almost childess mother,
4 fading and failing that made themselve
more and more visible as the weeks an
a. months went on. All, had not the mothe
= been wounded in her love in her very life
II Out of that wound the drops were fallin
slowly and steadily, spite of the hand tina
f. was held so closely against it in vain al
o tempt to staunch the flow.
It Cleveland made no effort to conceal tn
:, indifference which he felt towards his wife
: mother He was polite to her wheneve
d they happened to meet, which was not yer
Is often, as Mrs. Fleetwood rarely called &
d time, when her husband was away froI
e home. Now and then, at remote interva
e he went with Marie to see her in the ever
:, ing, and put on kind of pretense of carin
for her but though he said pleasant word
lie an ear acute to discern every affection
le the voice. could perceive no heart in then
}. listen though it often did with hungl
10 longing for the love and tender considers
1t ton which were denied Not that Mr.
IT Fleetwood ever annoyed him with ungr
m cious intrusions of herself, or made herse
disagreeabe in any way. He was simp
Indifferent; had never taken her into a
a. count and never meant to. If she had bet
ar in any personal or pecuniary need, for NJ
RI rie'S sake and for the sake appearances,
-, would have supplied all her necessities b
20 for any higher claim he had no recognize
l., The tenuer and sentimental side of uis Il
- ture had received SO far in life but little CT
NJ ture.
or One day lady who had known him in
ef mately for so many years that she had 4
be quired the privilege of plain speaking, ask
er him, with some concern in her voice, if NJ
as Fleetwood had been sick.
as Il presume not was the rather cold rep
he AT least I've heard nothing about it,
on when did you see her last ? inquir
ng the lady,
nd The young man lifted his eyes to the &C
III ing in half-inditferent way, and after
he hecling for a moment or two he said
art Really, Mrs. Ray, cannot just RENE
Der when it was
,as The lady fixed her gaze upon him a
me with an expression thai caused him to as
ily What's the matter? Why do you lo
ar. at me so 2
ch He tried to smile, but the sober coun
vas nance of his friend drove the light back fir