Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-25
ealous and that 1 was in love, as she

JcdlOuo dHu 1udL Was Ill love, dS oHO
called it,. mas .-5
This knowledge did not make me hap
pier, for no sooner knew it than longed
to tell him, and make up, so fast as could
for all of my former cruelty, for 1 could
call my conduct by no milder word. 1
passed a sleepless night, and IS 1 lay awake
ri 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 impos-
sible to write, and settle.i down to
wait until my husband came home and
| then tell him how his absence had altered
me- ia IAA 80 0gR Has5tFa AJ
| Igot up early and walked out to meet
the postman, SO anxious was to get a let
tar from him; it was the first / had ever
received from him since our marriage and
/ no girl was ever so anxious for Or SO
| pleased with her first love-letter as I was
over this. & ~
1t was long letter, full Of loving mes
sages and terms of endearment, all Of
which cut me to the heart, for they sound
ed like so many reproaches; in reality. |
think there was a tone of gentle reproach
throughout the letter. He gave me an
account of his mothers health, begged
me to write to him few lines every dav,
but he said not Word about returning.
Ispent the morning in answering it.,
much to Maud's amusement, who, of course,
thought was pouring out volumes of love
and complaints of my temporary widow
hood. After tearing up dozen sheets of
paper [ at last sent short note, cool and
with no allusion to my misery. The more
tried the: more impossible found 1t to
write any expressions of love or penitence,
though was hungering to do so.
| For whole week went on in this way,
suffering more acutely every day, ard
every day receiving long, loving letters
from Mr.. Cartwright, and writing short
cool answers.
| I lost my appetite, I could not sleep at
night, and the torture [ was enduring
made me look so ill that Maud became
| freightened and declared she would write
and summon my husband home and tell
| him was pining away for him. l for
| babe her doing so so sternly that she dared
not disobey me, for was determined that
he should never hear from any lips but
mine that at last his hearts desire was at
tanned, for loved him. a...
At last. when he had been away ten
days, I could bear it no longer, for I
should have brain fever if [ went on this
way, so I determined to 20 to Melton,
where Mrs. Cartwright lived, and see my
| husband. I came to this decision one
night, and went into Maud's room early
IN the morning to tell her my intention
l expected she would laugh at me, but
think she guessed something was wrong
| for she seemed glad to hear it and helped
me to pack a few things and set off IN
| time to catch the morning train. g
1t was three hours journey. They
seemed three years to me, for the nearer
got to my husband the more impatient [
was to see him. At last we got to Melton.
large town. Of course as I was not ex-
took fly to Mrs. Cartwright's house,
where arrived about three O'Clock.
| learned afterwards that Andrew was
( with his mother in the drawing room when
I drove up, hut thinking was only Wis
itor he escaped into another room, so
| found my mother-in-law alone.
| By her side were some Of my husbands
| socks which she was darning, socks which
I 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
| lying on it.
| The servant announced me as Mrs. An
drews, my voice failing as gave my name
so that Mrs. Cartwright held up her hands
in astonishment when she saw who it was.
"My dear! Nelly! has anything hap
peneG? How ill you look What is it?"
she exclaimed.
| Il want my husband,' gasped, sinking
on to chair. Without another word Mrs.
Cartwright left the room; l feel sure now
she guessed all about it, and can never
thank Ter enough for forbearing to worry
me with questions as to what 1 had come
for.
She came back in few moments with
glass Of wine which she made ne drink,
saying she would send him to me at once
if took it. l complied, and she went for
him; i'll another minute I heard his step
outside the door, and then he came in.
NELLY, my love-my darling what is
lt?" he cried as 1 rushed into his out-
stretched arms, and hid my face in his
breast, sobbing bitterly. For some mo-
ments l could not speak; at last recover
ed myself enough to sob out:
".Oh, Andrew, my lovel my dear love,
can you ever forgive me? l came to ask
you, and tell you can't live without you.''
I would have said more, but his kisses
stopped my mouth, and when at length he
let me 60 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 moth
er-in-law joined us, which she discreetly
avoided doing until dinner time, I had
poured out all I had to tell into my hus-
bands ears, and learned from him that
he had left me to try what effect his alb
sence would have on me; for he had felt
for some time that my pride was the great
est barrier he had to winning my love.
He lad judged right. He was too gen
erous to tell me how much he had suffered
from my Indifference, but knew it must
have grieved HIM terribly. He is differ
emit man now, he looks So happy, and
know he would not change places with any
one on earth. We went back to the rec
tory the next day, bnt we could not per-
suade Mrs. Cartwright to come with us:
she said we were best alone, and I think