The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-08
TEMPTED.

TEMPTED.
1t is said that there is an hour IN our lives
when every human soul is tempted; when
God pats US to the test whether we will serve
him or the devil. I believe it.
One night in my life stands out solitary
and slone-a night so fraEght with anguish
that, even at this distant standpoint, grow
faint with the reTRem brance.
Twas trying to decide the great question
Of my life-not of love, CT death, or life, or
the saving of my soul, as you may think, but
whether could live my life out with the
nan called my husband.
had been good wffe-my own soul bore
witness to this truth-forbearing, loving,
kind, faithful, But he had killed my love
by piecemeaI-fairIy starved it out.
On this night was driven to desperation,
and must decide upon my future course.
had been a loving wife when came to
dwell in John Testers home; but, God help
me! there was now almost hate in my heart.
Neglect unkindness and GOODNESS had done
their work. had borne 1t for years; and
now the end bad come.
All the long summer a great fear had lain
heavy upon nay heart-a fear that would
not let shape itself into words. It kept
thursting itself between me and every glad
thing until my head was bowed in deep hui
initiation, and my heart was so full of pain
audible Voice kept whispering: You do
lot love your husband. More than this
you are fast learning to hate KIM.
On the day of which 1 am writing, the de-
sire to leave his house has grown so upon
me that could not put it away-only to go
faraway from him, where should not grow
cold, and hard, and sinful. The earth was
wide, and God was eyerywhere
Hooked around the cosy little perlor l
had called home for ten long years; upon the
sqrare-see figure OF my husband, and the
ana1lar proportions and unmeaning face of
his sister.
An orphan, and of a most loving nature,
l could have loved John Lester had he but
let ne-nay, i had loved him. and striven
hare to overlook his GOODNESS and coarseness.
Jane Lester was q good woman, and her
brother an honest man. This was well, but
God help me!-wanted something more.
The woman's heart of me hungered and
thlrsied for love-for little tenderness, a
few pet names, q caresS sometlmes-what we
women call a little "petting."
Jane Lester-good woman though she was
was independent of all this folly" and
would have sneered at the necessity for it.
Could help it that God had made me
What was-that l needed some thing more
han this coarse life they led SO contentedly
this mere animal eating, drinking and
seepiDg? ] wanted husbands love, and
underness, and protecting care, which
ever had; never had been taken care of.
Twas not Unreasonable. l knew that the
dys of slever's fine speeches were over,
bit I wanted sometimes to hear the story
PIT into words; l was not content to take it
a. upon trust Here is where the error is
Nm forget, in their busy life, the needs of
th finer soul that shares their homes-for
gt there is something more needed than
fod and raiment and shelter for the head.
OR's wife is hot always an angel, am per-
suded yet she is woman, and, because of
to of1f1o
tht she has some fsults-nay, many faults
We is her heart more exquisitely strung than
mn's and needs careful hand to sweep
itschords. 1t is obligatory upon man,
bob by human and divine law, that he sup
POT his wife--that he provide, so far as his
mems will admit, for her,comfort. 1t is
equally obligatory upon him that he under
staid her fine nature. He should make it
hisbuslaess 10 know if the woman be calls
hiswife, the woman who has given up all for
hin, is happy, or the reverse. a man gives
up but lite when he marries. He retains
the same friends, the same pursuits, and
busness-thst ready escape valve-fills up
all the pauses in his life. A woman
give up all-psrents. friends and home-'or
strangers leye and care. She gives her
happiness into his keeping forever. She gives
seoRs of lovers for the oftentimes frugal
dieiof one heart, and if it fail her, then is
sheshipwrecked indeed.
linen would but think of these things,
We are persuaded they would right the
wro,g." Most of US have read the story OF
the husband who in a moment of passion
exclaimed to his wife, III you are not salts
friends and happiness"
can't will you give that back which
broueh to your asked the despairing wife
Yes he replied, '.all your wealth shall
go to yu; 1 covet it not"
.sAlas'' she said. Il thought not of my
be of fria IF do
voted Ice; can you give those back to me?
MOI said the man as he flung himself al
her feet moi l can not restore these but
will doDore-I will keep them unsullied
and unsained; will cherish them through
my life and until death; and never AGAR
win / foset that / have sworn to protect snd
cherish kr who gave up TO me all she hele
most dea'
But thi night / am writing of, and the
decision was rapidly coming to, / knew
exactly wat should lose if | withdrew
myself fren my husbands protection ia.
was awardf separated myself from him
would noble entitled TO "alimony.n L hse
nothing k plead against hIm-at least no
thing thatwoGld look we'll upon paper H.
had nevertricken me a blow tat least suci
blows as are visible TO the eye)- He ha'
never use6harsh or violent language to me
It would ,e utterly useless for me to SCI
that did lot love him; that his GOODNESS
neglect ant utter interpretation had worI
my heart arsy; that no accent OF tenderness
ever fell uon nay ear. no word OF com
mendation sver reached me, strive ever $,
hard to consrve his pleasure and bappiness
that the VOID called nae neglected wife
and insultetme with its cold pity; and tina
strive ss Wuld to Danish the thought,
knew che wrld vas right. Yet these thing
do not tell In a court room.
''FeW nenlose the love OF women VIII
have ones Iced them, save by their owl
folly or ba~ness." John Lester had los
mine thrsug his own folly.
Gould rear with it?' Questioned o
my hear. - Twas We tching ane's broad FAC
and my hnsbxu's utter Inconsistencies o
ray prese.ce. Could bear with it-sll th
GOODNESS, brgsfuIness and neglect? Coul
be contentedto have bartered my fres
young lif4 hih hopes, ardent aspiration
after the pun and beautifully intens
yearnlDgs for hings that are not common