The Van Buren press., 1879-01-21
MISCELLANY.
TRIED AND TRUE.
-
BY E. c. STRAY.

There! you We spollt 1t"
"Oh, didn't mean top
But you have, you see"'
"Tm so sorry!'
"That won't help it any,"
"Tm always doing something"
al know it.
The sweet-faced, sweet-voiced girl
turned away with quivering lips. She
was wife scarcely six months welded,
but of late her husband was always
finding fault, moody, and morose
And this was the once noble, unseliish
Earnest Carrolton, the young artist, just
stepping into fame and fortune, who
won her girl heart and held it forever.
How cold and distant he had grown,
caressing her only once in a while and
then hastily.
~ hope it isn't spoiled" she said,
looking back with great, wistful, looking
eyes and trembling lips,
81 shall have to sell it for half price,
but then no matter--I don't get along
All now. L.--- L~... ooussail,y ios7
ing for six months"
Six months covered the period of
their married life, and he had hinted
before of losses since she was his wife.
Ethel went out with swelling heart
and that choking sensation that she Of
ten felt now She had been to tell her
young husband that dinner was waiting,
leaning over him, as she always did, to
give the customary kiss, when her gar
ments touched the nearly finished picture
no nno,l IL httla yph har the
paint was undried, and calling forth the
above remarks. She knew he could
remedy the defect, for he had often done
such things before, but his words hurt
her sensitive heart terribly. She wait
ed nearly an hour for him to come into
the dining room, but her thoughtful
ness and care had saved the dinner from
spelling He took her in his arms
kissed her tenderly, almost passionately
saying
"Was | cruel to my darlng?'
sit is all right now," she whispered
shyly looking up into his face, and lead
ing him to the table
All through the dinner hour he was
very attentive and kind, talking easily
and familiarly upon various topics, il
which Ethel was just as much at home.
"You are not going out tonight, are
you EarncstY she said, wistfully.
81 mus 60, dear l have promised
but will not stay late
"Oh, Earnest, promise that you will
never torsake or cease to love me" sh
said.
II shall always love you, my darling,
he returned.
"And if they ever tell you not to, yo,
won't, will you, dear p
"No, but if my mother should tel
me To-"
Leave me, Earnest? Would you ODE,
her and never live with me again p
Pm afraid | should have to, dar
ling"
And the young husbands face palet
to the lips as he strained her to his hos
ON in a long, close embrace, and then
after repea ed kisses, went out and lef
her.
She stood with the red light of th
fire shining upon her garments and uI
into her death white face. She knew
that the end had come, for she knew
that they would tell him and he wou'
obey. 1t was strange, weird stor
but true; Earnest Carrolton, the youn:
artist, usually sound upon all things
was q constant attendant at Madam
Greville's spiritual circles: where man.
strange things had been told him, ant
all concerning Ethel. his youg wife.
Madame Greville was widow, ant
an ardent admirer of Earnest Carrolton
before his marriage and after. Mi
Carrolton was first attracted to he
circles by desire to hear from his de
parted mother, whom he almost idol
lied. Ethel also attended, at times
but Madame Grcvlle always threw ou
dark insinuations about the yount
wife, and once described monster O
corseness and profanity as her guid
ing spirit. From that time Ethel neve
darkened her doors. Mr.. Carrolton wa
AS frequent visitor as ever, an
though he fought against madame
insinuations, as purporting TO com
from bis mother, yet he grew grrduall
moody and fretful, and taxed Ethel wit
many hard, unkind suspicious.
Tonight the eliminating point wa
reached. He returned from the madnme's
and found his young wife waiting 70
him,