The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-05

az have an engagement at the club
tonight, Mrs. Maillard, and it will be
probably late when l RETURN" and went
out
"Why did I not speakY l won't let it
pass SO! He is as cold as an iceberg. l
will have an explanation before | sleep
tonight" said Alice, psssionately. "He
shan't treat me like child any longer"
1t was late when Mr.. Maillard re-
tlred, and he did not expect to find the
watcher whe sat in the parlor, and lit
tie surprise was in his glance when he
entered, but he made no comment.
at is past IL, l know, Maxwell,
but sat up for you. The truth is |
wanted to speak to you about--about--"
but here she paused. .. .... .s..f
"Well?' ..,........
There was but little encouragement in
the cool monosyllable that Mr.. Maillard
uttered, and the eyes upon which his
wife's were turned appealingly evinced
no glance of tenderness to lure her on in
the path that was now growing painful
to her, although he very well knew what
was going on in her mind. Was this man
a hardened boor?
Society, as / said, called him a gentle
man. He had many excellent traits, and
he had not really felt comfortable him
self since that affair in the library; but
he had strong, passionate nature and
an iron will that had never been sub
dued, and like many of his proud and
imperious type he would neither bend to
acknowledgements himself nor seem to
encourage by any tenderness of manner
his wife's. So he sat, stately and frigid,
in the seat he had taken by the register.
Meantime Alice, affeetionate and sensi-
tive, with her whole heart in her eyes,
and those eyes eagerly beseeching his,
stood near him, where she had advanced
as she spoke. At first it had been easy
for her to utter those words, but that
one unimpassioned monosyllable checked
further utterance and froze her lips; but
at length she burst out passionately:
'I will speak! Maxwell, you know
what | want to sayl I am very un-
happy!" and the hot tears thickened her
4 voice. $3.50. t.t, ,..
"What makes you unhappy, Mrs.
Maillard%' ....t. ..f ....+...
81 am unhappy because I have suffered
Am still suffering; and want recon,
ciliation. You know, Maxwell, those
words spoken in the library the other
night. I was sorry the very minute after
ward"
"And was sorry also, Mrs. Maillard.
ANY exhibition of impetuou>ness--tem
per, I might say-disgusts me. think
any wife ought to know that, and avoid
such things. But forgive you"
Chilled, amazed, humiliated and half
stunned by the turn the matter had
taken, the poor girl-wife went to her
chamber.
Days and wee Ks and months followed
that first rupture between Maxwell Mail
lard and his wife; and though to all out
ward appearances they were attentive to
each other, and, in society, as happy as
ever, vet, Alice felt that the gulf be-
tween them had never been bridged.
The truth was, his imperious will, PAM
pered by that first entire submission on
the part of his wife, had grown with
what it fed upon until it overshalowed
his whole nature. Had Alice been less
submissive-even had she, in acknowl-
edging her error thrown portion of it
upon her husbands head, he would not
have treated her as he did. 'Her spirit
is not broken yet," Mr. Maillard said ia
himself; and 50 he kept up his system Of
wifely training.
1t was at this time that summons
came from Alice's girlhood home. Hel
mother was dying and Alice fastened tc
her side.
When the merchant, evening after
evening, returned to his handsome house,
deserted, save by the servants, he began
to grow more dissatisfied with the cheer.
less aspect than he thought could be pos
sible, or would have acknowledged to an
other. Entering the drawing-room, sc
dreary and empty-loeking, one evening
after he had visited his club, he paused
before an exquisitely crayoned portrait
on the wall, and said with more feeling
than he had shown for many q month
"Home is lonely without you, AliceP
All, if he had only bethought himself to
write such a sentence to her!
The davs went by; and, in her girlhoot
home, Alice saw her mother die. On thu
day following the funeral Mr.. Maillard
bore his wife back to her home again. Al
the parting Alice wept unrestrainedly
upon the bosom of her twin brother, ther
turned to receive her sisters farewell
kiss.
At their return home Mr.. Maillard
mien softened toward his wife.
He could not see her going about il
her mourning robes with her pale, sat
face, and quiet ways, without relaxins
from his late manner. Bnt still hi
pride, SO long dominant, mastered hin
sufficiently to withhold him from tht
manifestations of his returning tender
ness, except by watchfulness and by sur
. rounding her with such iuxuries q
wealth could procure. Books, the lates
music, flowers, every dainty of the sea
son-these came to her All, if he hat