The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-12
Selett STORY.
A WIFE'S CONFESSION.

people do so. In this respect am neither
better nor worse than my neighbors. No,
/ certainly did not marry for love; be-
licye | married Mr.. Cartwright simply be,
cause he asked me,
This was how it happened. He was the
rector of Doveton, and we lived ut the
Manor House, which was about ten min.
utes' walk from the church and rectory
We had daily services at Doyeton, and |
nearly always attended, and it came to pass
that Mr.. Cartwright invariably walked
home with me. II was manner Of Gus
tom now, aud | thought nothing of il; il
pleased him, and on the whole it was rather
pleasant to me also
must confess, however, that | was
rather surprised when one morning, as We
got to the avenue which led up to the
Manor House, Mr.. Cartwright asked me
to be his wife.
have never been able to find out why
/ said yes, but | did; perhaps thought il
pity to throw away so much love; per.
haps it was because he was so terribly in
earnest that dared not refuse him; per.
haps | feared his pale face, and his low,
pleading voice would ever haunt me il |
rejected his love; or perhaps 1t was because
he only asked me TO marry him-he did
not ask me if | loved him, for | think he
guessed did not; perhaps it was all these
reasons put together, but anyhow | said
yes, and 10 due time we were married.
ought to have been very happy, for he
was most devoted husband, but | was
not, and though / did not notice it then, ]
know that for the next six months after
our marriage he was not happy either
II was all my fault either would not
or could not love hin; accepted all the
devotion from him as matter Of course
but | made no effort to return it, and aul
sure that he has made mistake in marry.
ing woman who did not love him.
One morning, about six months after
our marriage, he told me that he intended
leaving me alone for few weeks, to stay
with his mother, who was not very well
He watched the effect OF this announce.
ment on me, but though was really dis
pleased, concealed my annoyance and
asked carelessly when he would start
He replied, the next day if had nc
objections, aud so it was settled.
lie was more atioctionate than usual that
day, and was colder than ever. | only
once alluded to his journey, and that wai
to ask If could have my sister Maud tC
stay while he was gone.
The next morning was anxious to avoid
formal parting, so drove to the station
with him.
As the train moved off, | remembered
thiswa the first parting since our marriage
and wished ! had not been SO cold
When got home the house looked SC
dreary aud empty and there was no one tc
meet me; presently one Of the servants
came for the shawls, and with her Nero
Mr.. Cartwright 5 retriever, which, when he
saw was alone, set up a howl for his
master. | patted him and tried to comfort
him, feeling rebuked for his grief, as he
followed me, whining, into the house.
Every room seemed empty, aud each
spoke Of the absent master. At last
wandered into his sindy, where he spent
his mornings and liked me to sit and work
and now remembered how often l had
excused myself, saying preferred the
drawing-room, and this recollection did not
add to my happiness.
There was photograph Of me standing
on his writing table and another on the
chimney.piecc; on the walls hung two OF
threo drawings which he had begged ol
me when We were engaged; indeed the
room wns full Of little remembranccs Of
me. opened book had given him,
and in II was bis name 10 my hand writing
and underneath in his own, "From my darl-
ing wife" l laid it down with sigh, as
Thought how carefully lie treated every
thing | had ever given him, and how little
care took of all his gifts to me.
Everything attempted, everything
looked at, reminded me Of his goodness to
me and Of my coldness and ingratitude to
him. AT last went to bed, where, after
working myself into fever Of anxiety lest
he should not have reached the end Of his
Journey ia safety, | at length cried myself
10 sleep.
@"e hrAt thoiutub "cht uoNh " picaA
fast with a heavy heart, for | knew
couldn't hear from him till the next day
y seemed so strange 10 breakfast alone and
Nero appeared to think so too, for he was
almost unhappy, shifting around bis mas
iers char IN the most melancholy manner
Ny plate, for The first time since my
marriage, was empty, as sat down L
breakfast, for my husband, who was AZ
carly riser always had little boquet t.
greet the with every morning; freauentl,
forgot all about IT, and left il to be pnt
into water by the servant; this morning
would have treasured il most carefully Il
he had gathered il.
After breakfast determined TO rouse
myself and 60 and visit some Of the pool
people 10 the village, SO l filed my baskoI
with some little dclicacies for tho sick and
set out.
Wherever | went Il was the same story
All held forth on my husbands goodness