Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-02

a serpent trall IN her paradise. one cIuh
to them with passionate kisses before sh
started on her wedding journey, and ha
almost to be torn from their embraces
but this without probing the nature G
their regret and wretchedness.
She and George sailed for Europe al
most Immediately. He was rich man
but he had a profession to which he pro
posed to devote himself For the mex
two years he attended medical lectures il
Paris as assiduously as though he hat
been a needy student anxious to go t
work to earn a living. He and Edna
were very happy during those two years
1t was the life that suited Edna-art anC
music and congenial society. The worlC
was even gayer and brighter than her i'm
agination had pictured it. Then yeal
of travel. Then home
Eddie had never known how she haC
missed her dca. father and mother until
she found herself once more clasped il
their loving arms How had she done
without, all this while, their extraordinary
devotion: She had never half enjoyed
her own two babies until she had shown
them to her father and mother.
Tears of JOY and pride rained down
Mr.. Clark'S cheeks. Eddie's little girls
There never were such beauties, such
| darlings. Eddies eyes, with their father 5
beautiful, golden hair Fortunately they
were sufficiently like their fathers family
to win favor with their grandmother lie
Roy on that score.
On the whole she was satisfied with
the appearance presented by her sons
family. Eddie's French toilets were
stylish and becoming; the elder baby
prattled in French in distinguished
way: the baby proper was a study for a
picture as she lay in the arms of her
bonne, whose picturesque cap and apron
were the first that had ever appeared in
Port Royal Edna really did not do
George discredit; she would be well
enough if it were not for her vulgar father
and mother.
Still there were no jars, but all the
same Edna grew gradually harraSscd and
unhappy 1t became patent to her that
Mrs. lie Roy looked down upon her an
tecedents. and that it was perpetually
upon her mind to instruct her in the diff
ferent articles of her own social creed
Eddie's gentle soul rebelled. She had
her own pride of birth. She hated Mrs
lie Roy's arrogance and assumption She
almost hated Mrs. lie Roy. Day after
day she was made to appear to disadvan-
tagc before George Day after day she
felt that she was Stitcning and hardening
before the icy breath of her mother-in-
law 5 constant surveillance. \ word here
and a word there, will prejudice almost
unawarcs George for the first time no
ticcd that his wife had defects; she lacked
self control, self possession. These things
would come in time, but they were an
Indispensable part of the equipment Of .
finished woman of the world.
Gradually George began to object to
her frequent visits to her parents, although
never in so many words. The argument
he used was that she was 50 much away
from home; he saw so little of her
Gradually Eddie abandoned this point !;
but in return she resolved that she would
be equally charry OF her visits to other
places. She established q character for
unsociability and indifference among all
the Le Roys' friends in Port ROYAL, peo-
pie whom Mrs Leroy had urged her to
to cutiyate-"tor your husbands sake,
my dear, physicians wife cannot exer-
else too much discretion in the choice Of
acquaintance.
Gradually she did not seem to herself
to be the same girl. Oh, if only she and
George could live in a little house of their
own This great, grand house was a
prison. But it had always been on the
cards that George should live with his
mother. An unusual devotion existed
between the mother and son.
Eddie was not wise woman. She
made no effort to conceal the bitterness
in her soul from her own parents. They
knew she was not happy; they never
dreamed of blaming her when day after
day went by without their seeing her.
But they did blame Mrs. lie Roy, and
none the less as they saw Eddie grow
quiet and dull and changed.
George and she drifted farther and
farther apart. His was an impressiona-
ble nature. which speedily fell away
from the magnetism of any influence
which was not vigorously exerted. And
he liked life and gayety; Eddie's mood
chilled and depressed him. He had no
sympathy for people with the blues. So
he sought amusement elsewhere. If Ed
die refused TO return visits, the more
reason that he should visit vigorously
He was always warmly welcomed at the
houses of his old intimateS. The Storeys,
for instance, made as much of him as
though he were still unmarried He be-
lieved those girls would do anything for
him. He showed Eddie with somewhat
of school-boy triumph pair of slippers
Minna Storey had worked for him in
shaded hoSSeS.
Port Royal-at least in exclusive cir
cles-always left home in August and
September. The lie Roys from time i'm
memorial had gone TO the SweetbricI
Springs during those months. 1t was
decided to carry out this usual programme,
almost without consulting Mrs. George
q Roy She for her part. detested the