Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-13

He started and changed color. sWha
do you mean about. Mrs. West, Della
couldn't get home tonight, because
\ was .deluged by some business of tina
miserable client Of mine roitss4if
i believe that he told the truth thi
time, though of course / didn't tell hin
SO. I merely replied that 10 Mrs. Yves
! would probably be anxious on acc0un
of his absence; he had best call aroun,
| there, and relieve her at once by ex
claiming the circumstances which occa
stoned it, t.ecgli3 ses.s.9 aHI
% Della, Delia.' broke in Alice's re
proachful voice, that was not the way
to meet your husband, to make him sor
ry for the wrong he had done you.' ,ia
We'll, Alice lMayne,' with O. 5fasl
from the biuoseyes,i would you have mt
eehdufe such outrage without resentin&
it-surely, i should have been less thar
woman, if had,' 81 sai -
Are you sure of that, Della? Doing
this, might have been more than wo,
man, without Gods help. sshi9sL -.
| The words fell softly on the reused
spirit of the little wife. lgl9s 1gseI ~.
| We'll, Alice, I never professed to be
more than one, as you are; but Harry's
reply to me was such a mixture of in
difference and insult, that I could moi
bear any more, !, who was the aggriev-
ed party, too. sl .lsg il71- 3 i.-3
i turned right upon him, and told
him that SO long as I lived under his
roof and bore his name, I would be
treated with the respect and attention
which man owes his wife, unfortunate
as I considered myself in occupying
that relation toward him. =
Did you say that?' ~ "
TO be sure, and very much more like
it. was scared when I got through,
Harry had grown SO white, but he an
swered .aafl3i5tss sn
Your threats, madam do not alarm
me in the least, and your remaining here
is a matter perfectly Indifferent to me.
One thing, however is certain 50 long
as I pay for this roof, shall maintain
my own right underdt, to go and come
just when and where I please. and that
/ shall In no wise hold myself responsi-
BILE to you for any ofmy movements
And be went out, slamming the door
after him. That is the last Yve seen of
him. and the last everiexpect to-
You don't mean to say he's run off?'
There was terrible. alarm on the ques-
TONER'S face i,.f5-5s = III s3.3,5 ss-I-i b,
'Oh, no; he came in last night. about
twelve o'clock. I had retired the most
wretched of women, and of course I
heard him, for I couldn't sleep, and he
passed the night in the library. /
wasn't down to breakfast until after he
was gone.' 81 ,-ssls 1fsi
And this.is the end. Delia!' ~
She said the words slow and very
mournfully, looking at the young wife.
The end of all this-is that what you
mean, Alice?' ela .aagts
Il mean the end of that Joyous bridal
eve remember seven years ago in the
late May-bridal I looked upon as su,
premeiy smiled on of Heaven and earth
Do you remamber it, Della, and how we
stole away from all the guests, and
walked up and down the garden in
those great swathing bands of moon
light, and how you said to me, He is 40
haadsenHe,s 80 noble, 30 giftedAoh,
Alice, I can't understand how he chose
me above all the women in tie world?'
Don't talk of that time now, don't,
Alice. or you'll drive me crazy!' There
was tremulous working of the lips
We'll, won't, then, but of another,
day saw Harry for the first time af-
ter Della Hope had promised to be his
wife. remember the information had
taken me quite by surprise for you know
that had been at grandpa most of the
previous year, and knew nothing of
what had transpired here until Harry
wrote me so. On meeting him, my first
words were-'Oh. Harry, you are sure
you love her-sure you can make her
happy" 4.W
Love her, Alice! She's the daintiest
little angel that ever folded her wings
around mans heart. If / don't make
her happy, deserve to be cursed of God
and mani
Did he say that? Did he say that %
asked Mrs. Leeds. 1 -lr
And now the tears were struggling
out from her thick, brown lashes.
Every word, Della; and now, as7 I
said. this is the end.' a
+ We'll. it isn't my fault, Alice, I'm
sure. I've loved Harry. and tried to
make him happy, and If he hadn't said
those things which have placed great
gulf between U.s. 3 ~.
And whose words widened the
gulfa'
'Oh, Alice, you don't know how it is
to be stung to madness, as was last
night, by neglect and contempt; by
having your husband prefer the society
of another woman to YOURSELF
! The fierce impetuosity had gone out
of her tones now. sa ad
But, dear. have you always done
your duty in this thing? Have you al
ways been the bright, sweet, loving,
Della Hope that he took to his heart
and his home seven years ago?'
Perhaps not. Alice, but I've meant to
do right. And then Harry's disap-
pointed me in many particulars. He's
not 80 perfect as thought he was: he's
selfish and petulant.'
But, dear, have you in any way as
sisted him to reform his faults and
weakness. or have you reflected them?
Is Harry Leeds better, stronger, truer
man for these years you have walked
together, and for your influence over
him?
/ The little wife's head dropped under
the earnest, searching questions, and
quick changes hurried over her cheeks.
No, Alice, don't beleieve he is a
better man. dare say 1t would have
been we'll for us both If we had never
looked in each others faces.'
But If it be so, it is your fault, Del
ia
oh, Alice, not mine only. You are
too hard.
She spoke in a meek, pleading tone,
and altogether she was very unlike the
reused, indignant woman Of half hour
before. i-f
And now,' Alice went on, without
needing Mrs. Leeds remonstrance, be-
cause you have reflected Harry's faults,
because you have not soothed his irrita-
ton, and strengthened him where he
was weakest, and not continued by the
sweet, loving words and ways which
first won his love, to retain it; and be
cause, with social instincts and suscep-
tible temperament he has been drawn
into the society of an artful, attractive
woman, you are now going to leave him
with ager and recrimination, when you
know doing this will probably be the
mans ruin, soul and body
tOh, Alice!' and shudder went over
the little figure.
only say your own words, Della.
Oh, how will you answer to God for
this days work?'
What in the world can I do, Alice
must go home and submit to neglect
and abuse?' 4
The tears were pouring down her
cheeks. now, and she asked the question
in grieved, helpless tone, which must
have touched any heart. Alice wound
her arms around her friend