Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-13
HUSBAND AND WIFE,
OR
Which was In the Wrong.
: g iH4M- tHss Ei
a 4 story for Young Couples.
"He qnieteth the.earth by the South wind.
by ". F. T.

&
-,os lail eli by v. F. T. adE
"He qnieteth the.earth by the South wind.u
She had just drawn up the Venetian
blind, and thrown open the window
the lady whose voice soft and solemn,
uttered these words. She had face
which suited the voice, face with thin
classic outlines. and large, azure gray
eyes, clear and steadfast, and a mouth
whose physiognomy endorsed the eyes.
1t was large and full, vet the lips sat
down SO steadily together, you would
scarcely have imagined the beautiful
varieties of expression there were in
them.
But there was something sad in the
pale, pure face, something which made
the gazer feel that the great shadow and
the greater glory were drawing nigh
unto it. Alice. .Mayne was twenty-six
years old at the time she looked out of
her chamber window, that morning in
zied with winds and seething rains, and
the day had risen out oft gloriouslv, on
vast arches of pearl, and the mists lifted
their mighty pillars on the mountains,
and the soft south wind was a great
censer waving through the air unto God
the sweet incense of the earth.
Alice Mayne was the only child of the
Presbyterian minister of Westfield. Her
mother had died of hereditary heart
disease when the.girl had reached her
fifteenth year, and Alice had Inherited
the fragile constitution of her parent
Parson Mayne was good man, and
dearly beloved of his parish. He was in
person thorough type of the Puritan
fathers, tall. stately, imposing. and he
had, partly from constitutional tenden-
cy, partly from habit, something's cold
reserve in his manner; but every one
knew that beneath the slightly frigid
exterior, beats heart full of running
fountains of tenderness and love for all
mankind. 5 l8
No one wondered that the old man
fairly worshipped his fair child, Alice,
for she was the last of seven, and the
others were q household in heaven.
But as the girl stood at the parsonage
window, looking out on the sweet face
of the newborn day, the front gate was
suddenly opened, and q small figure
hurried hastily up the walk, and catch
ing glimpse of Alice, burst into the
sitting room without knocking.
sOh, Alice, Alice, do you know what
has happened ?"
The brown veil was thrown hastily
back from the straw bonnet, and face
not beautiful, not handsome. but very
pretty, looked up to the girl. It was full
Of rapid changes now, and the eyes
large and bright, and oftenest full of
smiles, were swollen as though they had
wept hot passionate tears.
Why, Della, what does all this
mean?'
She evidently asked the question in
quick alarm, and there came sudden
pallor about her mouth. Della was too
excited to notice it.
1T means. Alice Mayne, that Harry
Leeds has been false to me, in word and
deed, and that I am no longer his wife,
I am going home to papa and mamma
this very afternoon a
oh, Della, DeliaE'
She fairly gasped out the words,
with the pallor growing about her
mouth. sof s.
No wonder you say it. Alice, and GO
will the world. too, when it finds out
how. I've been deceived. and abused
and insultedin my own house,
Alice Mayne had by this time partly
recover ed from the shock which Mrs.
Leeds words had given her.
You are so excited, Della, child. you
don't know what you are saying. Take
off your bonnet now-sit right down
here, and tell me all that has happen~
ed.'
And she stroked the soft brownisE
bands of hair that the wind had ruffled
over the fair brow.
I'll try to. Alice; but, you see I'm so
completely overwhelmed by all I've
passed through in the last twenty four
hours. that can hardly give rational
account of the matter.
But to commence somewhere I've
thought for the last six months change
was coming over Harry, he's been SO
cold, and petulant, and Indifferent to
my wishes; ard hasn't been in two
nights of the week before eleven or
twelve o'clock.
I've talked and questioned and pout-
ed and cried over it, but I couldn't get
the least satisfaction from the gentle
man, only cross words and surly looks,
so Just made up my mind that marry
ing was great disappointment, any
way, and must bear it as well as the
rest of my sex. &
But yesterday Betty came to me with
a very lugubrious face and told me that
her sister. whose mistress lives next
door to Mrs. West, had seen Mr.. Leeds
riding out twice during the last week
with that lady. just think of it! A
woman actually wouldn't be seen in
the street with, after all the talk there's
been about her; and to have Harry
Leeds leave his own poor wife at home
to take that widow out riding!
We'll, questioned Betty awhile, and
at last drew out the whole truth, that
Harry was at Mrs. Vests at least three
evenings out the week, and that Mrs.
Graham. (my girls sisters mistress)
had talked about it together, until
they'd grown real exasperated, and said
there was that fascinating, unprincipled
Mrs. West, trying to get another mans
affections from his wife, and it was
burning shame, and they did pity Mrs.
Leeds from the bottom of their hearts.
We'll. you know, Alice, I was never
q jealous wife, but no woman worthy of
the name could have borne this. / un.
derstood now what all those excuses OF
Clubs and engagement and society
meetings meant, and that1they'd com.
pletely blinded my eyes all this time. l
never was SO indignant in all my life. l
cried one moment, and the next l put
on my bonnet. and asjust on the point
of starting around to Mrs. VESTS, ana
giving her piece of my mind.
But finally concluded to wait till
Harry came to supper, but the gentle
man:didn't arrive until near ten o'clock,
and had all this time to think about
the matter.