The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-09-23

~ Married and settled! notbartered for gold;
Ia Mated! not bound with tether ~r
r' Hateful and irksome as chains To a slave,
But living and loving together! -.
A WIFE'S CONFESSION.
I did not marry for love. Very few
people do, so in this respect I am neithe,
better nor worse than my neighbors. Nc
/ certainly did not marry tor love; / be.
lieve I married Mr.. Cartwright simply
because he asked me. ....' =
This was how it happened. he was
the rector of Devotion, and we lived al
the Manor House, which was about ten
minutes walk from the church and rec.
tory. We had daily service at Devotion,
and nearly always attended it, and it
came to pass that Mr.. Cartwright invar1-
ably walked home with me. It was a
matter of custom now, and I thought
nothing of it; it pleased him, and on the
whole 1t was rather pleasant to nae also.
must confess, however, 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.
1 have never been aole to find out why
l said yes, but did; perhaps I thought
1t pity to throw away so much love
perhaps it was because he was so terribly
in earnest that dared not refuse him
perhaps feared that his pale face and
low, pleading voice would ever haunt me
If rejected his love; or, perhaps it was
because he only asked me to marry him
j he did not ask me it I loved him, for I
think he guessed did not; perhaps it
was all these reasons put together, but
anyhow said yes, and in due time we
were married. ....-
ought to have been very happy, for
lie was most devoted husband, but
was not, and though I did not notice it
then, I know now that for the first six
months after our marriage he was not
happy either.
1t was all my fault either would
not or could not love him; I accepted all
his devotion to me as matter of course,
but made no effort to return it; and
am sure he had found out that he had
made mistake in marrying a woman
who did not love him.
One morning, about six months after
our marriage, he told me at breakfast
that he intended leaving me alone for a
few weeks, to stay with his mother, who
was not very we'll. He watched the ef-
feet Of this announcement on me, but
thong b I was really displeased, I con-
cealed my annoyance, and asked careless
~ when he would start.
He replied. the next day if I had no
objection, and so it was settled.
- He was more afectionate than usual
that day, and I was colder than ever;
only once alluded to his journey, and that
was to ask if my sister Maud might stay
with me while he was gone.
The next morning was anxious to
avoid formal parting, so I drove to the
station with him, as the train moved off,
remembered this was our first parting
since our marriage, and I wished I had
not been so cold.
When got home the house looked so
dreary and empty and there was NO one
to meet me; presently one of the servants
came for the shawls, and with her Nero,
Mr.. Cartwright's retriever, which, when
he saw was alone, set up q howl fol-
his master. patted him and tried to
comfort him, feeling rebuked by his
grief, as he followed me, winning, into
the house. Every room seemed empty
and each spoke of the absent master
At last I wandered into his study, where
he spent his mornings and liked me tc
sit and work; and now I remembered
how often had excused myself, saying
I preferred my drawing room, and this re-
Election did not add to my happiness.
There was photograph of me stand
ing on his writing table, and another or
the chimney-piece; on the walls hung
two or three of my drawings, which hi
had begged of me when we were en-
gagged; indeed, the room was full of lit
tie membranes of me; I opened {
book had given him, and in 1t was his
name in my handwriting, and under
meath in his own, "From my darling
wife, laid it down with a sigh, as
thought how carefully he treasured
everything I had given him, and how
little care I took of all his gifts t.
me.
Everything attempted, everything
looked at reminded me of his goednes.
to me, and Of my GOODNESS and ingratl
tude to him. At last went to bed, and
working myself into fever of anxiet,
lest he should not have reached the end o
his journey in safety, at length criet
myself to sleep. -..... J.
The next morning went down to m,
breakfast with heavy heart, for knew
could not hear from him till the mex
day; it seemed so strange to breakfast al
alone, and Nero seemed to think 80, too
for he was unhappy, shifting about hi
masters chair In the most melanchoi,
manner. "
e My plate, for the first time since m,
marriage, was empty, as I sat down Il
breakfast, for nv husband, who was a,
early riser, always had little bouque
70 greet me with every morning; fire
quently I forgot all about it and left i
to be put into water by the servant; thi.
morning would have treasured it mos
carefully if he had gathered it.
After breakfast determined to rouse
myself and go and visit some of the boo
people in the village, SO I filled my has
ket with some little delicacies for tn,
sick and set out.
Wherever went it was the same story
ALI held forth On M huss,ond,a r,oo.1ro,