The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-04-28

ANXIOUS 10 go 10 work TO earn living
de and Edna were very happy durins
/ those two years; it was the life tina
suited Edna-art and music and con
/ genial society The world was even
gayer ana brighter than her day-dream
had pictured il. Then year OF travel
| Then home
Eddie had never known how she ha,
missed her dear father and mother unit
she found herself once more claspe,
| in their loving arms How had 81,
| done without all this while, their extra
| ordinary devotion, their blind intatua
ton? She had never half enjoyed hel
own two babies until she had showr
them to her father and mother Tear,
Of JOY and pride rained down Mrs
| Clark cheeks. Eddie's little girls
There never were such beauties, sucl
| darlings. Eddie's eyes, clear, brown
| eager, with their fathers beautiful
golden hair. Fortunately they were
sufficiently ike their fathers family t
win favor with their grandmother l.
Roy on that score. On the whole. she
was satisfied with the appearance pre-.
scented by her sons family Eddie,
French toilets were stylish ana beeom
ing; the elder baby praJtled in French
in distinguished way the baby proper
was a study for picture as she lay III
the arms of her bonnie, whose picturesque
reap 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 only it Were
not for the vulgar father and mother.
Still there were no jars. But, ali the
time, Edna grew gradually harasscd and
unhappy. 1t became patent to her that
Mrs. lie Roy looked down upon her
antecedents, and that it was perpetually
upon her mind to instruct her in the
different articles of her own social creed.
Eddie's gentle soul reballed. She hated
Mrs lie Rows arrogance and asSump-
ton. She almost hated Mrs. lie Roy.
Day after day she was made to appear
to disadvantage before George. Day
after day she felt that she was stiiitning
and hardening before the icy breath of
her mother-in-law's constant Surveill-
ance. \ word here and 4 word there
viii prejudice almost ugawares.
George, for the first time, noticed that
his wife had defects; she lacked self
control, selfpossession. These things
would come in time, but they We're an
indispensable part of the equipment Of
a finished woman Of the world.
Gradually George began TO object to
her frequent visits to her parents, al
though never in so many words. The
argument he used was that she was so
much away from home he saw 80 little
of her Gradually Eddie abandoned
this point; but in return she resolved
that she would be equally chary Of her
visits to other places. She established
a character for unsociability and inditi,
erence among all the lie Rows friends in
Port ROYAL, people whom Mrs. lie Roy
had urged her to cultivate-''for your
husbands sake, my dear; physicians
wife can not exercise too much discre-
ton in the choice Of acquaintance
Gradually she did not seem to her
self to be the same girl. Q, if only she
and George could live i'll little house
of their own! This great, grand house
was a prison But it has 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 that she was not happy; they
never dreamed of blaming her when
dav after day went by without their
seeing her But they did blame Mrs.
Leroy, and none the less as they saw
Eddie grow quiet and dull and changed.
George and she dritted farther and
farther apart. His was an impression
able 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 repressed him. He had no
symthy for people with the blues. So
he sought amusement elsewhere. If
Eddie refused to return visits, the more
reason that he should visit vigorously.
He was always warmly welcomed Al the
houses of his old intimates. The Storeys
for instance, made as much of him as
though he were still unmarried. He
believed those girls would do anything
for him He showed Eddie with some
what of scEool-boy triumph Il pair Of
slippers Minna Storey had worked for
him in shaded flosses
Port Royal-at least its exclusive cir
cles-always left home in August and
September. The LeRoys from time
immemorial had gone to Sweetbrier
Springs during those months. 1t was
decided to carry out this usual pro-
gramme almost without consulting Mrs.
George Leroy she, for her part, de
tested the idea Of going, as indeed she
had ended by detesting all the LeRoys
doings.
Nevertheless, Sweetbrier Springs was
a pleasant place enough, in the heart of
the peaceful, serene mountains. 1t was
not so far from Port Royal but that
George could join his family once a
week, for which fact Eddie would have
been more than thankful had she had
the full benefit of his society when he
did come. But there were not many
men at the Springs, and DIR. Leroy was
handsome and popular. His weekly ar
rival was the signal among the idle girls
at Sweetbrier for a STRUGGLE tC monopo-
lie his attentions And George was
nothing 10th. He came up here to re-
cuperate and to have q good time, and
when he applied himself to having a
good time it was with the same zeal
with which he had brought to bear upon
the study of his profession,
Tho 81
80, storey girls were his warmest adj
mirers. Minna Storey was as bewitch-
ingly beautiful as the typical Eastern
houri-all rounded curves and dimplesa
soft, tendrilly brown hair, and laughing,
mischievous halle eyes. She was a girl
who never hesitated to follow the bent
of her pleasures, although these at times
led her into somewhat devious ways.
She generally had love affair on hand,
although this was apt to be not 50 much
Irritation as romp. At least this
was the distinguishing Characteristic Of
her present encounter with DIR. Leroy.
1t was great fun, no doubt, but it could
hardly be said to be dignifed. As the
weeks slipped by the fact grew to be an
L i