Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-02-12
A Wife that Could Not Love Her
Acknowledgement Of His
CDnfidence-A Fall, u Di-
VOree and q Strange
Ending.

Dansville ~. " Letter to Rochester Union.
A ease of divorce has just been de-
cided in Niagara county, accompanied
by circumstances of more than Ordi-
nary interest.
Not many miles from Lockport, N.
Y, there lives a gentleman of the
name of Sharp. He is something over
t~hirty-fve years of age, a farmer, in
easy circumstances, thriving and pros
porous.
A few years ago he married a lady
much younger than himself, the
daughter of poor but respectable pa
rents. 1t was said at the time of the
marriage that they were much better
pleased with the union than their
daughter, owing to the wealth and
high standing Of Sharp. Nevertheless
she consented to marry him. She was
pleasing in manner and person, and
discharged her household duties with
scrupulous care, and was regarded as
a model wife. Sharp loved her dearly,
anticipated her every want and de-
voted himself to her hapHness. So
ciety believed they enjoyed the
average amount Of connubial bliss.
But those most intimate with them
thought they discovered something in
the lady that betrayed secret sorrow.
They thought that
Upon her face there was a tint Of grief,
The settled shadows OF an inward strife;
An unquiet dropping Of the eye,
A If its lids were charged with unshed tears. -
AS there was no apparent cause for
all this, they could not account for it.
Children were denied her, and they
thought perhaps this might be the
cause. But time went on-the hus-
band deeply engaged in making money
and the wife engaged in her domestic
cares.
Al length he employed a young man
Of the name Of Hews, a painter by oc-
cnpation, to repaint his buildings.
Hews possessed a fine person, was in
telligent, agreeable and winning in his
manners, and he soon became a great
favOrite with Sh lrpe Indeed the lat
ter was so we'll pleased with the young
painter that be invited him to make
his house his home. The invitation
was gratefully accepted, the affability
and fine social qualities Of Hews being
more than a compensation for his
board, and Sharp's home circle was
made happier and brighter for the
presence of his interesting guest
Sharp saw with pleasure that his wife
was apparently quite we'll pleased with
him. lie noticed without any sug-
gestion from the green eyed monster,
that her friendly relations with him
increased; that she sedulously en-.
deayored to render his sojourn with
them as pleasant and happy by those
many little attentions and amenities
which a refined and sensible matror
knows 81 well how to use.
But.a at length he began tothink that
perhaps their increasing friendship
might not be regarded as purely pla.
tonic by others, and he mildly anC
c%ourteously called his wife's attention
to the subject. He said he did no
think there was the least wrong il
thought or action between her and
Hews, but as their relations might BE-
uucharitably construed, he advised
her to be more cautious. Thankini
him for calling her attention to tn,
matter, she promised to guard he
conduct toward Hews in the futur,
with more care. She modestly sug
gested to her husband that he shout,
promptly call her attention to any fu
tnre ~infractions of his wishes in re
gard to her relations with their guest
ALI parties were now satisfied, an,
harmony and happiness prevailed il
the household. But after a tim,
Sharp began to notice that Hews spen
most Of his time in the house whel
not engaged in his business that OF
one or two occasions he was seate,
very close O. Mrs. Sharp, and once o,
twice Sharp detected them in act
that demonstrated something NOR,
than mere friendship. He called hi
wife's attention to these things, tell.
ing her that they must be stopped a
once. She replied that they wer
the result Of mere thoughtless
mes on the part Of both Hews an,
herself that there was no thought q
wrong in her intercourse with hin
that she regarded the young mar NOR
az a b~rother.than anything else, end
ing by saying, II hope you are nc
going to be jealous, Sharp; at any rat
you shall have no occasion for sue
feelings. And she kept her word, d
least 10 all outward appearances. |
soon became quite common with he
0 rise at an unusually early hour |
he morning, under the pretext tia
er household duties demanded /