The Owosso times., 1881-12-02

BILE found it to write any expression
of love or penitence, though / was
hungering to do so.
For whole week l went on in this
way, suffering more acutely every day,
every day receiving long, loving letters
from Mr.. Cartwright, and writing short
cold answers.
1 lost my appetite, l could not sleep
at night, and the torture / was endur.
ing made me look so i'll that Maud be-
came frightened, and declared she would
write and summon my husband home
and tell him l was pining away fol
him.
L forbade her doing this so sternly
that she dared not disObey me; for de-
termined he should never hear from
any lips but mine that at last his hearts
desire was attained, for loved him.
AT last, when he had been away ten
days, could bear it no longer, for /
felt should have brain-fever il 1 went
on in this way; so determined to go
to Melton, where Mrs. Cartwright lived
and see my husband.
1 came to this decision one night, and
went into Maud's room early i'm the
morning to tell her my intention; L ex-
pected she would laugh at me, but l
think she guessed something was
wrong, for she seemed glad to hear it,
and helped me to pack few things,
and set off in time to catch the morn
ing train.
1t was theee hours journey; they
seemed three years to me, for the near
er 1 got to my husband the more impa-
tient 1 was to see him. At last we got
to Melton, a largish town. OF course,
as l was not expected, there was no
one to meet me, so took carriage to
Mrs. Cartwright's house, where l ar
rived about three o'clock.
learnt afterwards that Andrew was
with his mother in the little drawing
room when drove up, but thinking 1
was only visitor he escaped into an
other room; so l found my mother-in
law alone.
BY her side were some of my hus-
bands socks which she was darning-
socks which had handed over to the
servants to mend, and which l now
lOnged to snatch away from his mother.
His desk stood open, letter to me,
which he was writing, lying on it.
The servant announced me as Mrs.
my voice failing as l gave
my name, so that Mrs. Cartwright held
up her hands in astonishment when she
saw who it was.
My dear Nellyl Has anything hap
pened? How i'll you lookl What is itT
she exclaimed.
Il want my husbandp l gasped, sink
ing on to a chair, for I thOnght 1
should have fallen.
Without another word Mrs. Cart
wright left the room. feel sure now
she guessed all about it, and can new
Or thank her enough for forbearing to
worry me with questions as to what I
had come for.
She came back in few moments
with a glass of wine, which she made
me drink off, saying she would send
him to me at once if took it. l COM
piled, and she went to fetch him, in an
other minute 1 heard his step outside
the door, and then he came in.
Nelly, my love, my darlingl what
Is it ? he cried, as l rushed into his
outstrecht d arms, and hid my face on
his breast, sobbing bitterly.
For some moments could not speak
at last 1 recovered myself enough to
sob out:
'Oh, Andrew, my love-my dear love
ian you ever forgive? came to ask
you and to tell you can't live without
your
1 would have said more, but his kiss
es stopped my mouth, and when at
length ne let me go, there were other
tears on my cheeks besides my own.
That was the happiest hour of my
life, in spite of my tears; and before
my mother-in-law again joined us.
which she discreetly avoided doing till
had poured out all 1 had
10 tell into my husbands ears; and l
had learnt from him that he had left
me to try what effect his absence
would have on me; for he had felt for
some time that my pride was the great
barrier he had to overcome to win my
love.
He had judged right. He was too
to tell me how much he had
suffered from my indifference, but 1
know it must have grieved him terri
bly,. He is a different man now, he
looks so happy, and / know he would
not change places with any one on
earth.
We went back to the Rectory the
next day, but we could not persuade
Mrs. Cartwright to come with us; she
said we were best alone, and l think
she was right.