The Owosso times., 1881-12-02
A WIFE'S CONFESSION

people do; so in this respect 1 am Meth
er better nor worse than my neighbors
No, certainly did not marry for love
l believe l married Mr.. Cartwright
simply because he asked me.
This is how it happened. He was
the Rector of DovetOn, and we lived
at the Manor House, which was about
ten minutes walk from the church
and the rectory.
We had daily service at DovetOn
and nearly always attended it, and il
came to pass that Mr.. Cartwright in
variably walked home with me. II
was a matter of custom now, and ]
thought nothing of it; it pleased him
and, on the whole, it was rather pleas
ant to me also.
must confess, however, was rath'
er 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.
have never been able to find out
why said Yes, but l did; perhaps I
was because he was so terribly in earn
est that dared not refuse him; per
haps feared his rale face and his low
pleading voice would ever haunt me il
1 rejected his love; or perhaps it was
because he only asked me to marry
him-he did not ask me if loved him.
for think he guessed 1 did not; per
haps it was all these reasons put to
gether; but anyhow said Yes, and liz
due time we were married.
1 ought to have been very happy, fol
he was most devoted husband, but
was not; and though 1 did not notice il
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; l 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 a 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 fOI
a few weeks. to stay with his mother,
who was not very well. He watched
the effect of this announcement on me-
but. though 1 was really displeased, ]
concealed my annoyance, and asked
carelessly when he would start.
He replied, the next day if had nc
objection, and so it was settled.
He was more affectiOnate than usual
that day, and was colder than ever;
only once alluded to his journey, and
that was to ask if 1 might have my
sister Maud to stay while he was gone,
The next morning, l was anxious to
avoid a formal parting, so 1 drove to
the station with him; as the train NOV.
ed off, remembered this was our first
parting since our marriage, and wish
ed had not been so cold.
When 1 got home, the house looked
so dreary and empty, and there was nc
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, sci
up a howl for his master. I patted
him, and tried to comfort him, feeling
rebHked by his grief. as be followed
me, whining, into the house.
Every room seemed empty, and eacf
spoke of the absent master; at last
wandered iuto his study, where he
spent his mornings, and liked nae to si
and work; and now remembered how
often had excused myself, saying
preferred the drawing-rOom, and this
reflection did not add TO my happiness
There was photograph of me stand
ing on his writing-table, and anothe
on the chimney-picce; on the WALL
hung two or three of my drawings
which he had begged of me when VI
were engaged; indeed, the room wa
| full of little remembrances of me.
opened book / had given him, and IL
| it was his name in my handwriting
and underneath, in his own. "From m,
darling wife,"
1 laid it down with sigh, as
thought how carefully he Treasures
everything had given him, and hov
little care took of all his gifts to me
Everything attempted, everything
I looked at, reminded me of his good
ness to my, and of my coldness and In
gratitude to him.
At last went to bed, where, afte
working myself into fever Ct anxiet
lest he should not have reached the en'
of his journey in safety, 1 at lengtl
cried myself to sleep.
The morning went down to break
fast with heavy heart, for / knew