Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-04-30

his own manly will; but a softer,
tenderer feeling swept over him
as a mental vision of the pretty,
laughing face passed before him;
and half an hour later he stood in
full dress, waiting the advent of
the beautiful girl, who all uncon-
sciously to them both was steering
her frail vessel on 10 the quick
sands of married misery.
A year passed, and Mr. and Mrs.
Hargrave were still in the gay
vortex of fashionable life; but to
the mans spirit it had grown un-
utterably wearisome.
81 married for a home, May"
he said, one day, in gentle expos
tulation, "but what do | see of
my home ?n
Quite enough to satisfy rea-
sonable man. Why, l shouldn't
want 10 be alone with you all the
time, Jack Think how awfully
tired we should get of each other |"
The thoughtless words stabbed
like knife, but ne made them no
reply. Only that evening, for the
first time, Mrs. Hargrave went to
some gay assemblage alone. Her
husband had refused to accompany
her.
II am tired" he said. "But do
not let me detain you. Mrs. Arm
strong is seen constantly without
her husband"
Because he is bear" ans
wered May, pouting.
Nevertheless she went, and after
that it was no uncommon thing
for Jack to spend his evening with
his books and thoughts, while his
beautiful young wife went out
alone.
"May, I wish you to give Mrs.
Armstrong up" he said to her one
evening as they sat at dinner.
Nonsense, Jack! / cannot do
it, if | wished it ever so much"
"But you must do it. l will
not have you go to that woman's
house again."
'But, Jack, / have already ac-
cepted an invitation to a dinner
party there for Thursday even
ing"
Then write and decline. l do
not ask you this without good
cause, little girl; but things have
recently come to my hearing re-
garding this lady, and | do not
wish my wife's name coupled
with hers
May answered nothing more,
but in her own heart her decision
was unaltered. Begin to yield to
a mans whims, and where should
she end? OF course she should go.
She had been married more than
a year now, and So far had always
had her own sweet will and way.
This time the latter was unex-
pectedly made easy to her, for
as Jack kissed her goodbye on
Thursday morning he said to her:
II shan't be home to dinner to-
night, May. You had better dine
at mothers. BY the way, this
was Mrs. Armstrong; night. You
have sent that regret p
The first fear she had ever felt
OF Jack crept into her heart a
the new, stern look she saw in his
eyes, and it drew her first false
hood to him from her lips.
'Yes,' she answered.
He stopped and kissed her more
tenderly.
I'm make it up to you yet, dar-
ling. Believe me. / did not ask
it without good cause"
She stood quite still after he had
left her. She was half tempted
yet to obey him; but, pshaw
what nonsense it was!
So, at seven O'Clock, the coup
stood at her door, and in a be-
witchins dinner-dress she was
driven to the house her husband
had forbidden her to enter.
But the dinner dregged-not
ut.thats Armstrong s.chef had done
himself infinite credit, or that her
guests failed in their part. The
trouble lay only with Mrs. Har-
graves self. In vain she strove
to rally; compliments palled on
her; the lights tired her. One
thought weighed on her heart and
brain-suppose Jack should be |
seriously dispIeased? Well, what |
if he were Mrs. Armstrong had |
told her how she had managed |
her husbands first displeasure.
"Never yield !" she advised. |
Never SHOW that you are sorry,
and you'll soon learn not to feel
sorry"
So, when at ten o'clock she babe
her hostess goodnight, she deter
mined not to show that she felt
any regret.
A light in the library told her
that her husband was at home