The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-01-15
NOT A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

-HdFpefs = IHdydzlne.
NOT A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
"Come in - said voice, half chok
ing with sobs.
"Why, what has happened, my dear?'
said a Sweet-toned, gentle woman, as
she opened the door of a dainty room
opening on one side upon the exciting
life of Paris and on the other toward the
restful groves of Fontainebleau in the
distance.
"It's hateful here," said the first
speaker, beautiful young woman of
perhaps twenty, who lay weeping on the
lounge. 81 want to go back to Ameri-
ca. / wish I'd never been married. -
We had promised to go this morning to
Versailles with party of friends, and
because it looked like rain Mr.. James
refused to go. plead and begged, but
he has fearful will, and we both got
angry, and he has left the house. 1
didn't suppose l could get so provoked
with person I have really loved"
"And do love now," said the gentle
woman, who took the hand of the excl
ted young wife.
''No, l don't, Mrs. Chester. 1
wouldn't care if l never saw Wilbur
James again 1 should think his first
desire in life, after taking me from a
lovely home, would be to make me hap
py. He likes his own way, and that is
all he cares for, and he simply has the
physical power to carry it out, but that
begets no love. Pm glad he knows
hate him, for told him SO this morning.
What right has he to tell me what
shall do and what shall not :? If he had
been kind and gentle Iwould have done
any thing for him, but when he takes
authority upon himself hate him."
1s! But t1Ityqerg it ymight Re af EqF1e i suggested
was profane or immoral Life is never
perfect for anybody, and your lot, my
dear, is bliss compared to that of many
women. But for Mr.. James's will he |
would probably lose half his force of |
character.
81 wouldn't care if he weren't smart |
at all" said the indignant girl, eff he |
wouldn't use so much control. l never
was governed and never will be. Not |
one man in hundred knows how to be |
gentle with a wife. He frets at the |
slightest things, never confdes in her,
and soon their lives grow apart Do |
you think Wilbur would have acted like |
this before we were married ? He would |
have said, 4 fear it will not be wise to |
go, but will consult your pleasure. =
And my heart was set upon going to
Versailles with those friends, and l had
promised"
And the pretty, self-willed wife broke
out afresh in her sobbing.
"And why did MIR. Jameslea you2"
said Mrs. Chester.
ri suppose because l told him hated
him, and would go back to America as
soon as l could. suppose he loves me,
though he treats me like child, and l
will not be governed, and that's the end
of it."
Hetty James was petted girl who,
naturally amiable, had been INDUCED
in her every wish by very fond parents.
She had welded, as most girls do, ex-
pecting to find perfection, and had
awakened to the fact that marriage has
duties as we'll as pleasures that for most
of us, whether men or women, it be-
comes necessary to adjust our plans or
desires to others needs; to have no will
of our own unless stern principle is in
volved. Love is, in its best sense,
sacrifice, yet one that pays.
No man marries with the plan of CIV
ing his whole life to selfish ends, wheth-
er it be to pleasure or even study or
and ever makes life sue
cess. That end is attained only by con-
siderate thought for others, little atten-
tions such as one gives constantly in the
of social life, and grateful
The men who lives for
self, had better a thousand times re-
main unmarried than to tie another in
to bondage. The woman who has only
her own personal ambition in view usu-
ally proves curse rather than blessing.
To live for others is the only true life
III oOClSly, tllC CllulNll1 DulJ lllOot VI Oil, |
in the home, and failure to do it has
been the ruin of tens of thousands.
"You don't think it mended matters
to tell Wilbur James you hated him."
said Mrs. Chester. Il
"No," said the young wife, slowly. /,
"Let me tell you an incident in my
life, Hetty, of which l rarely speak, but
which has taught me lesson, such a
one as l pray may not come to many.
Ten years ago, when l married Mr..
was very much like you
Both my husband and myself had strong,
wills, and were quick in
temper. When our baby was two years
old friend came to visit us, and to-
gether we planned for days excursion.
"I wouldn't take the child, said
Mr.. Chester; the jaunt will be long,
tiresome one, and l would rather you
would not 60
"'But I have promised, Isaid, 'and,
besides, it won't harm me at all or the
baby either
"Words soon passed between us, and