Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-23
Mays Folly.

1t was May Brinley's wedding day, anC
she stood fully dressed before her mirror
taking one last look, with little pardon
able vanity, at the figure reflected there.
In another hour she should be Mrs. Johr
Hargrave. How hard it was to realize
Around her clustered bevy of girls, eacf
one anxious to put finishing touch to thu
beautiful toilet.
al quite envy you, May" said one; ant
Just caught peep of Jack. He looks, oh
so awfully handsome, and is waiting impa
tiently to see you one minute before you g
TO the church."
"Have you made up your mind to say
'obey?'" mischievously inquired another
"You know you always used to say yol
never would"
"Oh, yes l shall say it," answered the
bride-elect, "because | shouldn't want a
scene at the altar. But it's all nonsense
Jack doesn't expect me to obey him. He
knows have had my own way all my life
and am sure he will always give it to me
He says he loves to spoil me-"
"Take care, May, darling, that you dc
not begin life with fatal error" said one
who had not yet spoken.
Her words were interrupted by quick
impatient rap at the door.
ats Jackl" exclaimed May. "Open the
door, girls, and then be off with you"
al thought they would never let me in, u
said the tall, handsome fellow who advanced
into the room. "May, how beautiful you
are"
He came toward her with outstretched
arms.
"Don'tl" she said, little petulantly, re-
ceding as she spoke. "This is not the time
for bear-hugs"
The handsome face clouded little.
&C. won't do the finery any HARM" he an
swered, and gently encircling her with his
arm he drew her to him, uplifting the GRIM
son lips on which he pressed long, loving
kiss. "God grant may ever make you as
happy as you have made me to-day |"
But just then there was call for the
bride. The carriages were in waiting. 1t
was quite time they should be at the church.
How solemnly Jack made all the responses,
thought May. For her part she repeated
them after the minister scarcely conscious
of the import of the words, but quite con-
scious of the sea of faces through which she
must pass quite conscious that her marriage
was the event of the season, her toilet such
as to bar criticism, and her husband young
and rich, and handsome enough to make her
the envy of half the women present.
But way down in the depth of the little
worldly heart was well of true love for
Jack. If she had had to give up all
this outside show she would have been quite
content to have gone off all alone with him,
and proved how true a wife she could be !;
but there was no occasion for this, and
don't think even May herself knew how
wholly she loved him. She was a spoiled,
petted child, and that any solemn duties
were entailed in the estate upon which she
was just entering she did not pause to think.
For four weeks she and Jack travelled !;
then they came home to their own beautiful
home-her fathers wedding gift to her.
Here round of festivities awaited them, so
that the young couple for three months had
no single evening to themselves.
~ am tired, May. Let us stay at home
tonight, darling" said Jack one evening
after dinner as May was about to leave him
to make her toilet for some party.
"Absurd, Jack You're not growing old
already, surely Besides, promised Mrs.
Armstrong we would come, and | cannot
disappoint herr ?"
al don't like Mrs. Armstrong, May.
wish you were not so intimate with her and
really my head aches tonight. Stay at home,
like good little girl"
For moment May wavered. She looked
within the library, which seemed so warm
and inviting. She could fancy Jack stretched
on the sofa, while she sat beside him. bath
ing his brows with some fragrant cologne,
and thought what nice, cozy evening they
might have. Then she remembered some
thing Mrs. Armstrong had said about spoil
ing men, and how easy it was to begin and
how selfish they grew.
1t was well enough for Jack to spoil her.
That was to be expected; but as to spelling
him-no, indeed So she ran on up the
stairs, calling back over her shoulder:
"Come, Jack; we've no time to lose. And
as to that horrid prejudice of yours, do try
and get over it."
There came temptation to the mana
temptation to carry out his own manly will ;
but softer, tenderer feeling swept over him
as mental vision of the pretty, laughing
face passed before him and half an hour
later he stood in full dress, waiting the ad-
vent of the beautiful girl, who all uncon-
sciously to them both was steering her fral
vessel on to the quicksands Of married
misery.
year passed, and Mr. and Mrs. Hargrave
were still in the gay vortex of fashionable
life; but to the mans spirit it had grown
unutterably wearisome.
al married for home, May" he said, one
day, in gentle expostulation :" but what dc
see of my home? ?"
"Quite enough TO satisfy reasonable
man. Why, shouldn't want to be alone
with you all the time, Jack Think how
awfully tired we should get of each other +
The thoughtless words stabbed like a
knife, but he made them no reply. Only
that evening, for the first time, Mrs. Har
grave went to some gay assemblage alone
Her husband had refused to accompany her
II am tired" he said. "But do not lei
me detain you Mrs. Armstrong is seer
constantly without her husband"
"Because he is bear" answered May
pouting.
Nevertheless she went, and after that il
was no uncommon thing for Jack to spenC
his evening with his books and thoughts
while his young wife went out alone.
inlay, wish you to give Mrs. Armstrong
up" he said to her one evening as they sa
at dinner.
Nonsense, Jack | cannot do it, if
wished it ever so much"
But you must do it. j will not have vol
to go to that woman's house again"
"But, Jack, have already accepted al
invitation to dinner party there for Thurs
day evening"
"Then write and decline. do not asl
you this without good cause, little girl bu
things have recently come to my hearing
regarding this lady, and | do not wish m,
wife's name coupled with hers"
May answered nothing more but in he
own heart her decision was unaltered
Begin to yield to mans whims, and wher
would she end OF course she should &C
She had been married more than year now
and so far had always had her own swee
will and way.
This time the latter was unexpected
made easy TO her, for as Jack kissed he
goodbye on Thursday morning he sal
to her:
al shant be home 10 dinner to-nigh
May. You had better dine at mother
by the way, this was Mrs. Armstrong
night You have sent that regret ?"
The first fear she had ever felt OF JAG
crept into her heart at new, stern look sh
saw in his eyes, and it drew her first falls
hood to him from her lips.
EYES," she answered.
He stopped and kissed her more tenderl,
am make it up to you yet, darling. b
lieve me, did not ask il without goo
cause"
She stood quite still after he had left he
She was half tempted yet to obey him; br
-pshaw what nonsense it was
So, at seven o'clock, the coupe stood /