New Ulm weekly review., 1882-10-04
A WIFE'S CONFESSION.
BY ELIZABETH CAMPBELL.

did not marry for love. Very few
people do; so in this respect am Meth.
er better nor worse. No, I certainly
did not marry for love; believe mar
ried our rector, Mr.. Cartwright, simply
because he asked me.
l ought to have been very happy, for
he was a most devoted husband, but
was not, and though did not notice it
then, know now that for the first six
months after our marriage he was not
happy either.
One morning about that time he told
me at breakfast that he intended leav-
ing me alone for few weeks, to stay
with his mother, who was not very we'll.
He watched the effect of this announce
ment on me, but, though I was really
displeased, I concealed my annoyance,
and asked carelessly, when he would
start
He replied, the next day, if had no
objection, and so it was settled.
He was more affectionate than usual
that day, and I was colder than ever;
once alluded to his journey, and that
was to ask if l might have my sister
Maud to stay while he was gone.
The next morning was anxious to
avoid a formal parting, so drove to
the station with him; as the train
moved off l remembered this was our
first parting since our marriage, and
wished 1 had not been so cold.
When got home the house looked so
dreary and empty, and there was no
one to meet me. Every room seemed
empty, and each spoke of the absent
master; at last wandered into his
study, where he spent his mornings,
and liked me to sit and work; and now
l remember how often I had excused
myself, saying preferred the drawing
room, and this reflection did not add to
my happiness.
It was full of little remembrances of
me, and everything looked at remind
ed me of his goodness 10 me, and of my
GOODNESS and ingratitude to him. At
last l went to bed, where, after work
ing myself into fever of anxiety lest
he should not have reached the end of
his journey in safety, at length cried
myself into restless sleep.
The next morning went down to
breakfast with heavy heart, for I knew
could not hear from him till the next
day: My plate, for the first time since my
marriage, was empty, as sat down to
breakfast, for my husband, who was an
early riser, always had little bouquet
to greet me with every morning; fire.
quently l forgot all about it, and left it
to be put into water by the servant; this
morning 1 would have treasured it most
carefully, if he had gathered it.
After breakfast l determined to
arouse myself, and 90 and visit some of
the poor people of the village, so filled
my basket with some little delicacies for
the sick and set out.
Wherever I went it was the same
story; all held forth on my husbands
goodness and kindness, for all had been
helped by him in some way or other,
and all loved and respected him. AS
listened, with burning cheeks, felt as
if [ was the only person on earth who
had treated him with cruel ingratitude,
and was the very person whom he
had most loved and cherished.
When Maud arrived in the afternoon,
treated her to a long TRADE of abuse
against mother-in-laws in general, and
my own in particular; and vented all
the anger l really felt against myself,
on the innocent Mrs. Cartwright.
''1n fact, Nelly" said Maud, II be-
lieve you are so much in love with your
husband, that you are jealous even of
his mother; and you're making your
self miserable about nothing. WHY,
Mr.. Cartwright will be back in fort
night, and dare say you will get let
sfe 1rS% Ie9 Us s% 20 for fsxesyo cheer up
I agreed to this plan, and giving
Maud the reins, I lay back and thought
of her words. Was she right after all?
Was jealous? Was l really, as Maud
said. in love with my husband? Had I
only found it out now I was deprived of
his company? Was this the reason l
could do nothing but inwardly reproach
myself for my conduct to him? And the
longer thought, the more convinced
became that Maud was right, that was
jealous, and that was in love, as she
called it.
The next morning I got up early and
walked out to meet the postman, so
anxious was to get letter from him;
it was the first mad ever received from
him since our marriage, and no girl
was ever 50 anxious for, or so pleased
with her first love-letter, as was over
this.
It was long letter, full Of loving
messages and terms Of endearment, all
of which cut me to the heart, for they
sounded like so many reproaches. /
spent the morning in answering it,
much to Maud's amusement, who, Of
course, thought I was pouring out vol
umes of love and complaints Of my tenn
porary widowhood; after tearing up
about dozen sheets of paper, 1 at last
sent short note, cool, and with no al
lusions to my misery.
For whole week went on in this
way, suffering more acutely every day,
and every day receiving long, loving
letters from Mr.. Cartwright, and writ
ing short, cold answers.
At last, when he had been away ten
days, could bear it no longer, for
felt ] should have brain fever II Iwent
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