Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-02-02
WIFE's CONFESSION,

npiQlD0TS. ANV' ~ ~
m.rrv for love; l believe | married
Mr. Cartwright simply because he
asked me.
This was how it happened: He
rss the the rector of Doveton, and
~a lived at the Manor House, which
mss about ten minutes walk from
he church and rectory. We had
daily service at Devotion, aud 1 near
10 always attended it, and it came to
nsss that Mr.. Cartwright invariably
rrslked home with me. 1t was
mstter of custom now, and l thought
no,blng of it; it pleased him, and on
tho whole it was rather pleasant to me
also.
7 must confess, however, l was
rather surprised when, one morning
az we got TO the avenue which led up
to the Manor House, he asked the to
be his wife.
have never been able to find out
vhy said yes, but l did; perhaps l
thought it pity to throw away so
much love; perhaps it was because
he was so terribly in earnest that |
dared not refuse him; perhaps
feared his pale face, and his low,
pleading voice would ever haunt me
# rejected his love; or perhaps it
was because he only asked me 10
marry him-he did not ask me if |
loved him, for | think he guessed l
did not perhaps it was all these rea
sons put together, but anyhow said
yes, and in due time we were mar
ried.
fought to have been very happy,
for be was most devoted husband;
but | was not, and though | did not
know it then, l know now that for
the first six months after our mar
rage he was not happy either.
1t was all my fault. | either could
not or would not love him; | accept
ed all his devotion as a matter Of
course, but made no effort to return
II, and am sure he had found out
that be had made a mistake in mar
rying a woman who did not love him.
One morning. about six months
after our marriage, he pleasantly said
at the breakfast table that he intend
ed leaving NE alone for a few weeks,
to stay with his mother, who was
not very well. He watched the effect
of this announcement on NE, but
though | was really displeased L
concealed my annoyance. and asked
earelessIv when he would start.
He replied, the next day if had
no objection, and 50 it was settled.
He was more atfectiOnate than
usual that dav. and | was colder than
ever: | only once alluded to his
Journey, and that was to ask if |
might have nv sister Maud to stay
while he was gone.
The next morning | was anxious tC
avoid formal parting, so | drove &c
the station with him; as the train
moved off remembered that this was
our first parting since our marriage
and l wished | had not been so cold
When l got home the house looked
so dreary and empty. and there was
no one to meet me; presently one %
the servants came for the shawlS. an(
with her Nero. Mr.. Cartwright
retriever, which. when he saw | wa.
alone, set up howl for his master
| petted him, and tried to cOmfOr
him, feeling rcbuked by his grief, ant
be followed me. whining. into til,
house. Every room WIS empty, ant
each spoke Of the absent master. A
last | wandered into his study where
be spent his mornings. and liked ms
to sit and work and now | remeln
bered how often | had excused my
self, saying | preferred the drawing
room, and this reflection did not al,
much to my happiness.
There was 2 photograph of ms
standing on the writing table, ant
another on the chimney piece; OF
the walls hung two Or three of my
drawings, which he had begged o
me when We were engaged; indeed
the room was full OF little remem
brances Of me. | opened book
had given him, and in it was hi:
name in my handwriting, aud under
meath in his own, '.From my darling
Wife. laid ii down with a sigh, a
thought how carefully he TREASURED
everything | had ever given him, ant
now little care | took of all his gift.
TO me.
Everthing l attempted, everything
looked at, reminded me of lii
goodness to me. AT last / went It
oed, where, after working myself int
o lever of anxiety lest he should no
nave reached the end of his journe,
IN safety, at length cried myself t.
sleep.
lhe next morning | went down t.
breakfast with heavy heart, for
Knew could not hear from him til
the next day; it seemed so strang
'" breakfast alone, and Nero appeared
10 think SO too, for he was most un
sappy, smiling round his master
'nair In the most melancholy manner
MY plate, for the first time sine
ny marriage, was empty as | 50
uo"h 10 breakfast, for my husband
M VINO was an early riser, always had
NIUE boquet to greet me with ever
morning; frequently ! forgot a
apout II, and left it TO be put into th
"stef oy the servant; this morning
WOULD have treasured it most care
'uiiY If he had gathered it.
Alter breakfast | determined t
ioase myself and 90 and visit som
g, eu tle poor people in the village, so
nlea my basket with some little del
0seles for the sick, and set out.
wherever | went it was the sam
ss'fy all held forth On my husband
soooness and kindness, for all ha
Seen helped by him in some way G
ne other, and loved and respecte
n' AS L listened with burnin
.neeKs, felt as if | was the onl
peison on earth who had treated hi,
na .n cruel ingratitude, and L was th
siy person whom he most loved an
Cherished.
Al last l went home, tired and SIC
-; neart; but there was no one to NJ
:" e was pale and worn out, no or
NJ set me wine or soup to revive MT