The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-04-27


a. the table withou, even clean collar
and an old faded shawl drawn about hei
shoulders. She Looked anything but a,
,factve
saw her husbands eyes glance 10 hei
across the table with an expression thai
chilled me ], was hard. determined er.
precision. He was scarcely civil 10 me,
and snapped his wife sharply two or three
times during the meal. Al its close he
left the table without word aud went
up stairs.
What is the matter with John. ] asked.
Dear above knows. answered Helen.
He's been acting queer for good while. l
can imagine what's come over him.
Does he come home this way oftan, l
asked
Yas, he's moody and disagreeable As he
can be most OF the time. I'm getting
dreadfully world about it,
Az We talked We heard John moving
about with heavy footballs in the rooms
above. Presently he came down and stood
for while in the hall at the foot Of the
stairs, as If in hesitation. Then hs went
to the street door. passed out and shut it
hard after him.
Helen caught her breath with start. and
turned little pale.
What's the natter asked, seeing the
strangeness Of her look.
don't know. she replied, in choking
voice, laying her hand at the same time on
her breast, but l feel as il something
dreadful was going to happen.
She got up from the table and drew me
near TO her. i, too, felt asuddsn depres-
sion Of spirits. We went slowly up to her
chamber. where We spent the afternoon;
and then | took upon myself the Office of
friend and talked seriously to my cousin
about her neglect of personal neatness.
limiting that the cause OF her husbands
arrangement from home, and altered
manner towards herself might oil spring
from this cause. She was little angry
with me at first, but pressed the subject
home with tender seriousness hat did
the work OF coviction, aud as the evening
drew on she dressed herself with neatnsss.
With fresh ribbon tied in her hair, aud
color little raised from mental excite
ment, she looked charming and lovable.
He could not help being charmed into the
lover was sure. But he did not come
home TO tea. We waited for him an hour
after the usual time, and then sat down
alone; but neither Of us could do more
than sip little tea.
went home soon after, with pressure OF
concern at my heart for which l could not
account All night dreamed uncom fort
able dreams. In the morning soon after
breakfast ran over to see Helen l found
her in her room sitting in her night dress,
a picture OF despair
What is it? ] ssked eagerly. What
has happenedY
She looked at me heavily, like one not
recovered from the shock OF Il stunning
blow.
Dear cousinl What is the matter? l
said.
now saw by motion Of her hand that
it held tightly clutched, piece Of paper.
She reached it to me. II was Letter and
read.
We cannot live happily together, Helen.
You are not what believed myself getting
when we were married-not the sweet,
lovely, lovable girl that charmed my fancy
md won me from all others. Alss for
both that it is so! There has has been
,hipwreck of two lives, Farewell; /
shall never return.
And this was all; but it broke the heart
Of my poor cousin. To this day, alth ough
nearly three years have passed, she has
never heard from husband
saw her last week in the country home
10 which she had been taken by her
friends, wreck both in mind and body. |
She was sitting in an upper room, from
The window of which could be seen beau
Iiful land scape She WAS neatly at ired,
md n locket containing her husbands
picture hing at her throat. Her head was
dropped and her eyes on the floor, when j
but she raised herself quickly, |
md with kind OF start saw me'men.
iary eager flash IN her face dying out
quickly, and leaving it inexpressibly sad
had to stop here, for Maggie broke
out suddenly in wild fit Of sobbing and
crying which lasted for nearly minute.
What ails you dear9 / asked as she be.
gan to be little more composed,
o, you have frightened me so. II John
should
She cut short the sentence; burt her
frightened face left me in no doubt as TO
what was in her thoughts
She arose aud walked around the room
IN an uncertain way for some moments
md then sat down again. drawing in her
breath heavily.
II young wives, ! remarked-beEeving
That the truth was the best thing to say
would take half the pains in making them.
selves personally attractive to their bus-
bands, that they did TO charm their lovers,
more Of them would find the lover contin.
ned in the husband. lisa man, think you
any less an admirer Of vomanly grace and
beauty after he becomes husband than
be was beforel
Hushl Hush shc said in choked
voice. / see it ALI / comprehend ii all |
And she glanced down at herself j look
hateful and disgusting.
After plain earnest talk with Maggie !
went home ! give her own words as 10
A ~.