The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-06-28
in the hearts of Mrs. Maria and Rose much
amy and uncharitableness.
II.
rUH rour~ r~---

olpiy Ieiiaineu irom assuming any airs OF
graces, confessing myself, after all, but a
very plain cav in peacock plumage.
Lady Janet had a handsome house in
Mayfair, and was one of the leaders of the
fashionable world; and so 1, fresh from a
country village, found myself expected to
p the n of the upper ten" Well,
I labored hard, and succeeded to Aunt
Janet's satisfaction. ] believe the queer
old lady had conceived a real fondness for
her blunt, unpromising protege; at any
rate, we got on famously together, and no
word was ever said of my returning to the
old way of life.
Discovering my talent for nove1-writing,
and after a caustic reading of some of my
productions, andmuch cutting and pruning
of my tender shoots, the old lady had a
book of mine published, and was fully as
proud as I was when it turned out a sue
cess.
Talking with me about it before 1t came
out, she remarked that, "for a novice, I was
very confident" And in answer 1 told
her 81 felt successful" She agreed with
me that there was a great deal in that.
1 had numerous s~uitors, in fact, I might
even v been termed something of a 1irt,
since out of them all I could not, find my
fate.
One night at the theater there came into
Lady Janet's box a gentleman, who was
presented to me as her nephew, DR.. NAL
colin Ponsonby, a distinguished physician,
though his age could not have exceeded six
and thirty. He had a plain clever face,
fine inquiring eyes, and the figure of a
Hercules. His manner struck me as being
cold, somewhat stern, and just a trifle
though, because he had sense to pay me
the compliment of talking to me like a
reasonable fellow-creature.
He had read my book, he said, with a
winning smile, and thought that between
the lines he read the promise of greater
fhinUc He did nOt Saon q ovraot fou0rifo
with Lady Janet, with whom he argued
and ~contradicted in a hardly re-
spectful.
After that night Malcolm came often to
visit us, and l met him besides at dinner,
ball and kettledrum. There grew between
us a great friendship, which, in course of
time, ripened into something stronger.
Though each secretly felt the other notwell
chosen, we were both too stubborn and too
fond of holding our own. Eut love leaps
all barriers, and it was SO in our case; we
were betrothed.
When 1 told Lady Janet of our engage.
ment she seemed sorry, and asked me very
solemnly if 1 really loved her nephew, and
whether 1 expected to be happy.
For answer I told her 1 loved him dearer
b life, and was about to paint a glowing
picture of our future, when Polly broke in
with "Silly fools, not fit to live! Twist
| their necks!"
"Not fit to live together" corrected Lady
Janet. And perhaps she wa right.
In the spring we were married, and,
after a delicious tour through the Lake
country we settled down in a quiet old
house in Bloomsbury.
Like q foolish woman I would not &C.
knowledge 1 had found my master in the
cold, s~elf-contained man who called mi
wife. So even in our early wedded laws
there were many struggles for supremacy,
from which my husband always retired
| sternly victorious.
Had l but known what pain such success
caused him, loving him as truly as l did, j
might have desisted; but, ali mel 1 did
not know; l only thought him hard and
cold, when truly he was neither.
One of our subjects of dispute was my
frequent visits to Lady Janet, who, it mus
be confessed, led me into much unwhole
some gayety. First, he did not like Lady
Janet; secondly, he thought the state of my
health demanded more care h 1 chose t.
give it. Unfortunately he was at the time
u~navoidably much from home, which l con
sidered a grievance. Then the house wa.
dull and l dearly loved gayety, and founc
it, too, though it was against my husband.
counsel. He insisted 1 took too little rest
and worked my brain too lard by writing
would not listen, so arose the rift thai
was one day to widen into a great breach
and part us.
At last my splendid health failed, though
I would not own it, and with my health my
/ - NiOORSos Ih6 Il LII JIG
followed Malcolm showed great love anC
care for me-. Had he ever lost it, he would
have won my heart afresh by his infinite
gentleness.
At Christmas my babe was born, but-C
Godl the misery and disappointment!-
born dead. 1 knew my husband felt tn,
disappointment keenly, though he hid i
through love of me; but in my selfish sor
row I only felt my own pain.
I knew also that in his heart he blamed
me, n that made me the more bitter; fol
L heard him say to dear old dad, who haC
come up to see me: "Phyllis has brough
this disappointment upon us entirely b,
her disregard to my wishes and instruc
tions. She would not be persuaded to tax,
proper care. She is so head strong"
GAY, ay," answered dad, mildly, 1--WE al
have faults; and Phyl, though she is
true good girl, is not more free han tn
rest of u.s."
A few days later my husband told me h
had invited Rose to come and stay with u
for a few months. I was very angry tina
he had not consulted me, and I told him s
in very ill-judged words; and he left me
for the first time since our marriage, with
out a kiss of peace. Icried out in my pail
that he did not love me, and a thousan,
other foolish things.
was quite upset at the idea of Rose
visit in my then state of wr~etchedness an
il-health. l felt hat her ceaseless babbl
and ever-present smile would fairly mad
den me. desired only to be left alone t
come back to my own gay self.
But even while 1 dreaded she cam
sleek and fair as ever, full of pretty bal
bling talk and silvery laughter strikin
contrast to my sombre self.
The first night she was with us my hu,
band remarked it, saying:
81 would give something, pet, to see yo
looking bright and happy, like Rose"
I turned my face to the wall and cried
@-rnr hTrcho MI n~@r 1900 -k.Il L.
to me-, though 1 was too stupidity proud t
seek it. So we let the golden chain of Lii
slip link by link between our fingers, neve
missing their brightness till they were b,
yond recall.
Now, in my sader moments, I honestl
hold her blameless; but at that time 1 we
very bitter against my vain, foolish littl
sister, and hated her heartily for steppin
between my husband and me, which 81
did only too surely for a while.
Always.gay and bright, full of prett,
home-loving ways, and looking up to Ma
colin as a hero, Rose slowly ousted me o,
of my husbands confidence and compal
ionship. 1t was to herhe turned with tale
of his daily life; it was her sympathy l
sought when he came home weary; it Wi
Rose, not l., was asked to sing to him
night to seal his letters, to fetch his hat, {
do him any little loving service. To me /
was always courteous. True, sometime
but not often we quarreled; not hearty, al
clearing storms, with a burst of sunshin
at their close in the shape of a loving recol
Citation, but chilly, depressing disagree
ments that left a lingering shadow.
And I-where WIZ my old courageol
spirit! l took it all quietly, standing apa
from the home circle, wrapped in a prou
! Jealous discomfort.
So a year passed, and found us the sam
Rose still blooming fresh and lovely in OF
midst. Slowly but surely the storm gat
cred strength and burst over us, threate
ing to destroy us.
One day we were invited to a garde
party. l really longed for a day of enjo,
ment alone with my husband, and refuse
to go unless he took me alone. Disguise
with what he deemed my selfishness, II
husband would not go unless Rose accor
panied us.
Then 1 grew furious against my siste
WHO was fortunately absent, and accuse
my husband of caring more for her than b
wife.
I shall never forget the look of surpri
and pain on hisface, or his swift condem
ing words, which, instead of cooling, ma
dened me. Iraved against the woman
believed had stolen his love. He persist.
she was innocent as himself of evil, al