The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-06-07

!. sse this AFFAIR 70 The end. II she IL nj
. faithful viii Gud her out. and then"
His mcdita.ions we're cut short by u
return % his wife. Who informed him ih'
she had ordered some luncheon and thu
he must meanwhile do his best 10 anus
| her. - there Was no one else 10 the hons
except the servants This styls Of conve
salion made Tom more aud more reckless
and d once he launched out la.c an as
. count Of an imaginary moonlight picnic I
} Alden. wLaTs- s--he let il 20 appear he hs
broken the hearts OF several chsrmin
girls. and upon the whole had behaved i
, highly reprchcnsible manner.
1T must have been very delightful.
. said Mrs. Billbury. II wish l had beel
there. Sometimes We have very pleasan
evenings here. OF course Il know ever,
one in the neighborhood; aud. ~ . mar
ried woman. ! ask whom / like TO m.
house. You must CONS mp one night. Mr.
1 Tillbury, and sup with MS afterward.
j BY this time Tom was perfectly frantic
I'm afraid | sbant be here for long" b
sid biaasrly. am going abroad. can
not rest anywhere. :.
i "You are worried. / sse,' said Mrs
Billbury, Il can sympathize with you.
Yes. family matters and disappoint
msnts. you know"
"Dissppointments! But you are young,
and. II you will excuse me not bad look.
ing. Perhaps yon have merely lost your
heart TO one Of the young ladies at Alden.
"Oh, no" he replied. "And to tell the
truth, am doubtful whether any woman
would be worth worrying about"
Don't be cynical" said Mrs. Billbury
with smile. Perhaps you eXpsct too
much from women.
Il expect sympathy, fidelity and con.
siderstion. answered Mr.. Billbury grave.
ly.
"But. let me ask you, do you indulge
in those virtues yourself? Ali men
are very inconsistent, fear. However,
hope you do not believe that women are
bad as rule"
"Well, know TO my cost that some are
bad. Yes; some even betray their hus.
bands"
"And in such cases I'm afraid the hus.
bands are also to blame"
II don't think so," said Tom curtly.
But you are worrying yourself, see;
although you try to affect Indifference.
What is it?"
Worrying MYSELF Not bit." cried
Mr.. Billbury.
II am glad to hear You say 50. " returned
bis wife. Il don't worry myself. Cosy
suppers and"
But the probable death Of your hus.
bandl" interisculated Mr.. Billbury.
"Oh, ! am philosophical. We only
lived together two days. We only knew
each other for few weeks. Whist am
to him9 What is he TO me2 Life 10 still
before me.
That is rather piain speaking, thought
Tom. wonder whether she would like
to get up > little filtration with me. Twill
draw her on . little"
"Ahr' he said aloud. "You have hap.
piness within your grasp, and you can
make another happy. It is not every man
who is so fortunate as to meet with wom-
an like you. Now I confess have been
unfortunate in my experience. But il /
thought that I might hope for your sym.
pAthy-"
"Surely, MI. Tillbury; it would be un.
vomanly Of me to refuse it.
Tom drew his chsir nearer 10 that Of bis
wife and continued: "Oh, il might hope
for your sympathy and look for your re.
gard and pity, my deer Mrs Billbury.
life, ! assure you, would soon assume Q
new complexion to my eyes. Let us be
plain. Can you not make me happy and
bestow your sympathy. your love and your
pity upon one who will value such gifts at
their true WORTH"
Mrs. Billbury. evidently agitated, rose.
Really" she exclaimed. II was not pre-.
pared for all this. l feel the need Of love,
love such as yours, but" and she buried
her face in her hands.
"This," thought Mr.. Billbury to him.
self. "is my faithful and devoted wife
Yet he was unable to refrain from seating !
himself beside Lydia and putting his arm
round her waist. Dear Mrs. Billbnry,''l
he said, II lore you! Do You. can you
love me?"
She gave scarcely perceptible gesture
OF assent, and Tom. now thoroughly con.
vinced OF his wife's untrnstworthiness,
sprang up and confronted her.
"Mrs. Billbury," said he. what would
your husband soy TO this? You have dis.
graced him."
She looked up and held out her hands
"You srs vicious wsmsn,' he contin.
ued unreientngy.
Then why, just now, did You ask for
my love?" she demanded.
because wanted TO assure myself that
you we're no vicious and worthless IS
nov know you 10 be. Az for loving You
| despise you. Ahl II you we're only >
good woman. And lie approached her and
took her by the hand. For an instant be
stood thus. Then he raised the hand and
kissed It. and finally he kissed his wife on
The cheek.
"Are you going. Mr. Tillburyf" she
lsked.
"Yes. i hsd better 60. il Is for the best.
We could not be happy. Goodbye"
He kissad her again. and then moved slow.