Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-01-04
A wIPEs CONFESSION.
By ELIZABETH cAMpBnIL.

did not marry for love. Very few
people do; so in this respect i am neith-
er better nor worse. No, certainly
did not marry for love; 1 believe mar
ried our rector, Mr.. Cartwright, simply
because he asked me.
! ought to have been very happy, for
he was q 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 a few weeks, to stay
with his mother, who was not very well.
He watched the effect of this announce
ment on me, but, though | was really
displeased, / concealed my annoyance,
and asked carelessly, when he would
start.
He replied, the next day, if l had no
objection, and so it was settled
He was more affectionate than usual
that day, and / was colder than ever; l
once alluded to his journey, and that
was to ask if / might have my sister
Maud TO stay while he was gone
The next morning Twas anxious to
avoid formal parting, so drove to
the station with him; as the train
moved off | remembered this was our
first parting since our marriage, and
wished 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 I wandered into his
study. where he spent his mornings,
and liked me to sit and work; and now
I'remenlber how often / had excused
myself, saying preferred the drawing
room, and this reflection did not add to
my happiness.
1t was full of little remembrances of
me, and everything / looked at remind
ed me of his goodness TO me, and Of my
GOODNESS and ingratitude to him. At
last / 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, l at length cried
myself into restless sleep.
The next morning | went down to
breakfast with heavy heart, for 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; fre-
quently / forgot all about it, and left IL
to be put into water by the servant; this
morning would have treasured it most
carefully, if he had gathered it. Y
After breakfast | determined to
arouse myself, and go and visit some of
the poor people Of the village, so I filled
my basket with some little delicacies for
the sick and set out.
is Wherever went it was tho same
story; all held forth on my husbands
goodness and Kindness, for all had been
helped by him ia some way or other,
and .all loved and respected him. As I
listened, with burning cheeks. Ifelt as
If 1 was the only person on earth who
had treated him with cruel ingratitude,
and Twas the very person whom he
had most loved and cherished.
y When Maud, arrived in the afternoon,
I Itreated her to q long TRADE of abuse
against mother-in-laws in general, and
my own in particular; and / vented all
the anger | really felt against myself,
on the innocent Mrs. Cartwright.
"Ih fact. Nelly" said Maud, II be-
lieye you are go much IN love with your
husband, that you are jealous even OF
hismother; and you're making your
self miserable, about nothing. Why,
Mr. Cartwright viii De back in fort
night, and ! dare say you will get let
ter from him every DAY; so cheer up,
ana lot us go Tor drive.
i, 4 agreed .to this plan, and giving
Maud n the reins, aIay back and thought
OF her words. " az she right after allp
was !! Jeaiousr was 4 really, as Maud
said. ~ love.witn my nusbandg Had NJ
only Ionnd itont now! was deprived Of
ms ,a company was I. TINS il11 the reason ~ Y