The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-09-24
THE FIRST SHADOW.

twas evening. Arthur Robert
and his pretty bride, Belle, .has
that day taken the VOWS which
had constituted them one. FaI
the first time since that event, Ar
thur found himself alone with hil
bride for a moment. Prompted BY
an impulse he could not restrain
he kissed her tenderly, and ther
as he pressed her to his bosom
whispered:
Darling, you are all my owr
now, and we will be very happy
all our lives; will We not, deal
wife9"
@oh, 1 so much hope so," the
fond wife answered, bowling hel
head upon his shoulder, and look,
ing up into his face with an ex.
preston Of tender love. "Butstill
Arthur, l almost tremble when
reColleCt how many Of my dearest
friends have entered married life
with promises almost as bright as
mine, only to have them all crush.
ed and trampled into domestic un'
happiness
"Do you fear that we shall beun.
happyR" the young man asked.
For a moment be seemed suspic.
ious that all was not right with
his fair young bride; but her very
attitude was enough to drive away
such thoughts from his mind, and
he added, a moment later
81 know you have no fears, Belle;
nor have 1. 'Tis true there are
many unhappy marriages, but we
will show all our unfortunate
friends how to have peace and hap
piness in their households"
Belle uttered her assurance that
they should be very happy, and
then they moved away to rejoin
their friends.
Arthur Roberts had not made a
mistake in supposings that the
keys of happiness in the home cir
ble lay in his own possession.
During his minority his father
died, leaving all his hard.earned
accumulationS in trust for him, &C
that upon reaching HE majority
he found himself with a good bust
ness knowledge and several tbous
and dollars capital to develop thai
knowledge.
For three years he had been en-
gagged in business, and during thai
time his course had been one o
success. Finally, therefore, he fell
justified in taking the beautiful,
Belle to his home.
Arthur believed be had studiec
human nature. deeply, that be hat
traced out all the sources Of misery
and uncogenialty in welded life
Hence arose his positiveness upor
the subject.
For some time everything movet
along perfectly, and all was hap
piness about the young merchant
hearthstone. Arthur was in al
ecstacy.
He knew the secret Of happy
married life, and manya brief les
son did he deliver to his bacheIo
friends upon his now favorit,
theme. But he did not conside
that no cause of sorrow or trial hat
yet come to them.
When the moment arrived, b,
was to learn that perfect theories
might not always succeed. In fact
an obstacle which many a les
philOSophiC husband might hav,
made an element of more perfec
strength, to throw a more thar
passing shadow upon their hap
piness,
1t was some distance from hi
store to his residence, and durinI
the busiest Of the season it was sci
dom be returned till evening, tax
ing a lunch at the nearest restaur
ant.
Then 1t was so pleasant to b,
met when he returned by the smil
ing Belle, with his clippers ant
dressing gown, and TO enjoy th,
nice Tea, served up as he pridet
himself only his wife could do 1t.
Yes; it was very pleasant, but a
the time passed he began to con
slider IL his right rather than priv
ilege. The kind acknowledge
ments with which these it'll
Offices had been received at frs
were finally disregarded, and b
came to receive them as only hi
just deserts.
Vat kh;a CoorIol kn,k..i l,ao,