The National tribune., 1885-01-01
At TYE EXHIBITION,
How Young Wife found Her HuS-
band.

"I do feel so sorry for your niece. Mrs. Cleve-
| land she seems such sweet, gentle girl, it is
| terrible for her to be widowed so early!"
Evelyn is not widow" said Mrs. Cleve-
land, rather stiffiy; "she is separated from her
husband, whose regiment is abroad. Then you
have decided to accompany Us to the Health
| Exhibition this afternoon, Miss Bulstrode?"
ooh, yes! / don't know what they would
| say if told them ON my return to Devonshirs
| that had not been there"
"It is a very firing place." said Mrs. Cleye-
land, languidy; but you ought to go, as you
| are in town, and the evening illuminate are
| out train to Charing Cross, where Mr.. Cleve-
land will meet us, and then l suppose we shall
| take the District Railway"
| Miss Bulstrode, an elderly spinster who had
| not outlived an interest in the well-being of
her fellow creatures, welcomed young Mrs.
| Strachan with smile, but her eyes rested sadly
on the fair girlish face as it bent over the South
Eastern time table. Miss Bulstrode knew very
| little of the Cleveland household, save that
| they were friends and neighbors of the aged
| cousin whom she was visiting in Blackheath,
but she had always concluded that Mr.. Strachan
was dead, and she did not like to associate any
painful mystery with Evelyn.
Her face seems made for smiles" she
| thought, studying the brown eyes, the dimples
and the soft, child-like chin; 81 do hope life
holds sunshine yet for the poor girl. Her aunt
| seems to have very little heart and Evelyn
must find her position trying and peculiar
one among her gay, society-loving cousins"
| Old Mrs. Forester Miss Bulstrode's relation,
was in stronger health than usual, and able to
come down stairs to her meals Miss Bulstrode
found her quite chatty at lunch, and soon
| asked, with real sympathy and interest, if she
knew the particulars of young Mrs. Strachan's
| separation.
"She was married at 49," said Mrs. Forres-
| ter, soon after her poor mothers losses caused
| her sudden death, and left Evelyn pennless.
l fancy the child scarcely knew her own mind;
she was spoilt, wilful girl in those days, and
evidently longed to escape from her uncles
| house, where she was not especially welcome.
| The Clevelands seemed to hurry on the mar
| riage, but it proved most unhappy one, owing
to Evelyns naturally passionate temper, which
| her poor mother had never checked"
"She appears to me so remarkably gentle
and patient" said Miss Bulstrode, in surprise;
II have watched her closely and seen her
| repress irritable words that must have risen to
her lips when her aunt has been specially sar-
castle"
"Yes, she is very different now; often
think Maj. Strachsn would scarcely recognize
| his young wife could IL see her again."
"How long have they been separated?"
About three or four years. / have heard
| that in one of her fits of temper, when she was
| cOerced about taking some very theatrical part
at public bazaar, Evelyn told her husband she
| had only married him for home, and he, be-
ing much attached to her, was painfully hurt
and wounded. STILL it was foolish of the man
| to propose separation, for | am sure Evelyn
was growing fond of him, only she is a proud
| little thing, and would never oppose such an
| idea emanating from him. He went to India,
and she returned to her aunt on a generous
allowance which he insisted On making her."
But did you not tell me the other day Of
Evelyn's estates in Hampshire? l imagined
her all this time very wealthy widow"
Her money has only come to her within
the last two years, my dear; it was left by
distant relative from whom she had no expec-
tations. Yes, she is very rich, and in her pres-
ent sorrowful position l should think she must
deeply repent having married so hastily for the
mere sake of convenience"
And If Maj. Strachan be a. proud as her
SELF" said Miss Bulstrode, thoughtfully, her
wealth must constitute q barrier between
them; he might shrink from seeking recon-
ciliation now she is woman of property"
"He wrote to her at first" said Mrs. For
rester, but she would not answer; she said
she could not, and if he desired a separation
it had better be completed So there has been
silence between them for some time, and great
many people, like yourself, Fanny, have grown
to look upon poor Evelyn as a widow"
Mrs. Strachan protesting as usual that she
was tired, endeav0red to avoid making one of
the party for the Health Exhibition, but neither
| of the two cousins who were then at home could
go to kenSington, having engagements else
where, and Mrs. Cleveland would not depart
without the company of one of the girls" So
Evelyn, who had been through the place again
| and again, had to roam wearily from one de-
partment to another, till Mrs. Cleveland estab-
lished herself with Miss Bulstrode for cup of
"Ceylon tea;" and good-natured Mr.. Cleve-
To- i,fs,, :4a1x ho,-a
club and newspaper, endeavored to interest
himself in what he supposed would give Eve
lyn pleasure, and bought her several pots of
jam and large parcel of sugared almonds.
Thus laden, Evelyn conducted the party by
and-by to "Old London" which Mrs. Cleve-
land could never find alone; and Miss Bulls
trOdes wonder and admiration were intense
as she watched the old printer at work. and
listened to the chimes from the old church.
TbDn Miss BuiStrode must see the model con-
Wet, and they must have vegetarian dinner,
and Evelyn really must show Miss Bulstrode
the cows and the funny little goats Evelyn
carried out all her aunts behests, but Miss
BulstrOde's afiectionate solicitude about giving
her SO much trouble brought the dew for mo-
ment to the brown eyes.
"You look SO tagged, dear" said Miss Bull
strobe; 81 am ashamed of taking you about
like this"
"Yes, tho child is sadly pale" said her un-
Gle, Dut you nave nOS done the WORK, MISC
Bulstrode; she has lost her roses for many
months"
1.-THE weather is tiring," said Evelyn hastily
shall be all right when we leave London for
the sea-"
But as the evening wore on, and the lamps
began to glsten across the grounds, and SER
pent-lke CLEANS wound about the trees, and
the strains of music hoated lightly from the
band Evelyn began to feel in real need of rest.
The others wanted to go down close to the illu-
minated fountain. Mr.. Cleveland was required
to find them passage through the throng but
he did not like leaving his niece alone
"Here is sheltered seat" he said reluc-
tantly; swat here for US, Evelyn; We will
return as soon as possible"
But Mrs. Cleveland was determined to obtain
the most desirable view of the fountain, and
as the pressure was very great, Gt being fete
evenng,) and she was hard to please, Evelyn
found her loneliness rather monotonous at last.
The band was playing an air that had been
very familiar to her when stationed at Wool
wich with her husband; Evelyn's eyes were
dim and wistful as she looked out to the sea
of faces and felt herself unspeakably alone
Was he content, was he happy across the sea ?
he had loved her SO dearly once; oh, if he only
knew
But he proposed cur separation" said the
voice of pride, " and will never never write
and ask for tidngs of him, or take the first
steps toward making up. If he cared for me.
he could not, could not, could not stay away so
long"