The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-01-07


full of towering plants, an exquisite
statue of Hebe occupied a marble
pedestal in the middle of the room
and the panels of the walls, filed
in with mirrors, reflected the young
brides every motion a score OF
times.
Flora Field, her old school IN ate,
sat opposite her, secretly envious OF
all this splendor and wondering
that May Haven, who had taught
in the same district school as her
self, was not more elated at this
sudden promotion.
"Well then" said she, "why did
you marry him?'
Because l was poor and he was
rich. Because / was tired of teach
ing and he offered me all this"
And May glanced around upon
the luxuries that surrounded her.
"Nobody could be foolish enough
to suppose it was a love-match,"
said she. Hes ever so much old
er than l am and not at all my
ideal! But 1 couldn't drudge on
forever at my profession, and l
think I've made lucky exchange"
"May, you are a heartless CO.
quette," cried out Flora Field.
mo, l am not" said May, with
shake of the lovely golden curls.
''You would do just the same thing
yourself, Flora Field, if you had
chance; you know you would"
And as May laughed out sweet,
defiant chime, she did not know
that her silly words had had anoth-
er auditor than Flora Field-that
the door leading into the rich bank
er's study was ajar, and that he had
heard every syllable she spoke.
1t was quite true that Frederick
Harriott was not a young man. He
had passed the rubicon of middle
age before he had allowed himself
to fall in love and maryland the
flame burned all the deeper and
more tender, in that the wood was
mellOwed with age! He had looked
upon May Haven as little less than
an angel and now
81 should have known this be-
fore" he said to himself, with ash
en-pale face and trembling limbs.
81 should have OWNED that spring
and autumn were unsuited. So
she married me for my money!
May" he said that evening, q
have tickets for the opera tonight.
Would you like to goF"
''No, 1 don't think l care about
it," said May, listlessly.
Then we will remain at home
and L will read you that new poem"
suggested her husband.
Il am tired of poetry" pettishly
retorted May. 81 do wish you
would leave me to enjoy myself in
my own way once in a while"
'Do 1 bore you, May?" Frederick
Harriott asked, with an inexplica-
BILE culver in his voice.
lawfully! Pm just in the midst
of this delightful story and l can't
bear to be interrupted"
every well. The ofense shall
not be repeated" said Mr.. Harriott,
quietly.
After that a subtle and sudden
change came over his whole life.
He was as courteous and attentive
TO his young wife as ever, but May
felt that all the heart and soul were
gone out of the little courtesies, the
scrupulously rendered attentions.
For while she rather liked it.
1t was a relief to feel that his eye
was not always on her, his thoughts
following her. She could go where
she pleased now and he asked no
questions. She could employ her
time to suit herself and he had
neither criticism nor comment to
offer. But gradually she began to
realize that she nad lost something
which was not easily TO be re-
placed.
May Harriott had regarded her
husbands love as one of the fixed
polar facts of her existence, and a
cold chill crept over her heart when
she fully perceived that it was some
how slipping away from her.
"Frederick, she said, one even
ing, sitting opposite to her husband,
"have l offended you?"
He glanced careiessly up from
his book.
"Ofendsd me, May2 Why, what
a ridiculous idea! OF course you
haven't offended me-
IL thought your man ner wa:
somewhat different OF late" faltered
the young wife bending her head
closer over her embroidery.
"One can't keep on the honey
moon gloss forever" said the bank
er, indiferently.
Life is full of antitheses. and love
is the strangest complexity in life
For, as May Harriott grew strength
ened In the idea that her husband
was ceasing to adore her after the
old idolatrous fashion, she began t.
tall in love with the one she haC
married for money.
Frederick Harriott was not young
but he was in the prime of middle
| age. He was not boyishly hand
some, like the way heads May haC
seen in the barber's shoV windows
but he had the rort and mien OF f
prince. All women are prone tt
hero worship, and our little Ma,
was no exception to the erdinar,
rule, For the first time in her lit
she was falling in love-and will
her own husband.
A few weeks only had elapse'
when a crisis in the banking bust
ness had rendered it imperativel,
necessary that Mr.. Harrott shoul,
go to Vienna for two or thre
months. Poor May looked aghas
as her husband mentioned his in
tentions to her in the same coo
matter-ot-fact way in which b
might have criticised the weathe
"Going to Vienna" she gaspe'