Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-10-09

preserve the proper limits.
For some time after her marriage
Flora was quite happy. but gradually she
became less so; for the first enthusiasm
and first illusions Of marriage could not /
for long deceive a spirit as quick and |
acute as hers.
A young girl who marries is easily de- |
ceived by the show Of an affection of |
which she is the object.
It Is rare that she does not adore her |
husband, and believe she is adored by |
him, simply because he has married her. |
The young heart opens spontaneously
and diffuses its delicate perfume OF love
and its soft songs Of tenderness; and
enveloped in this heavenly cloud all
around il is love.
But little by little it frees itself, and,
too often, recognizes that this delicious
harmony and intoxicating atmosphere
which charmed it came only from itself.
Thus was it here; as far as the pen can
render the shadows of female soul.
Such were the impressions which, day
after day, penetrated the very soul of
poor little Flo.
1t was nothing more than this, but this
was everything to her.
The idea of being betrayed by her hus-
band, and that, too. with cruel premedi-
IHblOu, nhu 4CNOI Elbcu W tOItuIC hCk bOuAs
But, beyond certain delicate attentions,
she felt herself disdained and sliQhted.
Marriage had not changed Eugene's
habits; he dined at home, instead Of at a
restaurant or hotel, that was all.
She believed herself loved, however,
but with lightness that was almost
offensive.
Yet, though she was sometimes sad and
/ nearly in tears, YOU could see that she
| did not despair. and that this valiant lit
| tie heart attached itself with intrepid
| confidence to all the happy chances the
| future might have in store for it.
Eugene continued very indifferent, as
| one may readily comprehend, to the agi-
tation which tormented this young heart,
\ but which never occurred to him for
moment.
For himself, strange as it may appear,
he was happy enough.
| This marriage had been painful step
to take; but once confirmed in his sin, he
became reconciled to it.
But his conscience, scared as it was,
had some living fibers in it; and he
would not have failed in the duty he
! thought he owed to his wife.
These sentiments were composed of a
sort of indifference blended with pity.
| no was vaguely 5O1AJ Iva tAo PONA So -
/ whose existence was absorbed and de-
stroyed between those Of two beings of
nature superior to her own, and the fate
to which she was condemned
He resolved never to neglect anything
that might extenuate it's rigor; but he be-
longed. nevertheless, more than ever SOLE
ly to the passion which was the supreme
crime of his life.
For his intrigue with Cora Elliston,
constantly excited by mystery and danger
and conducted with profound address by
a woman whose cunning was equal to her
beauty, continued as strong, after months
of enjoyment, as at first.
The gracious courtesy of Eugene, on
which he piqued himself, as regarded his
wife, had its limits, as Flora perceived
whenever she attempted to abuse it.
Thus, on several occasions, she de-
clined receiving company, on the ground
of indisposition, hoping her husband
would not abandon her to her solitude.
She was in error.
Eugene gave her, in nreality, under these
circumst ances, tete-a-tete of few mo.
ments after dinner; but later he woult
leave her with perfect tranquility.
Perhaps in an hour she would receivt
packet of bonbons, or pretty baske
VI CuOlCO 44uibt bhuV WOUAo pO4At4A ASA ~
pass the evening as best she might
These little gifts she sometimes shared
with her mother, sometimes with Slyme
her brothers secretary.
Slyme, for whom she had at first con
ceived an aversion, was gradually getting
! into her good Rraces.
, In the absence of Eugene, she Away
! found him at hand, and referred to HIN
for many little details, such as addresses
| invitations, the selection of books, ant
, the purchase of pictures.
From this came certain familiarity
. she began to call him Slyme, or frient
Z Slyme, while he zealously performed al
Z her little commissions.
He manifested for her great deal o
respectful attention, and even refraine
= from indulging in the skeptical sneer
: which he knew displeare1 her.
: Happy to witness this reform and t
! testify her gratitude, she invited him t
:, ~ remain on two or three evenings when h
4 came to her rooms to take his leave, an
: talked with him of books and the thea
ters.
Being indisposed for some little time
Eugene passed the first two evenings wit
:. her until nine o'clock. But this effol
u fatigued him, and the poor woman VIII
j had already erected an edifice for the II
q ture on this frail basis had the mortificf
tion Of observing that on the third even
II ing he had resumed his bachelor habits
q This was great blow to her, and he
II sadness became greater than it had bee
10 up to that time--so much SO, in fact, ths
solitude was almost undesirable.
Unfortunately, her father and motht
ie were away, and in the intervals she adopt
III ad the habit of retaining Slyme or eve