The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-21
HIS IDEAL LOVE.
A Pathetic Story of High Hopes and
Resolves Unappreciated.

letter to the Editor of the Neio York Nus
trated Americana
At the z OF eight and twenty l
fell in love. / dreamed that she was
the She kind Jove had created for my
special benefit. In those days | be-
lieved the winds that touched her
passed on happier for so doing; | be-
lieved the pavement hallowed by her
step; / believed mortals who knew
her were to be envied. and | believed
the envious gods with frettul impa-
thence watched the days of her life
glide away. In a world loved.
There was happiness in that; there
was religion in that.
/ had been q man Of the world; l
had seen many women; | had tasted
forbidden fruits; / had retired, as
many such men do, from the false
world, with its false pleasures, TO seek
success in my business. worked and
| won. 1t was then she crossed my
path one summer day.
What a thing of beauty she wasl
Her bushes, her pretty little ways,
her merry little jokes, her wise air in
discussing books. her thoughtful look
as she talked ''of what she felt and
''of what l telt" delighted me. What
a charm was innocence; whata charm
was native, youthful innocencel She
was not a beauty. Her gifts were q
delicate frame clothed with youth, a
sensitive, high-born face and tender,
dreamy eyes. loved her.
Overcome by the sense OF my I'M
worthiness, l scarcely dared to hope
that she could become interested in
me. Her younger sister said things
that gave me courage. That summer
holiday left me sad, that autumn
found me sadder, that winter found
me a declared, persistent sutton.
Well, we married.
As one who believes in sacred things
/ took her to my-no, our-new
home. We furnished it during the
happy days of our engagement.
Here said my soul, Il shall wor-
ship. / will be an Idolator.n
Scarce had the noon of u honey
moon reached its full, when / discov-
cred it began to wane. | found our
cosy fireside was a dull place for her.
| She wanted friends; aud friends came
to lunch, to dinner, to pass the even
ing. Then she must go out night
after night to dinners, to theatres, to
DlTlltS. llAlOuJ u uluI!uuA 4 NtAAb
with her. Many a night, weary from
my days grinding toll, have | stood
accomplishing in the ball room door
watching my wife's shapely shoulders
as she danced. / would think then of
my quiet fire, and the day dreams
which curled up in its smoke. Soci-
ety-alasl she thought more of society
than of me.
When we did stay alone at home,
she would look at the clock at nine,
say, "NNell, dear, no one will be in to-
night, so | shall retire" Once l said
to her, Cant you sit and talk to me,
as we used to sit and talk last sum-
mer?" With infinite sweetness she
replied, 'Oh, dear, no; you were COM
pany then" Another evening l sug-
gested we should read together
poetry, history, biography, novels,
anything; but she only shook her
head and said, sweetly, Dearest, let
US be honest. / hate books. l read
the reviews Just for Conversations
sake" What, thought l, shall l do
to make my wife love her home? |
suggested cards. 81 hate cards. |
vowed when | married l would never
play cards or the piano; if you want
to play cards, go to the club But
said /, Il want to play cards with
you. | want TO find my aInusements
with you" THAT is sweet of you"
she said, in her soft. purring way, and
then straightway went off 10 bed.
Every device | could think of to
make our home happy, to make my
wife my companion, l adopted. l
failed. At last our little one came.
At last, thought |, the rue bond OF
sympathy has come. No; it only came
and brought with it a nurse Il hope
| am not going to look like a settled
married woman now" she said, look
ing herself in the glass. One day,
much veXed, l said:-'Dear wife,
since you care to see SO little OF me,
why did you marry me?n She looked
She was silent.
Speak, my dear, do not be afraid"
Ny heart felt a chill come over it; a
lump was in my throat.
will you promise not to be angry?"
Certainly. How can | be angry
with you? Is there anything in my
heart but love for you? Why did you
marry me?"
She raised her tender eyes and said,
softly:-"I married you because you
were a good match and | was I'M
happy at home" Then she touched
me, and said:-'You promised not to
be angry. l have often wanted to
tell you this. You deserve il. l do
not want to deceive YOU
You have done right" / said,
Then, with q sinking heart, a dazed
brain, but with calm, steady voice, l
said:-'You do not love me?'
II like, honor, respect you, but
truthfuliy, | cannot say / love you."
That night l held my little babe in