Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-10-24
AN ONLY QUARREL.

contains. know that when man has
got into thoroughly morbid state 4
ruthlcssly candid lecture is often as
good for him as is slap in the face for
n historical girl Your motive is truly
kind. and ! should be ungrateful if
failed TO recognize it as such.
You point out that il is now three
years since my dear wife's fatal acci-
dent. and that, closely a. we were
united and terrible though the shock
must have h,cm. others have had to bear
blows as severe and have borne them
with pluck and resignation.
My dear Harry. So far Us you knew
the facts, your criticism is perfectly
just. But until you know them more
fully it is impossible for you 10 under
stand my feelings Alright. | will relieve
my mind by telling you things which
have burdcned my thoughts during
these years and have made 1t impossible
for me to throw off my sadness
Alice was killed upon the second an
niversary Of our wedding day. For two
years our married life had been. as you
are aware one Of uncloudcd happiness
What plans we made fer that second
anniversary | took three-quartors Of an
hour TO choose "a present for Alice, and
u great mystery overshadOwed the some
thing that she was making for me. Then
there were the invitations TO our little
party in the evening, the great question
as To whether we should ask the rector
or the doctor--thcy were not on speaking
terms-and the debate on the happiest
way Of spending the earlier part Of the
day.
IL should be passed in the depths Of
the country. we both agreed. and after
much pondorimg over the local time ia
bles we settled that the / O'Clock train
should take us TO Bcechwood. "a walk
and picnic tete-a.tetc amid the summer
glories of the forest. tea at the clean
little Barlcycorn inn. and so home
So we settled ON the eve of our wed.
ding day. and then we had our first and
only quarrel
The circumstances were trlfling
enough \ letter had comc 10 Alice.
asking her to pay II short visit, If
could spare her. to some friends she had
known intimately before her marriage,
"the day after tomorrow suppose |
was not in the lest Of tempcrs-worrioci
with business, perhaps, and u trifie out
Of sorts--a bIt jealous. too, it may be.
for one Of the sons Of tho house had
been once rival
Al any rate, when She produced this
letter and told me that she would like
to accept the invitation, some evil spiI-
it tempted me to raise objections.
could see the keen disappointment in
her face, and that increased my silly
pctulance aud jealousy till | recklessly
launched cut IN dlatrihcs against her
friends who had sent the invitation.
She defended them hotly--for Alice
was always loyal-and SO the day ended
IN cold good night leaving her paiucd
and unhappy, ard ne - thoroughly
ashamed OF suspicious | knew to be
gruundlcss ana If an i'll temper | was
too proud To confess.
had wakoful and restless time
that last night Our disagreement
proyed strangely on my mind. and in
the dark hours assumed quite cSag-
gcratcd importance. You STE for US II
was "a new experience. A little lift
had divided us for thu first time. and
could boast no more that my wife had
never heard hai sh or bitter word from
me
In the morning there was still u cloud
between US knew that | was IN the
wrong. and yet would not own il even
90 myself. Alice gave me one little visit
full look. cXpr, ssivc Of timid hope
that NY mood had changed. | saw that
look. and for "a moment felt impellcd
To fling my arms ROUND her and ask for.
givencss. II only had yielded 10 that
impulse! gave her one cold kiss. TIC
think that it was the last | ever gave
her. living or dead!
While was dressing my eye fell on
the small case containing the bracelet
hal bought as "a present for my wife.
picked IT up, hid it in my pocket. took
u down To breakfast and, fool that
was, never gave it to her.
opened the letters. which were
mostly ON the business that was worry
ing mo. The rest pushed irritably
away. ! opened them nfterwaId, and
do y0u know, Harry that i'll one ~
those parcels was the gift that my wife
had been working for weeks 10 make
for me-.
NN. Len,.lsF.us.l ,.t.,,..eN "a, atln...,n i,stt
after the meal was over she roso and
came softly round the table toward me.
Then she put her dear hand on my
shoulder so lightly as if She feared 10
offend. and, bending down. she said
plradingly, Wont you let me go.
Charlie?" And |. or the devil that pos
sessed me. coldly answered. You may
please yourself
Harry, don't know what you will
think Of me when you read all this.
You cannot condemn my brutality moro
than do myself Don't judge me too
hardly, Harry | did not know how
short would be my opportunity.
Half past 10 came. Oui trap drove up
20 tho door The station was nearly
three miles Oft. and Alice, who gcnor
ally was waiting for me. did not appear
For few minutes | stood fuming IN
the hall, delighted with my rash griey
ancc. Then | shouted, "AliceI'
"Comingw was returned from III,
room above and Immediately after NJ
wife hurried down stairs. fastcnin- oI
her hat as she descended.
Alice got into the trap and took tbs
rcius. as usual seated myself bcsld,
her The man got up behind, and 50 ",
started on that last miserable cxpedi
ton. Neither of us said much. | looked
at her once or twice sideways Neyol
had She seemed SO handsome or in sucl
glowing health, but there was AN un
naturally deep flush upon her cheek, ana
bcr lips were tightly closed together.
When We reached the station, ths
tIain was already in IL. | rushed 10 th,
booking office. huught our two ticket
a have them now. for they were never
uscdl. seized my change and hurried
my wife of the platform, reaching ths
train Just as il was beginning 20 move,
Ahro hcsiiated
"Get IN. for goodness sakcN' | cried
pocyishly, opening carriage door, and
thcn--God forgive mc-l gave her q
..,..t 500. sshme ltunVnnaf