The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-10-01

Young Wife Was Absolutely
Changed By Nature
remember days travel in a Pull
man car. Outside there was an un-
! broken stretch of snow and all the
go bv contrasts, and a bachelor is
never SO aroused 10 the sentiments that
cluster abou: the past as when the un-
inviting chill and gloom o: peculiarly
win,Ty day render him SO disconso!ate
over the empty presen, that, in sheer
despair. he seeks the only solace of-an
| empty, wretChed heart-retrospectlon
In the stiffness, the fiXednesS, Of ones
apartment, the backward contempla-
ton is ap, to be tinged with bitterness,
If not with the remorse. Resentment,
too, will marshal its troops of reproof
| against the dssapointmenis which it is
SO much less ,antalzing TO lodge against
ones surroundings than against ones
self But in the charm of mo,iour The
sense Of putting all unpleasant thoughts
and dlsagreeable things betRnd, the
thrill of escape and fright, maybe to-
ward nothing that allures, but, at least,
away from much that aggravates-it is
under such conditions that one can
muse without bitterness, and reflect
without gloom. The cold, gray black
ness outside is quick to lend an ideal
flavor to the luxures within. First of
these is freedom. For companionship,
there is an agreeable book, no, SO eX-
citing that one omits the other pleas
ures at hand, bu, pleasant enough to
invite attention at proper intervals.
Then there are these Chiefest stays of
| bachelorhood, ones favorite cigars,
which tend to give a better favor to
ones thoughts,
Perhaps fifty miles Of the way | had
the Car almost entirely to myself. AT
one of the stations a very beautiful
woman was assisted into the car by a
well-dressed but not impressive look
ing man. Without personally know
ing them, knew who they were. They
had been married probably two years.
II was said t the time it was a mar
riage of convenience on her part, and
one Of iniatua,ion on his. Whilst she
had not professed any love for him to
her associates, they yet looked upon
the nuptials with great equanimity, if
not approval, as it was known she was
not in love with any one else, and his
ardent devotion promised to satisfy
that need of every woman's life. He
would win her to him, in time, they
thought. Perhaps she hoped as much.
Nothing SO arouses the envy of
bachelor, with his empty life, as the
happiness Of couple who are secure
from the population of the sweetheart
stage under the chattel mortgage of
matrmony. 1t was easy, therefore, to
lay aside the unreal romance of my
book, and the vague traceries of fancy,
for the living presence of love. eff
you have improved your opportunities"
thought of the husband, zone might
find new theme for anovel-smarried
for money, but subjected by love- or
something of that sort" After they
were seated he sent the porter after
newspaper. The wife gave an order,
too, for magazine. He took the
paper and went into the smoking Car.
He remained there perhaps half an
hour. She had glanced uninteresledly
through the magazine and sat peering
out into the desola,e day. Her face
lacked the sweetness Of sadness. Some
how, | imagined that sorrow would be
a relief, suffering a recreation to her
fdmshed heart Think Of wha, 1t must
be to nave destitute heart-especially
il one has tried diligently 10 con,en, it
with what poor husks are offered. No
words were exchanged when he re-
suned his seat by her. He seemed 10
think II was unnecessary, nor did she
seem 10 expec; II. He simply stretched
himself out and was presently asleep
She passed ;hc time looking abstract
edIy ahead, or musln lv INTO the
sv"wy landscape. The day wore on
without hfty words exchanged between
them. 1t VAS easy at las; TO under
stand ,ha, there was no enlargement,
no lovers ridiculous reserve, but in
difference on The mans part and ac-
qu!e>ence on heis-nOl that ind fer
ence which possession enta lis on a man
of ordinary nature. He had withered,
in two years, all the higher cravings,
all The better h)pes OF her life, and
she was sinking ~ ms level day by
day. Sne appeared to realize that her
share Of life was not being delivered
a. full weight, bu, did not comprehen nd
definite deficiency. the trouble could
.readily be surmlsed by anybody who
had given much study - the relation
ship between men and women. After
/ marriage he had left off all The devo-
ton and Differences that enamored
suitors know so we'll how TO bestow,
and had daily increased the sins OF
omission, until his young wife was ab-
solutely changed Of nature, as the
flower loses It's fragrance, its color and
its vital force from pro,racted drought.
| thought to myself if the husband had
been all the more attentive TO her after
she became his wife, and filled her life
with the tender homages tina, every
wife should have, from the marriage
altar TO The grave, she would have come
10 love him and both lives would have
been Complete, and both natures up-
lifted instead Of dragging in the mle
Of the commonplace.