The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-01
CHAPTER MI. z:1si{:7
ru,r, '.H~- ~
WEDDING BELLS

Wedding, both from tho nron ,uo YOU'D
fn onnee'ea with it and tho social pron
me Of the principals, created no 5aJ III,
~ T l.n? ;a IN the society Of s.
ou no 40 interest communicated itsolf :
On oiasses, and the fortunate fcw u,h
WY present on the occasion woro 90
e eiesly envled by the less privileged ont ut
4 Inc latter contented themselves wit
S s q onsand prophecies:and tho wod
ulhS Journey was ACCOMPLISHED and w. ~
Two young matrons had settJcd dnu, ' ~, -,
a;n II new duties, before they ceased +
, Margaret had laid aside her mourn
r luS' ana Tor the first time since her nm
, ele oeath Elmwood was the scene y
} lesllVitles. But otherwise her life wa
, itluch inc same as it had been for +h,
last twelve months. 0' ''i
hef attitude toward Brian was I'm
, changed. She was kind and considar
ate' but no warmer feeling marked tho
intercourse. Any DEMONSTRATION Of af
1 h".H on MS part called forth anger or
ners. She might scold herself in the
secrecy OF her own heart; she mioht
atone Tor 1t by hundred extra attain.
IONS, out the feeling was there. wait.
lhs gut the occasion to show itself
ana Brian saw it. AS time went on he
learned to repress his natural desire and
approach Margaret with only friendly
1t was all wrong, Margaret was forced
to admit, in her moments. ~ solf Wv ro
proach. Yet who was to blame. Brian
OF she? Marriage had wrought greater ter
change IN her life than even she had
anticipated. With Miss Hilton's de-
palture went the helpful companionskin
and cheerful influence which meant ep
much to her. 1 'D'''' %
Even Brian seemed to miss their COM
mon friend. He certainly missed soma
thing; though what was not yerv claer
TO his own mind. He felt it in orow.
ing dissatisfaction. The restlessness
winch constituted such large portion
OF MS makeup began to assert itself
! Win unresisting force. He found his
uays monotonous, and the ennui. which
ne laid to tho dizziness of country lifo
Margaret ascribed to lack of definito
purpose and settled employment.
Ills nothing in the world but lazi-
ness" She asserted for her own con-
vlction. He knows it, too; 50 sha NJ
tell him. I'm tired of everlasting
preachlns, and l dare say he'll soon
grow to think l married him for nothing
ID the world but to play the shrew.
hate 1T. Nevertheless, he sha'n't keen
on this way. That I'm determined on
In spite Of this resolution, Brian did
not display any fresh industry, unless it
was in going to the city, where he was
fond OF spending his time.
AT 1lrst ne returned home every even
ing, like many of his neighbors who were
regular commuters, and went to bust
ness every day; but in time he failed to
recognize even this duty, and his visit,
to New York heightened themselves into
days, and occasionally q whole week
passed without Margaret seeing him.
He always had an excuse-the thea
ter, his club, the opportunities of n
friend.
Margaret received all in silence
whether l go or stay matters little to
her, decided Brian. But he was mis-
taken.
His Indifference panied his young wife
more than she would have admitted per-
hap5: She had really started out with
the determined purpose to make up in :
earnest endeavor what she lacked in
warmth Of feeling, and her sense of
failure was very keen. She could not
bring herself to reproach him because
she doubted her right to do SO.
But the right to feel was certainly
hers.
She was learning some bitter lessons
during these early days of her married
life; and not least among them was the
which Alicc's life offered to
hers.
She would return from her visits to
The Cedars. from the atmosphere of per-
feet happiness which seemed to reign
there, to feel her heart overcome by a.
'ush of feeling and filled with vague
and indetinable inconsistencies.
Unusually heavy-hearted she came
one evening from day spent with Alice
Ind the Colonel. 1t was growing late.
md tho Colonel had wanted to come
With her as far as Elmwood, but this
Margaret had opposed, declaring chat
she would not be either lonely or afraid
Yet, after she had started, she did feel
onely, and she began to wish for a
in her long, cold walk. The
winter twill hit was beginning to fall,
md through the indescribable melan-
holy of the darkcning scene, the trees
waved their bare branches like spectral
rms. The wind soughed dismally
mong the dead leaves, and even the
amt red in the sky had a chill effect
gainst the low line of gray hills. 1t
'as all unutterably drcary, and Mar ,
aret gave sigh OF relief when she
cached her cheerful sitting-room, with
IS glowing fire and comfortable, luxur-
)us furnishing. j
She was som what surprised to see I
rian standing be ore the mantel. He ,
ad been in New York for several days ,
nd she did not know OF his return. =,
II am glad you have come at last, he
lid, looking up at her entrance. Il got t
ere about four o'clock to find you gone c
nd the place as lonely as the deuce. t
id you enjoy your ride?" 6
Il didn't ride returned Margaret, g
her hands over the rosy Goals, :,
we been walking. =