Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-13
Crc~~s
SkETCHED
FROM LIFE.
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She was tall ind willowy and white, n
regular Trilby In appearance; one Of
those soft. purring women who, like a
cat, slides up to you and makes believe
she loves you dearly. She would nestle
In the depths Of large armchair, assum-
ing n most bcwitching pose, and listen
to man making desperate love to her,
smiling sweetly all the while and only
putting in word now and then to keep
him going. Her heart never throbbed
during s..h proceedings, she was so ac.
customed 10 them, but gently, as ii al
ways did, like the pendulum of a clock.
Miss DAILY wns the belle OF an Irish
garrison town, and the officers Of the
infantry regiments quartered there were
generally poor; II she had cared for a
poor man she never would have married
him, for she loved ease and luxury better
than anything else.
by and by there came to the town a
regiment that had q moderately rich, un-
married major in 1t. lie was not young.
or handsome, or fascinating but just a
plain, honest, good natured fellow of the
ordinary British type.
predecessors and fell victim to the
wiles of the lily of the garrison town,
and, as he wns IN eligible man, her par
ents persuaded her to marry him. She
was nothing loath, as she thought OF the
dresses that would henceforth set oil hsr
white loveliness.
After her marriage she flirted as much
as before; her drawing room was filed
with fnn n thnrn MN q
always gallant in attendance of an
evening. Major Denison, much annoyed
at such proceedings, endured them for
several months, and then spoke out in
remonstrnnce, but his beautiful wife
shrugged her lovely shoulders and paid
no heed.
Then he ordered her to desst.
'But how am / to amuse myselfY'
pleaded she, not the least rufIled in tenn
per. and raising her great blue eyes, suf-
fused with tears, in pathetic questioning
to his face.
''As other wives do" he answered,
striding up and down the room in great
agitation; with your household duties.
visits to your friends and with sewing"
The situation was becoming tense when
the regiment was ordered to a cathedral
town. in England. The major hoped that
the beautiful place and its inhabitants
and life would interest his wife and the
attentions OF the Indies belonging to the
good old fashioned county families Aa,ter
her and divert her attention from herself.
He was mistaken.
Every ons said, How eccentric that
beautiful Mrs. Denison is" and lamented
that she seemed to be fading away like
a passing flower.
At length the surgeon of the regiment
took it upon himself to enlighten the ma
jor upon the state Of his wife's health
and urge him to allow her to visit her
native place In the hope that old scenes
and friends would revive her.
II can find nothing the matter with her
constitutionally, and believe she is mere
ly suffering from nostalgia" said the doc
tor. When Major Denison told his wife
the Doctors opinion, she raised her eyea
in meek appeal for leave to go, and he
had not the heart to refuse her.
"But remember, Edith, there must be
no flirting. Nor must you go to bulls or
parties"
"very we'll, DEAR" she said sweetly. II
promise"
! After two months, hearing that his
wife had recovered her health, the ma
ijor thought he would look her MP, and
procured leave OF absence for the pur-
pose. lie arrived at the garrison town
late one evening and went straight to
his father-in.law's house. He found the
squire and his wife doing in big arm
chairs on either side Of the dining room
fireplace.
They seemed disturbed Mt his sudden
appearance, and told him the rest of the
family were at military ball, where
upon he announced his intention of join
ing them there.
Hastily donning an evening suit, he
went to the barracks, introduced himself
to the presiding colonel, and at once gain
ed admission to the ballroom.
He found crowd OF men In an alcove
of the long room, heard the repartee that
q woman's voice flung among them just
as he entered, and, looking over their
shoulders. met his wife's glance. The
smile that was dimpling her face chang
ed to look of horror as she recognized
him, and, uttering piercing shrek, she
fell, or pretended to fall, into swoon.
When she was sufficiently recovered,
the major took her home, but she con-
tinued to fall into Mysteries at intervals
during the rest of the night.
Two years afterward Major Denison
shot himself through Jealousy of his wife,
leaving her comfortable fortune.
The garrison lily still lives. She reg
ularly goes to church. dresses quietly
though richly and is considered the pink
Of propriety. She has few visitors, and,
as she cares nothing for books, cards or
the society of her own sex, finds life dull.
1t is doubtful IL she ever thinks Of the
man she sent to his death-of the many
she has ruined-of anything, indeed. save
her own abiding sorrow. For Edith Is
rnu, ton old Tn airt -Chlcnrn Herald.