The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-09-08
Love After Marriage.

By M. A. STARR.

ana at one time, Cousin Fay, you
declared that you would never, never
marry him!"
"Of course. I have not married him
because | was in love with him." said
Fay Winthorpe, with light laugh.
Ellie Gray, her cousin, sat opposite
to her, secretly envious of all this
splendor, the two being seated in a
gold and dun-colored boudoir, hung
with silken draperies, and carpeted in
pale Aubusson, bordered with scarlet
well, then," replied Eff1e, "why on
earth did you marry him?"
Because was poor and he was rich.
Because 1 was tired of giving music
lessons, and he offered me all this
Gay, you are heartless coquettei"
cried out Effie Grey.
mo, am not" said Fay, with lit
tie shake of the pretty, golden curls.
"You would do the same thing your
self, Cousin Fife, if you had chance
you know you would"
And as Fay's laugh rang out, a
sweet, defiant chime, she little suspect
ed that the silly words had another au-
ditor than Fife Grey-that the door
leading into the rich merchants study
was ajar, and that her husband had
heard every syllable she spoke.
True, Edward Winthorpe was not
young man. Previously he had never
cared much about the idea of marriage,
and the fame burned all the deeper
and more tender from the fact that the
Rubiccn Of middle age was passed ere
be allowed himself to fall in love and
marry the idol of his heart He had
looked on Fay Merriam as little less
than an angel, and now
81 should have known this BEFORE"
he said to himself, with white, ashen
face and trembling limbs II ought
to have known that spring and autumn
were unsuited. So she has married me
for my money. She shall have it, the
dear child"
No one ever knew the anguish of
soul this man endured for the next
few hours-at one moment bitterly re-
GREETING he had learned the miserable
truth, that he might have gone on
blindly in the belief that his beautiful
young wife entertained an affection for
him, and the next instant crying out
that it were better to know the truth,
even though it pierced him like a two
edged sword.
He had bestowed upon her the whole
wealth of his heart, as we have said,
the fame burning all the more deeply
In that it was mellowed by age.
But his conclusion was that he had
made terrible mistake in Offering his
love to this young girl-that Fay
should never know the pang her cruel
words had cost him-that he would
do his duty; and might not his young
and lovely wife in time learn to look
upon him less coldly?
Fay, said he, that evening, ''I have
tickets for the opera. Would you like
10 go, dear?"
mo, thank you," said Fay listlessly,
II don't think care about it,
Then we will remain at home, and
you shall talk to me-" he said.
81 am tired Of talking" pettishly re-
torted Fay. II really wish you would
leave me to enjoy myself in my own
way once in a while"
do annoy you, Fay?" asked Ed
ward WINTHROP, with an inexplicable
CULVER in his voice.
lawfully. I'm just in the midst OF
delightful story, and l can't be in
terrupted."
VERY we'll; will not repeat the Of
tense, l assure you," he returned quick
ly.
After this, subtle and sudden
change came over Edward Winthorpe's
whole life. He was as courteous and
attentive to his young wife as ever,
but Fay felt that all the heart and
soul were out of the courtesies, the
scrupulously rendered attentions. To
Fay Winthorpe, her husbands love was
as fixed fact in her mind as were the
stars in the armament above her head,
and cold chill crept over her heart
when she fully realized that it was
somehow slipping away from her.
Edward" she said one evening, sit
ting opposite to her husband, 'shave l
offended your"
He glanced carelessly up from his
book
offended me, Fay? Why, what put
such a ridiculous idea into your head,
child? Of course you haven't offended
me-"
"I-I thought your manner was
somewhat different of late,' faltered
the young wife, bending her head clos
er over her embroidery.
Zone must not expect to keep up the
honeymoon style forever" said the
merchant, indifferently.
They. tell us that life is full Of antith-
eses; and certainly love is the strong
est completely in life. For, as Fay
Winthorpe grew strengthened in the
belief thst her husband was ceasing