Year: 1859

why She opened her eyes and looked
at me For many reasons. Firstly, only
came for six weeks and have stayed nearly
three months secondly, because | have bust
ness which can be put off no longer and
thirdly, because my friends are wondering
what on earth keeps me here so long (thoy
will say soon, it is you, Frank. They vow
they cannot do without me any longer, and it
is pleasant to be missed you know


And so you are going back TO the old life,
Alice And by and by | suppose you will
marry !?


would not advise any man, be he old or
young, in case he does not think IL wise or
prudent to marry the woman he loves. to lin
ger with her in the doorway of a silent farm
house, and hold her hand, and look out upon
a moonlight night. The touch Of the light
fingers was playing the mischief with my good
resolutions, and my wisdom (if I had any.


Alice said softly and / almost started,
as she did, at the sound Of my own voice, it
was so changed. Alice we have been very
happy here


VERY


took both her hands, and held them close
in mine. But she would not look at me,
though her face was turned that way


There is great difference between us.
dear Alice. am much older than you. and
much graver. | have never loved any woman
but you in my life, while you have charmed a
thousand hearts, and had thousand fancies.
If you were what the world thinks you, and
what you try to make yourself out to be,
should say no more than this-I love you.
But ! know YOU have a heart. | know you
can love if you will and can be true if you
81 ] al. to
earnestly, and tell me if you can love me, or
if you do. | am not used to asking such
questions Of ladies, Alice and | may seem
rough and rude but believe me. when | say
you have my whole heart, and | cannot
be happy wi ho At you.


Yes, believe you she said.


But do you trust me, and do you love me >


She might trihe with triAer, but she was
earnest enough with me.


1 trust you. and love you she answered,
frankly. Are You wondering how | can
stand before you and speak so calmly; Be
cause do not think ! shall ever marry you.
You do not love me as have always said any
husband should love me. l am wayward and
exacting, and should weary your life out by
my constant craving for tenderness. was
made to be petted. Frank and you though a
loving. are not an adcctionate man. You
would wish me at the bottom of the Red Sea
before we had been married month; and
because you could not get me there. you
would 90 to work and break my heart by way
Of amusement. know it as well as if had
seen it all--even now


She looked at me, and all her woman 5
heart and nature were in her eyes. They
spoke love and passion, and deep tenderness
and all for me. Something leaped into life in
my heart at that moment which had never
felt before something that made my affection
of the last few hours seem cold and dead be-
side its fcrvid glow. l had her in my arms
within the instant-close-close to my heart.


Alice. if ever man loved woman with heart
and soul-madly and unreasonably if you
will. but still truly and honestly love you,
my darling


But Wilt lasta Oh, Frank, will it last ?
bent down, and our lips met in long
fond kiss


You will be my wife. Alice I?


She leaned her pretty head against my arm,
and her hand stole into mine again.


DO you mean that for your answer, Am
l to keep the hand, dear Alice, and call it
mine Z;


If you will, Francis.


1t was the first time she had ever given me
that name. But she never called me by any
other again until she ceased to love me and
it will sound sweetly to my dying day.


III.


We were married not long after, and for
six months we dwelt in Fools Paradise
When | think, that but for me, it might have
lasted to our dying day, | can only sigh, and
take up the burden Of my life with an aching
heart.


They had called Alice fcklo--oh how
wrongfully No human being could be truer
to another than she was to me.


! only wanted to find my master, Francis,
she used to say, when laughed at her about
it. 4 was looking for him through all those
long years, and ] began to think he would
never come. But from the first moment when
heard you speak, and met your eyes, felt
that he was near me- And am glad to wear
my masters chains she added, kissing my
hand.


And | am sure she was in earnest.
pleased her best when treated her most like
a child. She was no angela passionate,
high-spirited creature. She rebeiled thou
sand times day, although she delighted in
my control. But it was pretty to see her
when she turned to leave the room, with fire
in her eyes, and a deep flush on her cheek--it
was pretty to see her with her hand upon the
lock, even, drop her proud head submissyey,
and wait when | said-'Stop. Shut the door
and listen to me- Yet it was dangerous |.
who had never been loved before, what could
do but become tyrant, with creature so
noble as this bent down before me-


She loved me. Every chord of her most
sensitive heart thrilled and trembled TO my
touch and gave forth sweetest music yet
was not satisfied. | tried the minor key.
Through her deep affection for me | wounded
her cruelty. | can see it now. Some wise
idea found its way into my head and whisper
ed that | was making a child of my wife by
my indulgent ways, and that her character
would never develope its strength in so much
sunshine. l acted upon that thought, forget
ting how she had already been tried in the
fiery furnace of affiiction, and, quite uncon-
scious that while she was getting back all the
innocent gaiety Of her childish years, the
deep lessons of her womanhood were still ly-
ing beneath the sparkling surface of her play
full ways


If, for time, she had charmed me out of
my grayer self, resolved to be charmed no
more. | devoted myself again to my bust
ness, heart and soul, and sat pouring for
h,,rg lam mill %,