Year: 1877

Anu Si1 Will


The speakers were husband and wife.
The former leaned on the mantel-piece,
and frowned angrily, looking down at
the latter as he spoke. The wife, still
sitting by the tea-table, for that meal
had just been finished, did not glance
up as she answered, but went ON talking
to her lap-dog in terms of fond endear-
ment, and feeding it with sugar.


Yes; they were husband and wife.
Seven years before, Carrie Dayton, just
Is, freshly freed from the trammels of
boarding g-school, had launched forth into
society, with a head full Of romantic
ideas OF love and marriage There she
had met with Harry Aylmer. To her
he seemed almost a god-so far superior
to all others, that very speedily she
found herself thinking more of him than
of any other admirer, and listening with
beating pulses to his manly tones. He
was verging toward his 30th year, and
was already somewhat world-worn, for,
being wealthy, he had not been confined
to the dull routine of business life, but
had roamed the world at large, travel
ing to all lands, tasting every cup OF
pleasure but he he was still very hand
some, and his manners IN society were
perfect. Men had envied him-woneu
had loved him-and this man had grown
weary of it all.


But, under the proud, cold smile was
hidden warm heart, somewhat crusted
over with selfshness, it is true, but it
was there. And, when he met Caroline
Dayton, he felt that he had encountered
his fate. To him there was something
irresistible in her bright freshness and
beauty, and in the winning gayety of her
artless manners. Then the polished
marble of her fair skin the golden crlrls
that fell around her shoulders the
bright blue eyes, full of ight-these all
possessed rare attraction for this man,
whose heart had been 50 long untouched
Day after day had found him at her
side, putting forth every effort to make
himself agreeable. So, after a few brief
months, they were married, and went
forth to tread life's journey together.
They travelled awhile; and the young
bride, delighted with the new scenes
opened up before her, was hardly con-
scious OF the fact that his will, not he1
wish, guided and controlled all their
movements. 1t was very sweet to obey
one whom she loved SO fondly. At last
they settled in home of their own,
replete with every comfort and luxury
and life began in earnest.


Now came the crisis. From early
childhood, Harry Aylmer had shown
himself possessed of an iron will, stern and
unyielding. Carrie, too, had a viii OF
her own. For the first few months OF
marriage it was very pleasant for her to
have him will for her-and gracefully
she yielded but at length the reins
were drawn too tight, the intense selfish
ness of the husband became apparent
even to Carrie there began to grow
up n spirit of rebellion on her part, q
desire to Judge for herself sometimes,
and to act accordingly. Matters grew
from bad to worse. This opposition OF
wills, occurring only at long intervals al
first, became frequent at last; both re-
GREETING it IN cooler moments, yet neither
confessing it to the other; he thinking she
ought to trust his Judgment entirely, she
carrying ever in her heart a sense of in
justice done her.


Those pleasant little courtesies which
serve to keep love burning brightly OF
the domestic altar were, by degrees, ut
terly neglected, and the lamp OF love
grew dim. After the lapse of some three
years, however, beautiful babe lay OF
its mothers bosom bright, wee flower
with its amber rings of hair, its pure
white skin, and heavenly blue eyes
very miniature of the mother who bort
it. Reconciliation ensued, not spoken
but tacitly agreed upon. Husband an6
wife seemed drawn together by the little
I golden link, and while the little ange
! gladdened their home happiness re
manned


But bitter time came, which should
have served to unite those severed heart;
more closely. The child sickened ant
died. When the stricken parents boweC
over their dead, each mentally resolved
to be al ia all to each other, that nt
shadow shouli come between them. bu