Year: 1867

o
keep that child quiet, Mary2 1 shall
be obliged to leave the room, and am


not sure but the house, to get an op.


portunity to read my paper. Give
him dose of laudanum.


THAT would undoubtedly quiet the
child" replied Mrs. Baker, a dark
eyed, sweet faced woman-without
raising her voice.


''Upon my word I do believe you
do something to the young one in
order that he may make the little
time l pass at home as uncomfortable
as you desire it; but l will pay YOU
of in your own coin, and not come
home at all, except to sleep I shall
not trouble you then"


"Just as you please, Charles. IF 1
were never to see you again, I assure
you it would not make the least diff
ference to me. For five long weary
years, have borne, accomplishing.
ly, all the bitter abuse you have seen
fit to heap upon me, because I loved
you, and wished to believe that your
i'll treatment was the result of a pas
sionate temper, and that notwith-
standing all this, you did truly love
and respect me but that stupid de-
lusion, thank God, has taken its fight;
and now l submit to your taunts and
invectives because tie which / dis
like to ignore, binds us together.
But now be careful how far you 90,
for as have neither love nor respect
for you, it will not take much more
to send me out with my baby to earn
our own bread and butter, and then
goodbye forever"


Charles Baker twisted his mus.
tache, rubbed his handsome eyes, to
see if he must not be dreaming, for
this was the first time the gentle wo-
man, who had been kind and loving
through any and all abuse, had ever
replied to him; and now could he
believe his sensesS Why had she
never limited ut such an event before !?
Not love him? Not respect him ?
Why, he had, like many another,
foolishly imagined that no amountof
sgliness or unappreciation ON his part
could be able to wean from him the
heart of his wife. Had she ever, dur
ing the four years of their married
life, failed to meet him with that ste.
reotyped smile which men and authors
rave abcut2 Had she not always at
tended scientifically to his shirt but
tcns-and did she not, whether sick
or well, invariably tickle his palate
with every dainty his epicurean taste
suggested2 Where had she ever fail
ed to administer to all his wants ?
Why, the woman must be insane-to
tell him, thus coolly, and without ap-
parent premeditatiOn, that she nei-
ther loved nor respected him OF
course, she was crazy and he sur
veyed her sweet countenance as she
smiled on her baby and endeavored
to amuse him.


off this is the case, Mary, perhaps
l had better pack up my traps and
leave now? ?"


"Just as you please, Charles"


"Perhaps you love somebody else ?"
this idea suggested itself as the one
most likely to account for what he
called her inconsistent conduct.


"No, thank heaven that misery
is spared me. The only person love
in this world, truly and fervently, is
my darling baby. You knew, Charles,
when you took me, that I was an or
phan, all alone in the world, with no
near relative to whom / could apply |
for sympathy and consolation and
you promised sacredly, before God
and man, to love, honor and cherish |
me, so long as we both should live.
You have proven false to your mar
riage vow. Instead of love, I have
received fault finding and abuse and
or course, there can be no honor
where there is no love. But never
thought to say SO much about it, for
l have long since ceased to sorrow
over my lot; and you know enough
of the human heart to comprehend
that, when indifference takes the place
of warm, devoted love, there isn't
much desire to talk about it, even.-I
So pursue whatever course you think
proper; anything will be agreeable
TO me-"


Charles Baker could hardly credit
his own senses. She had made the
astounding revelation with no show