Year: 1874

We do not record the fact because it
is at all remarkable; unhappily it is not.
James Morgan was tired of his wife.
Many other men are, presume, in the
same condition. Sometimes this weari-
ness is only mood; sometimes it is a
fixed, irritating fact.


do not know why, except that rest
less natures always get tired of re-
straints, this should be so. Mrs. Nor
gan was certainly as good wife as Mr.
Morgan deserved better, perhaps, if
one were to measure deserts faithfully.
Mr.. Morgan had not the slightest idea
of the trouble he was SO carefully pre-
pari1g for her. She was not, had not
been, happy woman by any means.


The maternal instinct was largely de-
veloped in her, but hers was a child
less home; and when she invited the
little ones of her brothers and sisters to
visit her, her husband loudly protested
called the visit "raid," and the lit
tie visitors nuisances.


She had yielded; and because she had
found that he was pleased when young
ladies were invited, she often had them,
though she did not so greatly enjoy
their society. Mr.. Morgan would have
said because she was jealous of his gall
liant attention to them. But this was
not wholly true. She was a true and
loyal woman; she had married her hus-
band because she loved him, and knew
that for this, and because she was his
wife, she had the supreme right to bis
love and all evidence OF it. So long as
she had this, she did not feel hurt or
jealous when he showed indications of
friendly regard to others.


Jealousy is one of the meanest of
human emotions, and is lowering both
to the persons who indulge in it and to
the OBJECT of it. Mrs. Morgan had not,
perhaps, considered it in this light; bui
she never allowed herself to indulge in
it, not even when thu growing GOODNESS
Of her husbands manner at last con.
vinced her that the rest of her life must
be passed in the most disconsolate OF
widowhoods.


She was a high principled woman
She tried to act always according to the
rule of right, and to order her life in al
things by the precepts of the Holy Scrip
lures. Reposing in this faith, she be-
lieved and hoped that, ordered by &
wiser being than she, all things woulG
work together for good till the darklinG
hour passed and the light of hope
should begin to dawn.


So moved on the affairs of this dis
eordant household dissatisfied
husband and the unhappy wife equally
misunderstanding the true causes wihcl
were working i'll to them.


And in the meantime, Mr. Morgan
growing stronger in his mad resolve
prepared for the result upon which h,
had determined.


1t was Sunday. Mrs. Morgan hat
risen with bad headache, and had no
been to church. In fact, she had spen
most of the day with her face buried
in the pillow that was thoroughly wet.
ted with her tears. The premonitioI
of a great sorrow was upon her; but i
was, if dreadful, vague and underlined


Mr.. Morgan, on the contrary, knew
exactly what he was about to do. II,
intended to inform his wife that he wa
about to separate from her.


She got up at dinner time, and made
herself ready for The .meal. In he
cool, neat, summer dress, with her pal,
cheek, that flushed with sudden colo
at each sound of the beloved voice; th,
quick, startled expression in her eye
that told her awakened apprehension
made her more beautiful than she ha(
been even in her glrlhood. Mr.. Nor
gan, looking at her as she sat opposit,
him at the table, could not avoid motto
ing this, and even acknowledged it tt
himself.


He spoke more kindly to her thai
had of late been his wont, and was sur
prised to see the quick flash of color t
her cheek and brow, and the springlnl
tears that answered him from her eyes


A little beating of his heart, warm
er feeling there than he had known o.
late, was the response; but it was un
needed. When he had decided to d(
anything he was not wont to change
his mind.


"She is not well, and is probably
weary of her life, as / am of mine"


A sharp little tremor, sudden dart
of pain, might have made him question
the truth of his words, but they were
|