Year: 1875

- Tom was good specimen Of the bust
ness men Of the city. He WAS we'll post
ed in the events Of the day, an carnes
advocate Of such measures as he appro
we'd of, but man who could not or woul,
not talk when he had nothing to say. Hi
idea OF being sociable was to take
hearty interest in the welfare of his com
pany, and not in chattering like magpie
As said before, WAS Toms bes
man when they were married, aud whel
their boy was christened, he had m,
name tackled on for a hsndle Up to thi
time, and for few years afterward,
think they were as happy as the averag
among married people nut there gradu
ally came change overtom that coul
not account for, until he informed me
one day that everything was not quite a
it should be at home,


l cant remember. now, whether wa
surprised or net. dare say I was not
There are too many cases of marital un
happiness on every court calendar, for
lawyer to be surprised at hearing 0
one more. l think puffed away at IN,
cigar vigorously and kept wise silence
Tom was silent, too, for some time aftc
his disclosure at last he tnrned to IN,
with a question


What would you do, Ed?'


DO your hest to remove the trouble.


I've been doing my best for over
year, and things grow worse the Who'll,
time


You are sure you are not fighting .
thing of your own imagination 2


quite sure.


Il cant advise yen, Tom.


We sat and smoked quite while long
er, but neither spoke until Tom threw
away his cigar with sigh, and babe m,
goodnight. He had not given me any
clew to his troubles. and was glad of it
l think congratulated myself upon til,
fact that had no wife, and then dismis
sed the subject from my mind as much a
l could.


Seeing Tom during the next few days
l carefully avoided all al.usion to hi
home matters, and so did he. | nigh
have put it down to some trifing misun
dcrstunding between them; but had
call frem Maria. and the trouble At ono,
became real thing. She was i'll at cas-,
and I did not help her to become mucl
less so.


At last she asked me il had beer
talking with Tom lately iirepled that
had seen about as much of him as usual


Have you had any confidential tall
with him ? she asked


All our talk is confidential l an
swered


did he say any thing about his HON
troublcs?'


He has given me no particulars o
such troubles


But he told you that we we're no
happy?'


He said something that gave me I'll
impression that you were not quit
happy


But he did not tell you the cause o
our u"happiness


He did not


There was = silence between us for scv
eral moments At last shc seemed t.
have braced herself for the purpose @
her visit.


we are not suited to each other sb
said, with spasmodic energy. we ncye
ought to have married


She looked at meas if waiting for
question, but l remained silent


we are unlike in every thing sh
continued. Il feel as if was bein
dragged down into nothingness, Tor
eats, and sleeps. and works. He take
inc to nothing, scarcely, aud when b
does. he goes to sleep in corner; mt
l waken him to bring me home. ar
sick of my life, and want to charge it


Still made no suggestion.


Tom thinks woman ought to fec
herself in Paradise il she has but chill
to care for l sometimes think hate tn
boy, | know that he is exactly like hi
father, and do not care for him.


She stopped, as if expecting me to sa
something; but, as ! was silent, she wen
on again.


Tom can have his hoy, and want t
60 back to my fathers. l have spoke
to him. and he will take me-


She stepped again. neither cncour
aged her to continue or be silent.


Il want you to speak to Tom. sal
she.


II decline to do anything Of the kind
I answered, emphatically


You think INC entirely at blame ? sh
remarked, questioningiy.


tkt,,k yNn 80 apt;enI,, llm-~,
answered.


You never thought me good cnoug
for Tom, she said, rather sneeringly.


Whatever may have thought is c
no consequence; but am sure now. tha
you are not good enough for Tenn


Well, said she, that point is nc
worth disputing over. l have made u
my mind to separate from him, and
thought he would rather hear of it frol
yeu than through another. If you d,
cline to tell him, I must send some on
else to him.


l do decline to be the bearer of an
such intelligence l answered. Il sc
you have made up your mind in regar
to your future. and do not take it upo
me to advise or warn you; but as bt
lievc there is just God in Heaven, so
believe the time viii come when you wi
beg on your bended knees, and with
broken heart. TO have these days blotte
out of your lite, and your prayers wi
only mock you with your misery


Her face grew pale as went on, and
was almost sorry that had allowed my
self to speak as | had done, but l fe
that | would be unfaithful TO one OF ri,