Year: 1876

me. L have tried, and cam t learn; per-
haps would have made more progress
II Charley had acted differently, but
when make an effort he never praises
me for it, and if I fail, he ridicules me
until 1 have just given up trying, and
have left things to Jane, who, you know,
Is very Indifferent servant. Yesterday
morning the steak was burnt, tho coffee
was muddy; TO- day the bread was heavy,
the eggs overdone, the beef raw. Char
ley flew into passion and said great
many unkind things as he arose from
his untasted breakfast. And when I
cried, and said I wished was at home
with mamma, he said he wished so too
and many things I ooull not repeat"
And Mary Stanwood's voice completely
broke down.


Soothing her gently, Mrs. Allen, the
good aunt, who had known and loved
the spoiled child from her babyhood,
said


"Mary, how deeply I sympathize
with you is more than can express"


ooh, auntie, have not told you the
worst pet. When Charley left home he
went straight to Annie Glenn and spent
several hours there, and he does this
very often. She has won his love from
me; this is the true reason of our un-
happiness. 1 have come to tell you
this, and to tell you I am going home to
mamma"


And the sorrowing young wife wept
bitterly.


"Mary, you know 1 an your friend;
and l; what am going to say to you
wounds you. it is yet for your own good.
You have done wrong, my child. ad-
m 6nN -,
ing as the only child of wealthy parents,
should not have been 80 exacting; but
ho has been accustomed to the superior
housekeeping and good management of
a domestic mother and industrious sis
ters, and he doubtless attributes much
OF your errors in making his home COM
Portable to indifference on your part.
He does not understand your difficult
tics, nor does he deem your efforts
praiseworthy, because he has been in
tho habit of seeing others make them as
a matter OF duty. AS for his visits to
Annie Glenn, [ can, I think, explain
them. Mrs. Glenn is a good house
keeper and a splendid cook; Annie,
a bright, intelligent girl, who does not
grow cross over her household labors.
So, If Charles sometimes drops in there
to partake of the deliciously prepared
little meal, and chat with the friend of
his childhood, in her bright, pleasant
little parlor, over the last new book, it
is not surprising"


"Oh, auntie, it may be true, but
Charles is cruel and unkind, and I am
SICK OF it ali. am going home to
mamma; she won't want me to cook,
and sweep, and make drudge of my
SELF"


Hush, Mary; you do not know what
you are saying, and surely yoa forget the
VOWS so solemnly spoken just one year
ago. It was until death do US part that
you promised to be the wife of Charles
Stanwood. Then it was not for health,
happiness and sunshine You took those
VOWS, but 'for better, for worse > and
now, my child, if the worse has come so
soon tc blight the orange blossoms, you
must bear it."


"Oh, no, I cannot; I must go back to
my old home-my dear home, where
everybody loved me. I never want to
look upon Charley Stanwood's face
again." sobbed the homesick young
wife.


"Don't, Mary; don't speak those
Words said the old lady, with white,
trembling lips. "They are an echo in
my heart that sounds like a funeral
dirge. And now, my dear niece, ere you
take this important step of leaving your
husband and your home, allow me to
tell You something of the history of my
own hfe-a chapter whose sad story has
never been unfolded to the view of your
brighter young life.


Mary, was about your age-seven-
teen-when married Carlton Allen, the
handsomest man in our town. Like
yourself, 1 was spoiled child-the only
girl in family of ten children. was
too young to understand the sacradncss
of marriage, or to appreciate the depth
and strength of the manly nature of my
husband; yet loved him. He was very
considerate, very indulgent, and I pre-
sumed upon his affection and goodness
until our home became very miserable,
and at length, alssi desolate. I had al
ways followed my own wishes in all re-
spects, and when married made no
change. One day we were to have a
large dinner party. Carlton was not
we'll, and had arranged to have it with
out consulting him. AmopQ.the guests
was gentleman to whom Il husband
had decided antipathy. He was too
much OF gentleman to treat any guest
with rudeness, but the next morning he
called me to him and told me never to
invite that man into his house again. I
answered angrily. One word brought
Oh another, until declared my intention
OF going home, saying to my husband,
as left the room Il never wish to
look upon your face again, Carlton AL
lem And oh, my God 1 never did;
for that night my noble, manly husband
was killed by violent fall from his
horse. When they told at home, next
morning, of my bereavement, I fell
sonseless to tho floor, and for months 1