Miscellany: I Will!: An Inductive Chapter In Matrimony

"You lonk sober, jjaura. vvimi una ujiuwm a veil over yonr happy face?" said Mrs. Cleve land to her neice, one morning, on finding lier alone. and wit!) a veiy thoi:ghtiul countennnce. "Do I really look sober?" and Laura 6miled as she spoke. "Yon did just now. But the sunshine bas already di.peiled the trnnsient cloud. [ nm glad that a storm was not portended." "1 feit sober, aunt," Laura said, after a few moments - her face agnin becoming serious. "So I supposed from your looks." And ] feel sober stilJ.'' "Why." "I ara real'y discouraged, aunt." "About what?' ' The maide:i's cheek deepenet' its hue, but ihe did not reply. (You and Harry hnvs not fallen out like ti pair of foolish lovers, 1 hope?" "Oh, no!" was the quick and emphatic anBwer. "Then uhat has troublcd the qniet waters of your spirit? Aboui wh at are you discouraged?" "I wil! lel! yoiv' the ninidpn replied. "It was on!y ubout a week after my engagement with Harry, that I called npon Alice Siacy and found her quite uniiapp}'. She had not been married over a few month?. I asked, what troubled her, and ehe said, 'I feel ae miserable as I can be.' 'But what rnakes you miserable, Alice ?' I enquired. 'Because Williem and I hove quarrelled - that's the reaeon,1 phe s=aid, with 6ome levity, lossing her head and corapressing her üps with a kitjd of defiance. I was shocked - so much bo. that I could not speak. 'The fact i,' she repiimtjd, before I could reply, 'all men are arbitrary and unreasonablc. They think woman inferior to them, and their wives as a high order of slaves. But I am not one to be put under nny man's feet. William has tried thnt trick on tne, and failed. Of course, to be foiled by a woman is no very plrasant thing for one of your lords of creation. A tempest in the teapot was the consequence. But I did not yield the point in dispute; and what is more, have no idea of doing so. He will have to lind out, sooner or later, that I am his equal in every way; and the quicker he can be made consciotis of this, the better for us both. Don't you think so?' I madr no answer. I was too much surprised and ehocked. 'All mn,' she continued, 'have to be taught this. There never wns a husband who did not, at 6rst, attempt to lord it over his wife. And there never was a woman, who-e condilion as a wife was at all above thal of a passive slave, who did not flnd il necessary to oppose herself at firsl with unflinching perpeverance.' "To nll this, anda great (íeal more I could sey no'.binir. It chokcd me up. Since then. I have met her frequently, at home and tkcwhere, but she has never looked happy. - Several times, she has said to me, in company, wlien l have taken a eeat beside her, and remarked that she seemed dull. 'Yes, I ani dull; but Mr. Stacy there, you see, enjoya himself. Men alwaya enjoy ihemselves in company- apart from their wive?, of course.' I would sometimes propose to this a sentiment paliiative of her husbnnd; as, that in company, a man very naturally wished toadd his mite to the general joyousness, or somethiug of a like nature. But it only excited her, and drew forlh remarks that shocked my feelings. Up to this day they do not appear to be on any better terms. Then, there is Francés Glenn, married only three montlis, and as fond of carping at her husband for his arbitrary, domineering spirit, as is Mrs. Stacy. I could name two or three others who have been married, some a shorter and some a longer period, that do not seem to be united, by any closer bonds. "It iá the condition these young friends aunt, that causes me to feel serious. I am fo married in a few weeks. Can it be possible that my union with Henry Armonr will be no happier, no more perfect than theirs? This Í cannot believe. And yet, the relation that Alice and Francés hold to their hus.bands, trouble3 me whenever I think of it. - Henry, as far as I have been ab'e to understand hin', has strong points in bis character. From a righl course of action - or, from a co.irse of BCtion that he thinks right - no consideration, I am sure, wouTd turn hím. I too, have mental characteristics somewhat similar. There is, likewiee, about me a leaven of stubbomness. I tremhle when the thonght of opposition bstween us, upon any subject, crosses tny mind. I would rathcr die - so I feel about it- than ever have a misunderstanding with my husband." Lura ceased, and her aunt, who wa?, she iiow per ceived, much agilalcd3 arose and leftthe room without speaking. The reaeon of this tö Laura was nltogether imaccountable. Her aunt Cleveland, always so mild, eo calm, tobe thus strongly djsturbed! What could t mean? Could there bc atight in her maidp,n]y A-ars lo excite ilie fitelings of oneeo good, and wise, and gentle? .An hour aftersvards, and while she yet eat, sober and perplexed in tnind, in the sime place wherè Mrs. Cleveland had Joft her, a domestic carne in and said that her nunt wisfaed to see her in her own room. Laura atiended her immeoiately. She fnund her calm and self possessed, btit paIer f!ia:i usnn). "Sit down beside me, dear," Mrs. Cleveland stn'd, faintly, as her niece carne in. "What you snid this morning, Laura,'1 she hegan, aftera few moments, "recalled my own enrly years eo vividly, that I could not keep down emorions I had dreamed long since powerless. The cuu6e of these emotions, it is now, I clearly see, my duty to reveal - that is, to you. For years I hnvecarefully avoid ed permilting my mind to go back to the past in vain musings over scones that bring no pleasant thoughts, no glad feelings. I have, rat'ier, Iooked info the future with a steady hope, a calm reliance. But, for your sake, I vvill draw aside the veil. May the relation I ara now about to give you, have the effect I flesire. Then ehall I not suffer tn vain. - How vividly, at tbis moment, do 1 remember the joyful feelings that pervaded my bosom. when, like you, a maiden, I Iooked forward to my wedding dar. Mr. Cleveland was a man, in many respects, like Henry Armour. Proud, firm, yet gentle and amioble when not opposed - a man with whom I rnigbt hare been supremoly happy; - a man whose faults [ might have corrected - nof by open opposiuion to them - not by seeming to notice them - sut by leading lijm to see them himself. flut ;his coinse I flid not purstie. I was proud - I ivas self-willed- I was unyielding. Elemenls like hese ean never come into opposition without a victory on either side being as disstrons as a defeat. We were married. DbJ how sveet was the promise of my wedI ing dny! Of my husband I waa vary fond. iandsome, educated, and with talent of a 1 ligh order, there was erery thing about him ' 0 make the heart of a wife proud. - ' Penderly we loved each other. Like days l n Elysium passed the first few tnonths of onr cedded life. Our thoiiglhs and wishes were c me. After that, gradual ly i cha nge appeor l d to come over my husband. He deferred ess readüy to iny wishes. His own wishes vere more frequently oppnsed to mine, and F lis contentions for victory longer and longer 1 ontinued. This surprised ond pained me. int it dld not occur tr me, that my tennéious t iess of opinión migbt eeem as strange to '! iim ae did hi3 to me. It did nol occur to I1 ne that there wou ld be a propriety in my h erring tj liim - at least so far 6 to give tip ppositinn. I never for a moment reflected 1' fiat a proud, fiim-spirited man, might be s en off from an opposing wife, rather thau P rawn close, and united in tender bonds. I h inly perceived my rights as an equal t d. And from that point of view, I eaw his d onduct as dogmatical and overbearing, when p ver he resolutely set hirnself ngainst me, as b as far too frequently the case. a "One day - we had been married about six h nonths - he said to me, a little seriously, yet o miling as hc spoke, (Jano, did I not see you t n the street ihis morning?' 'You did," I f' lied. (And with Mrs. CorbinT 'Yes.' My j nswer to this last question was not given in s very pleasant tone. The reason wae this: p rlrs. Corbin, a recent acquaintancc, was no I avorite with my hueband; ond ho had more han once mildly suggested that she was not, t 1 his view, a fit associate for me, This 1 af her touched my pritle. It occurred to me, t hat I ought to be the best jugde of my j nale associates, and that for my husband lo r nake auy objeclicns was an assumption on his r iart. that, as a wife, I was called upon to i ist. I did nor, on previous occasions, sny ( nything very decided, contenting myself with ; larrying his objections langiiingly. Thie ïme, howeer, I was in a legs forbearing lood. 'I wish you would not make that j ïan your frieiid,' he eaid, after I had admitted fiat he was right in his observation. 'And a Hb.v not, prnyT I asked, looUing at him quite t teadily. 'For reasons bef'ore given, Jane,' e replied, mildly, bul firmly. 'There are v orts in circulalion touching her cíiaracter lal I fear are ' 'They are false!" ] _. á._J !-_ CT !___ 1 _.._ i_ 1 __ lï jiierrupieu mm. ikiiüw uiey ure mise: i joke witlj a sudden excitement. My voice 1; embleú, my cheek burned, and I was í ciotis that my eye shot fortli no mild light. ( l'hey are true-I know ihey are true!' Mr. c "eveland eaid, sternly, but opparently n led. 'I dorft believc t,' I replied. 'I kiiow c er far beiier. She 6 an injured woman.' v " 'Jfine,' my husband now said, his voice t lightly trembling - 'you are my wife. At e uch, your reputalion is as de;irto me as th pple of my eye. Suspicion has been cast n pon Mrs. Corbin, nnd that suspicion I have j, ood reason for believing well (bnnded. Tf c ou ussociale with ber - if you are seen in v ie street with her - your fair fame will f eiveataint. This I cannot permit.' ,; "Tliere was, to my mind, a threat t uned in the hst sentence - a threat of s ïoritative intervención. At this my pride took j re. i "'Cannot perrrrit,' I said, drawing myself s p. VViiat do you mean, Mr. mW s "The browof my husbund insf.nntly f d. He was silent for a moment or two. - t 'hen he said, with forced calmness, yet in a r 2solute, meaning tone, a " 'Jane, Ido not wiah you to keep Ii y with Mrs. Corbin.' í' 'I irtÈÈV was my indignant reply. t "His face grew deadly palé. For amo s íent his whole frame trembled as if 5ome r iarful etruggle weie goin on witJiin. Then a e quietly aróse, and without looking at me, c ft the room Oh ! Iiow deeply did I regret fi tterring these unhappy words the instant s íey were spoken í But repen tance carne too ti ite. For abont the spaee of ten minutes, f ride struggled with affèction and duty. At s ie end of that time, the laiter triumphed, 1 nú I haóleued after my husband to ask bis tforgiveness for,whai 1 hnd sid. But he va not in thé parlora. JRfe was flot in the house 1 asked a servaut if she hnd sern him, end re ceived for reply tliat he had gono out. "Anxiously poseed the hours until nightfalJ. The sad twilight, as it gathered dimly n round, threw a deeper gloom over my heart. My husbond usuolly catne home beforo dark. Now he was nwuy beyond his accustompd hour. Instead of rcturning gladly to meet bis young wife, he was staying awoy, becauso thatyoung wife had thrown off the atiractions of love and presented to him features liarsh nnd repulsive. How anxiously I longed to hear the sound of his footeteps- to see his face - to hear his voico. The moment of his entranca 1 resolved should be the moment of my humble confession of wrong; of my feithful promise never again to set up my will deierminedly in oppsoition to his judgfmenl. But minute after minute passed after niphtfull - hours succeeded minutes, and these rolled on until the whole night wore away, and he carne not back to me. As the gray light of morning stole into my chamber, a terilb!e fear took hold of me that made my heart grow still in my bosom - the fear that he would never reiurn - that f had driven him off from me. Alas! this fear was too nigh the truth. The whole of that day passed, and the next, without any tidings. No one had seen him 6i'nce he left me. An anxious excitemen: spiead araong all his friends. - The only account I could give of him was, that he had parted frotn me in good health, and in a sane mind. A week rolled by, and still no word carne. L was nearly distracted. What I suffered no tongue can teil, no heart conceive. I have ifien wondered that Í did not becorne insane. But, from this sad condition I was saved.- Fhrough all, my reason, though often trem ing, did not once forsake me. It was on he enth day from that upon which we had jarred o heavily as to be driven widely asunder, hat a letter carne to me, post marked New fork, and endorsed 'In haste.' My hands rembled so that I could with difficulty brenk he seal. The contents were to the effect hat my husband had been lying for several !ays at one of the hotels there, and very 11, ui now past the crisis of his diaease, and hought by the physician to be out of dnnger. ?he writer urged me, from my husband, to orne on immediately. In eight hours from ie time I received that letter I was in New rork. Alas! it was too late. The disease ad retnrned wilh doublé violence, and snaped the feeble thread of life. I never saw ly husband's living face again." The possession of Mrs. Cleveland, at lis part of her narative gave way. Coverg her face with her hands, she sobbed viomtly, while the tears carne tnckling through jr fitirrers. "My dear Laura," she resumed, after the pse of many minutes, looking up as ehe )oke with a clear eye, and a sober, but pla d countenance, 'it is for your sake that I ive turned rny gaze resolutely back. May ie painful history I have jriven you mnke a eep impression upon your heart. Let it ■irn you of the sunken rock upon whicli my irk founderd. Avoid carefully, religiously iroid, setting yourseli in opposition to your usband. Should he prove unreasonable, or ■bitary, nothing is to be goined and every ïing lost by contention. By gentleness, by irbearance, by even euffering wrong at times, ou will be able to win him over to a better jirit. An opposite comse will ns aisuredly ut thorns in your pillow as you adopt t. - .ook at the unhappy condilion of the friendp ou have named. Their husbands are, in tieir eyes, exacting, domineering tyrants.- ut this need not be. Let them act truly lie woman's part. Let them not oppo.se, but ield, and they will find fhat their present lyjnts will become their lovers. Above jI1, ever, under any circumstances, either jestïgly or in earnest, say 'ƒ will,'' wherr you are ppos-ed. That declaration is never made riihout its robbing the wife of a portion of er husband's confidence and love. lts utternce h88 dimmed the fire upon many a smilig henrthstone.'j_uuni cwuiu nc?t repiy. i ne reiauon oí ner int had deeply shocked her feelings. But ie words she had nttered struck into her sart; and when her triol carne- wben she as tempted to set her will in opposition to sr husband's, and resolutely lo contend for hat she deemed right a thought of Mrs. leveland's story would put a seal upon her ps. It was welL The charaGter of Henry .rmour too nearly reeembled that of Mr. leveland. He could illy have brokeda wife's pposition. Bat her tendhrness, her forbearnce, her devoted love, bound her to him with irds that drew closer and closer each levolncr year. She never opposed him further lan to express a difference of opinión when jch a difFerence exifted, and its utternnce wos semed iiseful; and she carefully avoided, on 1 occasions, the doing of any thing that he i the smallest degree disapproved. The jnsequence was, that her opinión was alays weigbed by him carefully, and often de:rredto. A mutual confidence,and a mutua] spondance upon each other, gradually took 10 place of early reserves?, and now they iveotly draw together - now they smoothly üde along the stream of Jife, blessed indeed i all tbeir marríage relations. Who wil] iv that Laura did not act a wiee part? Who -ill say, that in sacrificing pride and self-will, !ie did not gain beyonrt all calcuíation? No ne surely. She is not her husband's slave, nt his companion and eqnal. She has elped to reform, to remodel his character, id make him less arbitrary, lees self willed, 8s disposed to be tyrannical. In her mild irbearance, he has seen a beauty more atactive far that) cheek, or beaming eye. In ead of looking upon her a below him, Han.. ' Armour feels that she ia his superior, and i such, he tenderly regards and lovingly ieri8hes her. He never thinks of obetiience om her, but r&ther studies to conform himilfto her most lightly spoken wish. To be nis un'ned, what wife would not sacrifice her eling when her young, self-willed husband far forgeta himeelf asto become exacting? he temporary losa will turn out in the future be a great gain.