All for Love; or, Her Heart's Sacrifice — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
All for Love; or, Her Heart's Sacrifice
John Stuart Mill · en
They had done the Continent leisurely at their own sweet will, they had
wandered hither and thither with not a care save the silent grief of
the young husband over the estrangement from his own people, and as to
Berry, she had found out long ago, by a cablegram, that her mother was
still living, not dead, as the vile fortune teller had falsely declared.
On getting this news the young husband had promptly sent his
mother-in-law a sum of money sufficient to keep her in ease and comfort
a year, so that Berry’s heart was at ease, and she gave herself up
wholly to her happiness. They adored each other with a true devotion
that never grew less. They were all in all to each other:
A book of verses underneath the bough,
A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and thou
Beside me singing in the wilderness,
And wilderness were paradise enow!
Whatever the carping world might say of the millionaire senator’s only
son’s mésalliance, to him it had been a salvation, turning him from
evil courses to a purer, better life, making out of him the noble man
nature had intended him to be.
His lovely bride grew more charming every day, to his enraptured eyes,
and he bitterly regretted the pride that had prevented his family from
seeing and knowing the girl whose flawless beauty and simple goodness
must, if permitted the opportunity, have won its way to every heart.
He grew hot and angry when he remembered how bitterly they had railed
against his darling, saying to himself that it was not like them to be
so harsh and unforgiving, and it was surely Rosalind who had set them
onto such cruelty, for she had threatened him with dire vengeance, and
this was how she had kept her word. Once he had pitied Rosalind, but
now he hated her for her malice that had cost him so dear.
He got another taste of it when the time rolled around for the division
of his mother’s fortune, for his lawyer wrote him that Senator Bonair,
as sole trustee, refused to surrender his son’s portion, still claiming
he was insane and unfit to have the use of the money.
Then it was Bonair’s wrath waved high.
“Berry, darling, will you excuse me if I go out and swear a little
outdoors? Oh, yes, I know I promised you never to swear again, but a
reformed man must relapse at times, you know, and really this seems to
me an occasion for profuse profanity!” he said grimly, to the beautiful
creature who smiled tenderly at him and answered:
“But do not stay out long, dearest, or I will not forgive you breaking
your promise to me.”
He was not absent very long, and when he returned, he said:
“On second thought I didn’t swear at all; I wrote my lawyer to bring
suit against my father at once for the payment of my money.”
“Do not worry over it, dear. We have each other, and are happy as we
are,” Berry answered, with a coaxing smile.