eauties of her glorious form, which, so seductively
voluptuous, was liberally exposed to his gaze; and his trembling hand
wandered amid the treasures of her swelling bosom, so luxuriant in its
ripened fullness.

Soon the withered form of the aged bridegroom is encircled by the plump,
soft arms of his beautiful young bride. There are kisses, and
murmurings, and sighs--but there is a heavy load of disappointment on
the heart of the husband, who curses the three score and ten years that
bind his warm wishes with a chain of ice; and he prays in vain for the
return--even the temporary return--of glad youth, with its vigor, and
its joys.

Julia comprehends all, and secretly congratulates herself on his
imbecility which releases her from embraces that are repugnant to her,
though she assumes an air of tender concern at his distress. Maddened at
a failure so mortifying, Mr. Hedge half regrets his marriage.

Oh, why does weak tottering age seek to unite itself with warm,
impetuous youth! The ice of winter is no congenial mate for the fresh,
early flower of spring. How often do we see old, decrepit men wooing and
wedding young girls, purchased by wealth from mercenary parents! Well
have such sacrifices to Lust and Mammon, been termed _legalized
prostitution_. And does not such a system excuse, if not justify,
infidelity on the part of the wife? An old, drivelling dotard takes to
his home and bed a virgin in her teens, whom he has purchased, but as he
has gone through a formal ceremony, law and the world pronounce her
wife. His miserable physical incapacity provokes without satisfying the
passions of his victim; and in the arms of a lover she secretly enjoys
the solace which she cannot derive from her legal owner. Then, if she is
detected, how the world holds up its ten thousand hands in pious
horror!--Wives who have _young_ husbands are eloquent in their censure;
old women who have long passed the rubicon of love and feeling, denounce
her a _shameless hussey_; while the old reprobate who calls himself her
husband, says to his indignant and sympathizing friends--'I took her
from a low station in life; I raised her to a position of wealth and
rank, and see how ungrateful she is.'

Irritated by the disappointment, he arose, threw on his garments, and
muttering a confused apology, left the chamber, taking with him a light.
As he closed the door behind him, Julia burst into a gay silvery laugh.

'Poor old man!' she said to hersel