The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-22

there's the door bell. He has come home"
"Don't for the world tell the servants the
: cost Of the hat, girl. 1t will get to Charles
| ears.
mo, I won't speak of it, ma'am, you may
: be assured. But if / was a wife, | shouldn't
be afraid Of my
"Hush Impertinence,"
The maid retired pouting by one door
while Mr.. Charles Howard entered by anoth.
err. He was about five and thirty, fine look
ing, with an expression Of bcnevolence upon
his manly face, combined with decision. He
was a lawyer in good practice, had married a
belle at the Virginia Springs, who brought
E him beauty, and the fame that follows in its
train, and aristocratic blood. She was not a
fortune, having been an orphan child Of a
wealthy Virginian who had died nominally
o~pulent, but whose estate turned out to be
embarrassed. Isabel Sumpter, therefore, had
only enough to give her one of the first edu-
cations the country afforded. She was very
beautiful, gay and fashionable, and although
she inherited nothing, she had been brought
up by an uncle who INDUCED her as if she
were an heiress.
Charles Howard saw her in the height of
her fame as a reigning belle at the Springs,
loved her, won her heart in return, sued for
her hand and obtained. He belonged to one
Of the best Philadelphia families, and had
bee. four years in the practice of the law
when he married. His profession and talents
were his only estate. He brought his beauti-
full bride to the city, took a genteel house on
/ Walnut street, near Sixth, and furnished it
with elegant taste.
Mrs. Howard was too accomplished, too
beautiful and fond of life, to remain unnotic-
ed. She soon became a leader Of fashion, and
Charles seeing her love of dress and display,
opened his purse to the utmost to indulge her,
for he idolized her, and was happy in CRAFTY.
ing every wish.
In this manner five years passed. They
were childless Isabel was ~reigning the mod
ell of fashion, the patroness of milIiners and
m2ntua-makers, Her taste was consulted
her decisions were a law. What she wore
became the style for the season, though few
had the means or boldness to 90 so far as she
did in expense.
We have said that Charles Howard loved
his handsome wife. He was not, however, so
wholly blinded by love as to be incapable of
estimating her character. He was a man of
sound sense and practical Judgment Her
expenditure of money at length a.
wakcned him to reflection. His business was
prosperous and his income handsome, ard
each year increasing, but he found that he
did not grow rich-that he laid up moth
ing. He saw that unless his wife's e~xtrava-
gance was checked, it would always be So
The first two or three years of his marriage,
the alteration she drew he took delight in
The world admired, and he did homage to
the worlds shrine. But years modified this
idolatrous enthusiasm, and grave reflection
took the place of lover-likc admiration. He
loved her no less, that he began to think seri- !
ousiy, but loved her more wisely.
He had now scarcely entered the room, be-
fore she came to him, and coolly asked him
for a hundred and fifty dollars.
For what, dear Bel 2" he asked, with an
air slightly grave, at the same time g%lancing
at the velvet hat which lay on the pier-table.
"For what? Why do you ask, Charles ?"
she answered, laughing.
81 thought I should like to enquire"
ooh, very well, then. 1t is for a velvet
tunic to match my superb hat. | am glad
you take an interest in my dresses again, for
you lately don seem to notice what | wear.
| might as well dress in calico as silk, and
wear a straw instead of a velvet, for all the
regard you give me. You did not praise Or
scarcely look at my three hundred dollar cash
mere"
II assure You, l observe, and l must sayit,
with sorrow too, everything you wear"
With sorrow !" she exclaimed, looking
surprised.
Eyes, Isabel. Indeed look with pain up
on what you wear. Nothing escapes my no.
tee"
why, what do you mean ?" she cried,
opening her large beautiful brown eyes, and
parting her pcarl-lined lips with pale amaze
mcnt.
"Let us talk seriously together, my wife,"
he said, taking her hand in his.
"You frighten me-"
81 trust not"
"Then say what you have to say, she said,
with 4 f~altering voice, for the idea that he had
lost property rushed with sudden and appall-
ing force upon her mind.
g need not assure you, dearest wife, how
fondly love you. l, therefore, speak to you
freely. Your love of dress, your frequent
and lavish expenditure of money upon it,
your costly purchases have of late caused me
much sober thought"
ais this the preliminary to some fearful in
telligence Of loss Of property-of p%ecuniary
misfortune, Charles ?"
"No. I am prospecting. I have no debts.
My practice is good. My income is larger than
it was last year"
"Then what do your words mean 2" she
asked, heaving a deep respiration Of vast re-
lief. eff you have money, why do you OBJ
ject to my dressing?"
Listen to me, dear Isabel. 1t is not alone
your great outlay Of money during the year
that makes me sad-but the outlay, the waste
of your intellectual power, your noble afrcc.
tons Of your time and superior energies up
IN Jrncc Tho r,onax, +bot won cnnnJ-nr5
it is all my income over the domestic expen-
ses-is but a secondary consideration. I
know that you possess a noble temper, a good
heart, and a sound Judgment. These are,
however, clouded by the love of dress, the
triumph of leading the fashion, the admiration
Of the world"
@ love VOL M lnas Chnrlns" she nnSrrnr-