The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-09-22

would try and lessen your expenses. and give
more of your time to reading and home
Have | ever run you in debt! 2 she deman-
ded with angry quickness.
No; because ] have never denied you
money-But if you were more economical ]
should now have owned this house instead Of
being its tenant, and have laid up some
money besides
This is unfair, SIR she said, bursting in
TO tears. i caunot have prevented you own
ing your houseI'
1t is true, Isabel Listen to me. This
house is held at seventeen Thousand dollars
| have rented il nearly six years at twelve
hundred dollars. My income has been from
three to FIVE thousand dollars a-year up to
the present time. My expenses and yours
should have been but fifteen hundred a-year
This is an ample sum. But they have been
every year parallel with my income
And You charge me with expanding the
difference in dress y
In dress and parties and other extravagau
cies, Isabel answered her husband, calmly.
Il have figures 10 show il. Here in my
desk are books to show'-(and he rose up 10
get them, but she drew him back.)
NO, no, don't get Them! don't desire TO
see them = she cried, between grief and in
dignation.
Those books show what sums have given
you daily, weekly, monthly, the last five
years. The sum total is twenty thous-
and dollars You look increduIous. 1t is
true Examine the record of entries. Isa-
face with her hands.) 'Of this large amount
NIL h., Il L., f..
drawing groom ornaments All the rest has
gone in parties, to Zurich miIliners. mantua-
makers, and fashionable shops. Three
thousand of that would have been more than
five hundred year for you for The five years :;
few ladies have SO much. even among the
weaIthiest. If it has not gone in this way,
which seems TO inc Incredibly | know not
where it has gone. But you know you have
changes of dresses almost every week. You
wear shawl but month. and new hat is
thrown aside at the end OF three weeks. You
seem constantly TO employ small army Of
dress-makers. At least twenty women and
others live wholly by youl But will not
overwhelm you. What have given you to
expend has been given cheerfuly, and It has
made me happy to see you so. But happi-
ness lies not in dress and style, dearest wife.
1t has its foundatinp. its abiding place in the
heart, whence il shines forth like the sun
from the p his Of heaven to illuminate,
warm aud beautify all the being. Ii is not to
be foend in outward enjoymeuts and pur-
suits, or in the reflection Of the admiration of
others. 1t is to come from within and flow
outwardly. not flow from without inwardly.'
What is this TO end in, sir! she asked,
with cold severe expression upon her tear
lul face as he paused.
Il trust in making US both happier he an
swered gently, as he took her hand in his.
She withdrew il with petulant force, and,
rising, walked two or three times up aud
down The room, with ringing step, and u
naughty carriage of her noble and proudly
expressive figure. AT length she came and
reseaied herself
Mr.. Howard, do not doubt your word =
| she said, in the deep, nervous tones Of fem
mime feeling, when pride and grief mingle in
The hearts trimming cup. Buff have ex-
pended SO much money, it is upgrateful, IN
genilemanly for you 10 throw it up TO me III
this manner. No Virginan gentleman
would have dared to do such a thing TO his
wife, and | assure you no Virginian woman
would ber it, But Nv i'll be superior to you
L
said but now. talk calmly with you. Sup
pose that have, as doubtless have done,
expended year by year your income Have
| children to expend it upon? Have you
| children to lay itup for Who should en-
| Joy it but your wifel III expend your in
come, so long as we have no family, it is
my right. So long as do not run you in
debt, you ought not, you have no reason to
complain =
But might have owned this house,
might have been rich. Nov have moth
ing
You have enough for each day. and to
live richly day by day. What more do you
ask II
But If should die TO morrow, my income
would die with me. | should leave you des-
titute. ] wish to secure something for you,
whom | love so dearly, in such All emcrgen-
cy.'
The thought of his dying, the gentle con
fesson of his tender love for her, moved her
heart to its profoundest sources Of affection
and grief She threw herselfupon his shoul
der and wept. The woman-the wife-rose
over all. He cIasped her to his heart, filled
with joy that he had achieved conquest
over her thoughtless vanity.
He was not deceived. 1t was conquest.
From that hour his beautiful wife. naturally
generous and right heartcd found her world
10 her husbands appreciation; and in adorn-
ing her heart, her higher and nobler self, in
stead of her person, she shone in the walks OF
benevolence and sweet charity, with a bright
er lustre than she had ever glitered in the
halls of fashion and folly.