Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-31

ONh ~S'""i iVNOAc WOlO oO ihpPy ehoe suSJ S"ohN
afford to linger over it.
So it happened that the young wife was re-
duced to the occupations before described this
warm summer afternoon Her watch, again
and again consulted, was held for at least three
quarters of an hour in her hand, the moments
creeping by, and still Albert had not come
She went out on the verandah and peered
through the thickets of shrubbery; but there
was no sign of either horse or rider; and while
she stood there so disconsolately, she saw the
book half hidden by the Home Gazette, just as
it had been dropped the night before. What
could keep Alfred so longa" They might have
read several chapters before dinner. and found
out how the quarrel was made up. But the
book must not lie there; and as she stopped to
raise it the leaves whirled over, opening most
invitingly to chapter sixteenth. She could not
resist reading on few pages, still leaning over
the railing of the verandah, and then, more alb
sorbed, sat down on the little sewing chair, and
finished the exciting scene. She did not recol-
| iSSo uHVii puCh euC ooiICo dStCCuiouu buCy unu
entered into not to read this particular book
separately but a chapter or two could make
no particular difference, she thought walking
up and down the garden path, and listening to
every sound.
1t was full an hour beyond tho usual time
What could have happened! That horse, she
was sure, was not to be trusted. and going SO
near the railroad especially. Oh, how dreadful
it would be if he were brought home dead, or
very much injured How horrible to watch
him suffer pain And then he was obliged to
go down to those dreadful wharves. Oh, if he
was anything but a shipping merchant. She
was kept in such constant fear of small pox or
typhus-fever or some other shocking disease, all
SO prevalent this season. He must be i'll yes,
he had complained Of headache in the morn
ing. If he did not come in another quarter of
an hour, she would certainly 90 to town in the
evening train in search of him And then she
imagined herself driving about in fearful
haste, in IL very desolate looking ca so infinite
ly wresched that the tears came into her eyes
at the very thought.
Imagine her JOY then, at the sound of horses
feet, just as this frantic resolution was taken
and she few down to the gate to meet Alfred
just as he dismounted to open it, receiving as a
reward for all her anxieties shower of kisses
and loving epithets, with fond chidings for her
unreasonable fears for his safety.
She forgot to inquire for the head ache. OH
what d warm, disagreeable, uncomfortable day
it has been! If people could live without eat
ing such days." And yet the two managed to
make very comfortable dinner, in spite of heat
and romance, with plentiful dessert of straw
berries and cream. 1t was later than their or
dinary hour so much so that it was nearly dark
by the time Alfreds cigar was finished. Flora
thought that he was much longer than usual in
smoking, and discovered with some impatience
that he had INDUCED himself in a second o
rather unusual and selfish proceeding, she
thought, considering he was 80 very late, which,
by the way, was not yet accounted for The
angel had managed to work herself into
slight nervous fever, with the heat and after
moons restlessness. 1t even seemed possible,
for the instant, that 81 the king could do
wrong" However, the pouting lip was kissed
into its full roundness again, as the unconscious
offender proposed an adjournment to the dressing
room and lights.
Don't you think it rather too warm, dear
est was the mild expostulation of the hus-
band, us Flora prepared to make his knee her
easy chair, as usual.
They would never quarrel Oh no they
had never disagreed as yet.
Not word was uttered in reply but one
weather-wisc might have dreaded the porten-
! tous silence more than the most abrupt retort,
as the injured wife deposited herself on on ot-
toman instead. After she had been worrying
about him all the afternoon, too She was
\ fairly sick with anxiety; and this was all her
thanks.
=" And now, what shall we do this evening,
It my precious Do you feel like singing to your
:, husbands"
Exerting herself to sing such an oppressive
i evening 1t was just as thoughtful as mer
y usually were. What u selfish exactng, indif
n ferent race!
" 1t was too hot ~
It Well, men are only mortal, and even they
= may feel hurt or startled at an abrupt answer
; to an ordinary question. But perhaps he hat
been mistaken; Flora certainly could not have
- used that tone to him.
J "Perhaps my darling would rather have mt
y read to her!"
k My darling vouchsafed to hand the book. opel
at the close instead of the commencement 0
f, the sixteenth chapter.
h 1--WE did not get quite so far as this. LIE
l. me see-about half through, think
81 finished it this afternoon"
"Ob, Flora you remember our agreement
r. How could youl"
:" You did the same yesterday"
ID Zone little paragraph, when the cook calle
you, dear"
rs "Well, can, help it. You can read u
= to mt"
8 What if don't choose to And AL
freds tone was certainly approaching the ke
It. at which Flora maintained the duet Their
may have been an added sharp
Id " You can do as you please, my dear "
1t was not SO much the words AS the smile c
mock courtesy, and the fash of her eyes as sh
by rose and left him. She had not intended
an speak SO she could not tell what evil spir
- possessed herr nor did she feel how much E,