Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-10-23
Gboite 9tlisttllmp.
Who's to Blame.

One evening, the fastidious Henry West
worth, on coming home tired and depressed,
found his wife in the parlor, dressed in d
soiled morning gown, and wearing pair OF
slippers down at the heel. To increase his
vexation she was sitting in easy chair, with
one leg crossed over the other, reading a
trashy novel.
"Why Fanny" he exclaimed in amaze
mcnt, FOR they had been married Only few
months, and hitherto he had thought her
the pink of neatness.
"Well, what's it!'' she asked, looking
up. Then noticing the direction Of his ryes.
she assumed more becoming position
"You don't like my oless, perhaps" she
continued, ''but really ] was too tired to
change it."
What have you been doing all day!"
said Harry,
oh, reading this.' she replies; she color
ed as she held up the book, and added, "and
then it has been so warm!''
Now her husbqnd had been hard at work
all through tie sultry summer day, and had,
as was usual with liGi when busy, dined al
his Office. Yet his attire was neat, and
even his hair newly brushed; for he had
gone to his chamber to 10 this before COM
ing into the parlor. 1t may be supposed.
therefore, that he was annoyed at the slo-
venliress of his wife, the more SO, on look
ing at the novel, he found it quite worth
less affair. He said nothing. however, ex-
cept, "At least change your slippers, my
dear. You don't know how dislike to see
lady slpshod."
"Do YOU how odd!" said his wife, with
a silly laugh, stopped to pull up the heels
of her shoes. There, that will do, think,
really can't walk so far as the chamber
this evening wish you would ring for
tea, the bell is just by you, as | want to
finish this chapter"
Her husband sighed, but did as he was
bid. The tea came up and he took his seat;
but the chapter was not yet concluded and
he was compelled to wait. When at last,
Mrs. Wentworth came to the table, the tea
was cold. The meal, under these circum-
= stances, was dull one, and her husband
after tea was over, finding his wife absorbed
in her book, lay down on the sofa and finally
went to sleep. .- a.
Mrs. Wentworth had been the belle of the
town before her marriage. Her sprightli.
ness and beauty had been the theme of cor.
slant admiration. But these qualities would
have failed to have won Harry Wentworth;
heart, i f they had not been sustained by q
most exquisite in dress. See Fanny when
you would, she wa; always carefully attred:
and as Harry Wentworth was particularly
fastidious on this point, he thought himself
the happiest of men when Fanny, one
bright summer evening, promised to be his
But unfortunately, the bride haG no rea
habits of neatness, but only a love of admi
ration. 1t was vanity that had induced hel
while single 10 be ca,eful of Der dress; bu
now that she was married she gradual,
gave way to her natural Incidence. The
first occasion on which she did this to AM
very glarIng extent, was the evening OF
which our story opens but was soon fol
lowed up by other exhibitions of slovenli
ness. e..
81 do wish, Fanny, that you would dres
~ more neatly" said Mr.. Wentworth, in
yexed voice, some months later still
"Night after night come home and find yor
in that atrocious wrapper"
"You used to think me pretty enough il
any dress. % retorted Mrs. Wentworth testify
"But never saw you in one like that be
fore we were married." replied her HUSBAND
"To be sure not" said Mrs. Wentworth
andshe laughed ironically. 81 always dres
sed for the company then, and do SO now.
What could Mr.. Wentworth say! If hi
wife did not think it necessary to be nea
in his presence-dd not conside: hir
as worthy of pleasing as the comparativ
strangers whom she called upon any
was useless to argue with her; SO, after tet
the slipshod hess still annoying him, with