Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-03-14

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far away past, would trouble the husband
sorely. But these were pressed aside. or
suffered to die for lack of aliment. and
the dull, cold routine Of every day life
permitted to have its usual course.
On the occasion referred oaboye, Mr..
Archer and his wife were spending an
evening at the house of friend, where
company had been invited. For days
previously, the countenance of Mrs. Az.
cher had worn its usual dead calm, its
imperturbed placidity, its matter Of course
aspect. She had talked with her hus-
band in a kind of dead-level tone and
manner on all subjects that happened to
come up, whether of first or third impor-
lance. sOr, if interest happened to rise
into anything approaching enthusiasm, il
was accompanied by something of sharp
ness that left on the mind of Mr.. Arch
er an uncomfortable feeling, as if he were
blamed for something. And this had
been the wife's aspect even after she had
donned her company attire, and up to
the moment when she had made her ap-
pearance among the guests of the friend
to whose house she brought, tied up as it
were in a closely compacted bundle, her
smiles and courtesies for public dispen-
sation.
AS he had noticed on many previous
occasions, SO did Mr.. Archer notice on
this, the remarkable difference between
his wife's home and company manners
between her treatment of her husband
and her treatment of other gentlemen who
happened to enter into conversation with
her, or offer any polite attention. The
answer to Meir words always went forth
from lips wreathed with smiles, and eyes
sparkling with pleasure; to his words,
from cold placid mouth, and with halt
indifferent or ayerted glances.. And yet,
Mrs. Archer was faithful wife in all her
dutiful relation and in her heart low
ing wife to her husband. If smiles did
not play in sunny circles over her coun-
tenance, as in former times, she made the
household smile with order and comfort,
arranged and secured by her ever busy
hands. Her thoughts were no wander
ing truants to other and forbidden fields,
but home guests nor were they busy for
herself, but for the husband and children
not that love for her husband had grown
dull--answering not as a mirror answer
eth to face-that her countenance did not
light up at his coming-that she did not
meet his word and attention by smiling
glances. Had she not given him her
heart when she gave him her hand-had
she not promised to be faithful wife {?
Was she not true in all her relations -
What more was required of her? 1t new
er entered into her thoughts, that her
husband was weak enough to desire
daily repetition of the love glances with
which, in the season of young loves ar
dor, her eyes were ever .beaming when
they turned upon his countenance..
And yet it was even so. 1t was be-
cause he hoped to live all his, after life in
the warmth of those glanees, that he had
woed and won her in the bright days of
her young womanhood. And when he
saw rhe light growing daily DINNER and
DINNER, and felt its genial warmth di-
minishing, a shadow fell upon his spirit.
Very kind, very attentive the husband
remained, but his wife became aware Of
certain GOODNESS towards herself that
was far from being pleasant as the lover
like manner with which he had formerly
treated her; and many times she sighed
for the tones and glances she saw him
give to other ladies, as he sighed for like
tokens Of interest from herself. Both
were in error, and both in certain sense
to blame. tsg s @
On the evening referred to, the con-
trast between the manner of his wife to
himself and to other men who showed
her little attentions, was felt with more
than usual distinctncss by Mr.. Archer.
~
He was not jealous, for he knew the truth
of her character I; nor offended, but hurt.
Almost any price would he have paid
for, the bright return another received for
simple act, the double of which, on
his part, would scarcely receive passing
notice.
Not long after this, Mr., Archer saw
his wife drop her handkerchief Step
ping forward, from where he stood talk
ing with lady, he lifted it from the floor,
and placed it in her hand. His eyes were
fixed upon her countenance, but she did
notso much as return his look, nor make
the slightest acknowledgement. merely re-
ceiving the handkerchief with quiet in.