Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-11-11
From Moore's Rural New YORKER
MABEL vINCHNT's WARNING.
BY KATE CAMERON.

"There Harry, that is what ] call q
model husband, . said the young and
beautiful Mrs. Vincent, looking through
the halt drawn Venetian blinds OF their
pretty cottage parlors, at q stately
mansion across the way. the owners OF
which were just seating themselves IN
their elegant carriage for their evening
drive.
"There's Mr.. Lawrence, who thinks
all the world of his wife; Pm sure he
does, for there's no end to the splendid
silks he buys her /; and then, whenever
she chooses, shs can have him to wait
on her to rides, or to parties, or the
opera, and you never 60 anywhere with
me ?"
"And does my little wife think I love
her less because cannot, like that mil
ionaire over the way. devote myself ex-
clusively to her service 20 81
Harry spoke kindly, and threw his
arm carelessly about his wife.
At any other time, Mabel would have
answered him with kiss, and dropped
the subject at once, but now the spirit
OF discomfort was aroused, and she re-
piled pettishly, "No doubt you do love
me, Harry-but one likes some proofs
OF affection occasionally"
"And am I not working for you all
the while, darling :" was the response;
'but," he added, little sternly, "you
shall have proofs-you shall have sub
stantial proofs. s
And before Mrs. Vincent could
speak, her husband had gone back to
the store,-gone without the "Good-
night kiss" never before omitted since
he brought his bride to their humble
but tasteful home-gone, with a weigh,
upon his buoyant spirits, and heavy
feeling in his heart to which he was al
unused. s
And Mabel? At first she strove to
justify herself for her cruel words. CAT
any rate I only spoke the truth. Har-
ry never does go anywhere with me; he
is always delving in that old store; and
only tonight, when l asked him fol
that blue silk, he told me he couldn't
afford it. I used to think merchants
wives could always have their choice
out of their husbands stock Of goods,
but here, I've only had two shilling
gingham, and four shilling barege
this summer, while Mrs. Lawrence has
had at least dozen beautiful and ex-
pensive dresses. Oh, dear ! it is too
bad and Mabel Vincent leaned her
head upon her hand and wept.
From this painful reverie she was
aroused by q ring at the door ; it was
John, her husbands clerk, who brought
package from the store Of Mrs. Vim
cent. It contained the coveted blue
silk, with the rich trimmings she had
so earnestly desired. Surprised and
delighted, Mabel carefully examined
the costly fabric, now throwing it over
chair, and walking away the better
to mark its effect-then standing be-
fore the mirror, she held the folds
around her form, and smiled to see how
very becoming i: would be to her clear
complexion and golden hair.
She had not finished admiring it,
when her husband entered and she ran
to him eagerly, and would have ex-
pressed her gratitude by loving en-
brace, had he not repulsed her with the
cold words, 81 presume you would pre-
fer more substantial proofs of love than
silly kisses, which mean bat little; in
future you shall be grati6ed."
And from that hour there was a per-
ceptible change in the lives of Harry
and Mabel. Scarce day passed that
some costly gift was not added to tle
toilette and ward robe of Mrs. Vincent
Jewels, such as she had sighed to
possess, glittered upon her fingers.
rich silks we're brought and made, and
worn, without afordlng her the pleas
ure that she used to feel in her simple
muslins and ginghams.
Ere long they left their little cottage,
EMPOWERED in flowers and trees, for a
stylish mansion cup town ''-they
gave dinner parties and soirees-they
even owned a carriage, and dashed
grandly by their old neighbors, the
Lawrences.
But was Mabel happy? Did the
longed-for wealth and its numerous
appliances yield her true happiness
All, no she wearied, even to safety,
Of the heartless show and ceremony by
which she was surrounded-she pined
fer the quiet comfort which had been
hers in their cottage home, for then,
Harry was all devotion to her; now he
never spent an hour Of pleasant con-
verse with her-he had no time for that
he was ga man Of the world" she,
a fashionable lady, '-he no longer
called her "Mabel," or Darling" it
was "Mrs. Vincent" for she was the
same naughty person to him she was
to the world, and If she smiled, twas
as she did all other things, with a
studied effort. There were no more
ringing laughs heard telling of a light
and Joyous heart. All was cold and
glittering as an iceberg in the sun
shine.
Meanwhile, there was some specula-
ton among the inhabitants Of the good
ly city, where dwelt our friends, as to
the sudden change in the life of the
Vincents. Some shook their heads
wisely and declared it BODIED no good !;
they used to think Harry Vincent a