The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-10-26
from Moorc's Rural New Yorker
FIABEL vINCENT,S WARNING.


"rhere Harry, that is what | call mod
ell husband" said the young and beautiful
Mrs. Vincent, looking through the half drawn
Venetian blinds Of their pretty cottage par
iors, at stately mansion across the way, the
owners of which were just seating themselves
IN their elegant carriage for their evening
drive.
There's MIR. 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, she can
have him to wait on her to rides, or to par.
ties, or the opera, and you never 60 anywhere
with me %
Sand does my little wife think love her
less because ! cannot, like that millionaire
over the way, devote myself exclusively to
her service ?''
Harry spoke kindly, and threw bis arm
careessly about his wife.
AT any other time, Mabel would have an
swered him with kiss, and dropped the SUBJ
Ject at once, but now the spirit Of discontens
was aroused, and she replied pettishly, 'sNo
doubt you do love me, Harry-but one likes
some proofs OF affection OCCASIONALLY
And am ] not working for you all the
while, darling? ?" was the response; "but, !"
| proofs-you shall have substantial proofs. -
And before Mrs. Vincent could speak. her
| husband had gone back to the store,-rone
without the STOOD might kiss,'' never before
omitted since he brought his bride to their
humble but tasteful home-gone, with a
| weight upon his buoyant spirits, and heavy
feeling in his heart to which he was oil un-
| used.
| And Mabel? At first she strove to Justify
| herself for her cruel words. s'At any rate /
only spoke the truth. Harry never does 20
| anywhere with me; he is always delving in
that old store; and only to- night whsn
asked him for that blue silk, he told me he
couldn't afford it. used to think m erchant,s
| wives could always have their choice out OF
their husbands stock Of goods, but here, Pve
only had two shilling gingham, and o four
| shilling barege this summer, while Mrs. Law
renee has had ct least a dozen beautiful and
expensive dresses. Oh, dear it is too bad /!
and Mabel Vincent leaned her head upon her
hand and wept.
From this painful revere she was aroused
by ring at the door; it was John, her hus.
bands clerk, who brought a package from
the store OF Mrs. Vincent. 1t contained the
coveted blue silk, with the rich trimmings
she had 90 earnestly desired. Surprised and
delighted, Mabel carefully examined the cost
ly fabric, now throwing it over o chair, and
walking away the better to mark it's effect
then standing before the mirror, she held the
folds around her form, and smiled to see how
very becoming it would be to her clear com
plexion and golden hair.
She had not finished admiring it, when her
husband entered and she ran to him eagerly,
and would have expressed her gratitude by .
loving embrace, had he not repulsed her with
the cold words, 81 presume you would prefer
more substantial proofs Of my love than silly
kisses, which mean but little in future YOU
shall be gratifed."
And from that hour there was percepti-
bic change in the lives of Harry and Mabel.
Scarce day passed that some costly gift
WAS not added to the toilette and wardrobe
of Mrs. Vincent-jewels, such as she had
sighed TO possess, glittered upon her fingers
rich silks were bought and made, and worn,
without affording her the pleasure that she
used 10 feel in her simple muslins and ging-
hams.
Ere long they left their little cottage, en-
bowei ed in flowers and trees, for a stylish
mansion ''up town, they gave dinner par
ties and soireas-they even owned carriage,
and dashed grandy by their old neighbors,
the Lawrences.
But was Mabel happy? Did the longed
Tor 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
pined for 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 converse with her-he
had no time for that-he was ga man of the
world" she, Questionable lady,"-he no
| longer called her "Mabel,'' or "Darlnp. - il
was Mrs. Vincent" for she was the same
cold and naughty person to him, that she was
to the world, and if she smiled, twas as she
did all other things, with studied Effort
There were no more ringing laughs heard,
telling Of a light aud joyous heart. All was
cold and ghttering, rs an iceburg in the sun
shine.
Meanwhile, there was some speculation
among the inhabitants of the goodly city,
where dwelt our friends, as to the sudden
change in the life Of the Vincents. Some
shook their heads wisely and declared it bo-
ded no good they used to think Harry Vim
cent prudent business man, and one we'll.
to-do in the world, but he was getting to be
a sad spendthrift, and could not long main
tain such an extravsgant style. Others hint
ed plainly about his ill-gotten gains, and
neglected business; until as lac, Itne dread
full conviction was forced upe1 Mabel's mind !,
that her husbsnd, whom she had believed the
very soul of honor, had sunk t. tho level Of
a common gambler! Nor Was the kindred
vice Of intemperance long in making Of him
another victim. Night after night would be
ent.r his dwelling, with blood shot eye, and
flushed countenance, telling too plainly of
the midnight revel. And poor Mabel would
weep bitterly over the ruin Of his noble man
hood. Expostulation and entreaty we're alike
in vain. Her own hand had given the frst
impulse, and now she had no power to stay
the course of events which we're fast hurrying
to destruction oil that had been dearest to
her.
But tho crisis oama. Dahta of hnnnr