Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-12-28
SELECTED ! STORY.


"A SOUcIS uuil-uAcCOutcut0u IdC0 NJ |
he window, bright face in the street.
rhe window is thrown open, and q
mile goes from the bright face to the
ober one, giving it new and pleas
inter aspect. Both faces are young
hat at the window the youngest-al-
most child-like. Yet'the window face
s the face of a wife, and the street
ace that OF d maiden, CLANCY free"
GLOW strangely I was deceived,
Bella !" said the lady in the street.
"Deceived How Mary /? sr What do
you mean :? But come in. You're just
tho one wish to see.''
81 was sure | saw you, not ten min
ltes ago, riding out with Harry" said
The young friend, as they met and en-
braced at the door.
so dear, no! I haven't been out
riding with Harry for month";"
"Indeed! How's that? I can re-
when YOU rode out together
almost every afternoon"
eyes; but that was before our mar
riage," replied the young wife, in a
voice that made her friend look into her
face narrowly.
"The husband has less time for re-
creation that the lover. He must give
more thought to. business" remark
ed the friend.
The little wife tossed her head and
shrugged her shoulders in a doubtful
way, saying, as she did so:
81 dun't know about the business ;
but lovers and husbands are different
species of the genus homo. The ex-
PLANTATION lies somewhere in this direc-
ton, l presume"
'Ah, Bella. Bella That sound don't
come with musical sound from your
lips" remarked the friend, smiling,
yet serious.
''Truth is not always melodious, y
said Bella. II " .
Glow is it as to sweet-hearts and
wives ?" asked the friend. "Do they
belong to the same class %
The question appeared to reach the
young wlfe's ears with a suggestive
farce. Her voice was Q little changed
as she answered:
81 don't know. Perhaps not"
The friend had been scanning The
young wife for some moments, from
head to foot, in way that now elected
the question:
EDO you see anything peculiar abou
me?'
| eyes," was answered.
"What?' %
"a peculiar untidiness that neve
observed in the sweet heart"
Bella glanced down at her soiled ant
rufled dress.
"My meglige," she said, with lit
| tie, short laugh.
| $50 I should think Now, shall
draw your picture %
"Yes if you have an artist fancy
'Here it is. Hair lusterless and un
tidy skin dull for want Of action ant
feeling; a wrapper better conditioned
for the washing tub and ironing tabl,
than as garment for the fair perso,
of young wife; no collar nor orna
ment Of any kind and countenanc.
we'll, can't give that as I saw it
while ago, at the window; but l an
sure it wasr.'1 the face to charm a Low.
er. Perhaps it might suit a husband
But have my doubts"
| Bella felt the reproof of her friend
as was evident by the spots that begar
to burn on her cheeks.
"You wouldn't have me dress as fol-
q party every day 2" she said.
ooh, no! But I'd have you neat ant
sweet, as a young wife should always
be; that is, if she cares for the font
eyes Of her husband. I.verily heliev,
it ,cas Harry I saw riding out ittl.
while ago!''
Bella threw a quick, startled lool
upon her friend, who already half re-
GREETED her. closing sentence.
"Why did you say that !? What die
you mean? % she asked.
81 only said it to plague you," an
swered the friend.
"To plague mo - There was an ex.
preston in Bella's face that Mary hac
never seen there before. Her lips la,
closer together there were lines on her
forehead.
''You are not really in earnest, Mary,
about seeing Harry riding out with a
lady this afternoon she said, in a
voice and with look that revealed full
ly her state Of mind. The color had
left her face, and her heart shook in
her voice.
81 was probably mistaken, Bella, -
replied tho friend F.; "though l had not
doubted Of the fact until | saw you at
the window little while ago"
did you notice the lady particu-
larly ?"
''No; but let tho matter PASS, dear.
No doubt l was mistaken. 1t is wor-
rying you more than [ could have i'm.
agined."
Bella looked at her friend for some
moments in strange way; then Civ
ing low, suppressed, wailing cry, bent
forward and laid her face upon her
bosom, sobbing and shuddering in such
wild turbulence Of feeling that her friend
became actually alarmed.
"You have frightened me !" said the
young wife, lifting her head at last, as
her excitement died away, "Ah.
Mary, if l should lose my husbands
love 1T would kill me -
"Then, Bella" answered her friend,
sec to it that you neglect none Of the
rnoo,. ~oo,,;rod Cor Eoor;oo r.