Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-03-02
Thezway~to Keep Him.


BY NARY =. CLARkk. |
"Out again tonight ?" said Mrs. 8
Hayes, fretfully, a. her husband rose
from the tea-table, and donned his
great coat: X
eyes, I have an engagement with
Moore !; I shall be in early, have light ]
in the library. Good night" and with !
q careless nod, William Hayes left the
room. |,
"Always the way" murmured Liz
zie Hayes, sinking back upon a sofa,
"out every night. | don't believe he
cares one bit about me, now, and yet
we've been married only two years. No
man can have more orderly house,
am sure and I never 60 anywhere, I
am not bit extravagant, and yet l
don't believe he loves me any more
Oh dear, why is it? I wasn't rich, he
didn't marry me for money, and he
must have loved me then-why does he
treat me With SO much neglect ?" and
with her mind filed with such fretful
queries, Lizzie Hayes fell asleep upon
the sofa.
Let me paint her picture as she lay
there. She was blonde, with small
graceful figure, and a very pretty face.
The hair, which showed by its rich
waves its natural tendency to curl, was
brushed smoothly back, and gathered
into rich knot at the back sit was
such bother to curl it," she said ; her
cheek was pale, and the whole face wore
a discontinued expression. Her dress
was a heat chintz wrapper, but she wore
neither collar nor sleeves: "What's the
use of dressing up just for William %
Lizzie slept soundly for two hours,
and then awoke suddenly. She sat up,
glanced at the clock, and sighed drear
lily at the prospect of the long interval
still to be spent alone before bed time.
The library was just over the room
in which she sat, and down the furnace
Aue, through the registers, voice
came to the young wife's ears: it was
her husbands.
"Well, Moore, what's a man to do !?
Twas disappointed, and I must have
pleasure somewhere. Who would have
fancied that Lizzie Jarvis, so pretty,
sprightly, and loving, could change to
the fretful dowdy she is now? Who
wants to stay at home to hear his wife
whining all the evening about her troub-
lesome servants, and her headache, and
all sorts of bothers =? She's got the
knack Of that drawling whine so pat,
that, 'pon my life, don't believe she
can speak pleasantly"
Lizzie sat as if stunned. Was this
true? She looked in the glass. If not
exactly dowdy, her costume was GER
tainly not suitable for an evening, even
if it were an evening at home, with
only William to admire. She rose, and
softly went to her own room with bitter,
sorrowful thoughts, and firm resolu-
ton to win back her husbands heart,
and then, his love regained, to Keep it.
The next morning, William came
into the breakfast-room, with his usual
careless manner, but a bright smile
came on his lip as he saw Lizzie. A
pretty chintz, with neat collar and
sleeves of snowy muslin, and wealth
of soft, full curls, had really metamor-
phosed her; while the blush her hus.
bands admiring glance called up to hel
cheek, did not detraet from her beauty
At first William thought there must be
guest, but glancing he found they
were alone. ---
"Come, William, your coffee will be
stone cold," said Lizzie, in CHEEKY.
pleasant voice.
cit must cool till you sweeten my
breakfast with kiss,'' said her hus
band, crossing the room to her side
and Lizzie's heart bounded, as she re.
cognized the old lovers tones and man.
ners.
Not one fretful speech, not one com
plant, fell upon Williams ear through
the meal. The newspaper, his usua
solace at that hour, lay untouched, al
Lizzie chatted gaily on every pleasant
subject she could think of, warming by
his g-atified interest and cordial man.
ner.
"You will be homo to dinner 20 she
said, as he went out
Cant to-day, Lizzie, I have bust
ness out Of town, but I'll be home
early TO tea. Have something substan-
tial, for don't expect to dine. Good
BY" and the smiling look, warm kiss
and lively whistle, were a marked con.
trast to his Longing, careless gait, the
previous evening. .5s.
81 am in the right PATH" said Liz.
zie, in low whisper. ooh! what 9
fool have been for two years! A
'fretful dowdy!' William you shall
never say that again. a
Lizzie loved her husband with real
wifely devotion, and herllp would quiv.
er as she thought Of his confidence te
his friend Moore but like brave lit
tie woman she stiaed back the bitter
feeling, and tripped off to perfect he,
plans. The grand piano, silent TO,
months, was opened, and the linen GOV.
ers taken from the furniture, Lizzie
thinking, she shan't find any parlor,
more attractive than his own, I am de-
termined.'' L-- a. -
Tea time came, and William came
with it. A little figure, in tasty,
bright, silk dress, smooth curls, and
oh such a lovely blush and smile,
stood ready to welcome William, as he
came in; and tea time passed as the
mornings meal had done.
After tea, there was no movement,
as usual, toward the hat-rack. Will.