The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-08-22

guC SIOWOOd ehOAVU9l0AVy eAAU ~ udS
just time to catch @ laughing glance
and the wave of little gloved hand
| from his wife Us the sleighs dashed
| past each other. he spent that eve.
ming at home, but not alone with bis
| wife Percy was there, and Bertha
chatted to him, and played for him.
and they sang together songs replete
with love and sentiment--songs which
he reminded her they had sung often
and often together in the olden time.
At last, angry with himself, his wife,
and his gnest, Philip left the room
excusing himself on the plea of bust
ness, but adding that 1.-TWO such
| friends must have SO much to say to
each other, that third person would
be almost an intruder" Mr.. Percy
looked surprised, but Bertha answered
smilingly,
"Oh yes, Leonard and l have plen-
ty Of subjects for conversation.
Leonard, indeed p growled Philip
on his way TO the library.
| He remained alone till the visitor
departed and could hardly believe his
eyes when he saw through the halt
open door, Percy imprint a kiss on the
brow of his wife, which she received
as quite matter Of course.
Pray, do all Of your friends take
their departure in that loving man
ner ?" he asked as she entered the IL
brary.
"Oh, no, but Leonard is privi-
legged character, and besides I am en-
deayoring to bring my old-fashioned
notions Of propriety to a more mod
err standard. I hope TO become ac-
customed to these improvements in
time to take them as easily and grace
fully as some of your favorite ladies
do-Miss Mortimer for instance. ]
have noticed that you rarely meet or
part with her without some such
harmless liberties"
It was true that In the first days Of
his fascination for the bold beauty he
had often praised her gay manners to
his wife, but it was strange how diff
ferently things looked from different
point of view
"But Miss Mortimer il unmarried,
and besides it was joke, our meeting
aud parting in that way" he ans
wered. M
Very well,s Percy is unmarried,
and we call our parting a joke, too,
if you please"
LAS you viii, bdt I don't admire
such jokes | assure you"
what jealous Philip ? and I have
been in Percy's company only three
times. Let's sce-once at the opera
once sleighriding and this evening. y
"No. am not jealous but don't
see what has come over you. Don't
you know that you win ruin your rep
utation if you go on in this way p
With men it is different they are not
expected no be so exclusive in their
attachments. Society has claims up
on gentlemen which they must fulfill.
"True, doubtless and these same
claims of society extend to the ladies,
suppose, and we onght of course to
emulate the generous, seIf-sacrifcing
examples of the sterner sex"
Philip could emily think, that, how
ever willing he might be to sacrifice
himself on the altar Of society, he did
not wish his wife to devote herself to
It's claims but he could not say so
with these rnirthful eyes watching him
so closely, and therefore he remained
silent.
When be returned to dinner, the
next day, he found his wife absent, and
q note Informed him that she had gone
with Percy to spend the day at her
fathers country seat, few miles from
the city, and that if he pleased, be
might take Che evening cars and
spend q few llonrs at the Homestead"
and return with them
"If / please Wen III DONE please
to do any such thing. How changed
she is since Percy has come, to leave
me- so when she has never visited her
old home alone during orr two years
Of married life."
But the quiet hour alone in the de
ning-room was favorable to meditation
and he finally resolved to seek his wife
and confessing the errors which her
conduct hao shown him In their true
light, and endeavor TO persuade her to
resume once more the domestic habits
which nc now saw were necessary to
happiness. He was warmly welcomed
by the family at the Homestead. !"
but Bertha was invisible.
She has just come in,n said her
mother in answer to bis Inquiries
/" You will find her ard Leonard in
I the south Poom.''
Here, runaway |" said he as he
entered the room. why did you not
\ meet me as.you did in the days when
r. came wooing l'n8
" / certainly would, had known Of
your arrival; but Leonard and were