Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-09-14
THE TWO BRIDES.

"Oh, Henry is this the cottage you
thought So beautiful? Dear, dear me, what
a very shabby place. said Marion Lenox,
as with her husband she alighted at the
door of a neat little cottage.
"Why, my love you know its just spring,
the leaves are hardly out, and the rose
bushes only budding. Yet you may form
some idea how it will look in summer; see
the vines trained over the windows Look
at the garden spots here and thers-rath-
er neglected to be sure-but-"
Rather neglected." added his wife,
breaking in upon him; 81 should think
go. Why, there nettls bush-and such
miserable little stunted trees and straw
litter, and old hoops; rather neglected.
and the door, how old fashioned and ugly
take care-I am sure you can hardly stand
up straight in this narrow, low studded
little hall. I detest low ceilings, country
or no country. And this bit of parlor,
hardly large enough to turn about in-I
can't and won't like that Now let me
see the kitchen, oh, horror" she exclaim-
ed, holding up her hands, either noticing
not, or deigning not to notice the express
sion Of uneasiness that sat on her hus-
band face "look at the hearth-of brick,
as I'm alive, and takes up half the floor.
High windows, too how l hate high win
dows; and such a pattern for paper 1t
makes me nervous to look at it; criss cross
like spiders crawling over a web. Now,
Henry, you can't expect me to live here!'
Her husband, a fine manly looking fell
low, half sighed as be answe. ed sho'd
be very unwilling to submit you to incon
veniences such as you seem to dread, but
there are only this and the new cottage
above on the hill. That you know is three
hundred dollars a year; two hundred
more than we should pay for this; and
then the expenses
"Oh Henry, dear don't 60 to talking
about expenses your business is SO good,
it will warrant little outlay, yeu told me
so yourself Come, | will economize in
other things; just look now at these dingy
black closets, he half agreed with her
as she opened the really dismal places;
IL shouldn't wonder if they were filled
with rats and vermin. Now let's 60 up
stairs; see how the paper is torn off aud
patched and worse and more Of it, there
is but Ole upright chamber in the house.
Mothers last words to me we're, do get
upright chambers, for they look so pretty
when they are we'll furnished. And here
in front of the house is q wretched great
| hole"
But in summer" put in Henry.
"Oh l know what you would say. !
suppose there is water there sometimes,
but half of the yeai it will be most de-
testable sight. Then the trees 50 close to
the house; I've always heard that trees
make house very damp and uncomfort.
able-no, I'm sure you won't try to make
me live in such place, after all the com.
fort I've been used to. Come, let us 60,
for really I'm quite melancholy already
Henry resigned the key, only half CON
vinced by his wife's reasoning. He loved
her, wanted to make her happy, but just
starting in life, how was he to maintain
style and extravaganza? He liked tho
little cottage, but was persuaded against
his better judgment to refuse it.
About an hour after, q plain carriage
drove up, and sprightly young man lift.
ed sweet blue eyed girl to the ground,
saying as he did SO, Now prepare to be
disappointed
81 am not in the least with the exteri.
orr she exclaimed, pausing-" how
cunning-how dear what fine place for
& garden and those dear little trsss-and
this wilderness Of rose bushes declare
/ never wss so pleased with anything in
my life.
"The door looks like what l have seen
in pictures Of old country houses; and oh!
do look aud see the vines clambering over
every window When they are loaded
with blossoms, and the roses are cut, it
will seem like Paradise
The entry is rather small and low"
remarked her husband.
"Oh not bit too small and 40 to
low ceilings, in cottage like this. they
are quite apropo. Now did you ever see
: quaiuter, pleasanter little parlor; just
the place for your mothers nice old.fash'
ioned furniture. The sofa shall be right
there between those pretty little windows,
and the chairs here, and the table there ;
won't it lock SO cozy and comfortable I,
she asked, her blue eyes spar kling with
unalloyed pleasure.