The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-04-02

Les, nau an opportunity, ana tnougnt
would improve 1t. You know it looks SO stu
pid for married people to be always togethe
in public. Leonard is an old friend of mine
and ] am glad hc has returned,--I shall on
JOY his society very much"
Sho was only repeating words which Phil
lip had used many time when praising tn
beauty and grace of some new acquaintance
for they did not seem very satisfactory now
for he only mutered "humpb,' in discon
tented way, and we
Bertha saw the er scheme, anC
laughed mischeivr .,y as sho lay down t
slumber and dream, pcrchance, of the sleigh.
ride she was to enjoy with her friend on tn,
morrow. Philip had engaged TO ride too will
Mrs. Mortimer; and so it Glanced that The
two parties met on the crowded thoroug ghfare
and he had just time to catch laughing
glance and the wave Of little gloved hand
from his wife as the sleighs dashed past each
other. He spent that evening at home, bu
not alone with his wife; Percy was there, and
Bertha chatted with him, played for him, and
they sang together songs replete with love
and sentimcnt-songs which he reminded her
they had sung 50 often together in "odcu
time At last, angry with himself, his wife
and his guest, Phillip left the room, excasing
himself on the plea Of business, but adding
"that two such old friends must have SO
much to say to each other, that a third person
would be almost an intruder" Mr.. Percy
looked surprised, but Bertha answered smil.
ingly:
"Oh, yes, Leonard and l have plenty of
subjects for conversation"
LEONARD indeed growed Philip, on his
way to the library. "Confound the fellow
what docs he mean with his old songs 7"
He remained alone till the visitor depart
ed, and could hardly believe his own eyes
when he saw through the half open door
PcIcy imprint kiss upon the brow of his
wife, which she received quito " matter Of
course.
"Pray do all your friends take their de-
parture in that loving manner?' he asked as
she entered the library.
ooh, no but Lconarl is a privileged cha:
acter ana besides, am endeavoring to bring
my notions Of propriety to more modern
standard | hope TO become accustomed to
these Improvements in time and to take them
as easily and gracefully as some of your IA
vcrte ladies do-Mss Mortimer for instance.
| have noticed that yor rarely meet or part
with her without some harmless liberties"
1t is true that in the fascination for the
bold beauty he had often raised her gay man
ners to his wife, but it wis strange how differ
cnt these things looked from a different
point.
"Bat Miss Mortimer is unmar led; and be.
sides it was all joke, our meeting and part.
-. -, hot I,
"Very wei, Percy is unmarried" and wc
will call our parting ajoke, if You plcase,wns
the reply.
Gas you will,but don't admire such jokes
assure you. E"
What, Jealous, Philip! aud have been
in Percy's company three times. Let's see
once at tho opera, once sleigh riding, and
once this evening"
mo. am not jealous, but | don't sec
what has come over you. Don't you know
that YOU will ruin your reputation If You 60
on in this way! With men it is different;
they are not expected to he so exclusive in
their attachments. Society has claims upon
gentlemen which they must fulfill"
True doubtless; and these samo "cams
Of society extend to the ladies', | suppose,
and we ought Of course to emulate the gener-
ous self.sacrticng examples Of the sterner
SEX"
Philip could not but think, that however
willing ho might be 10 sacrificing himself up
on the altar Of society, he did Bot wish his
wife to devote herself to its claims; but lie
could not say so with those mirthful eyes
watching him so closely, and therefore he re-
mained silent.
When he returned to dinner the next day,
he found his wife absent, and note inform
ed him that she had gone with Percy TO
spend the day at her fathers country seat a
few miles from the city, ard that if be pleas
ed he might take the evening cars, and spend
few hours at the "homestead," and return
with them.
"If please. Well, | don't please to do
any such thing. How changed she is since
Percy's coming, to leave me so, when she
has never visited tie old home alone before
during our two years of married life
But quiet hour alone in the dining room
was favorable for meditation. and he final
ly resolved to seek his wife, and confessing
the errors his conduct had shown him in their
true light, endeavor to persuade her to resume
once more the quit and domestic habits
which he saw were now necessary 10 happi.
ness He was warmly welcomed by the fam
lily at tho homestead, but Bertha was invisi-
bic.
"She had Just come in, said her mother,
in answer to his inquiries. "You will find
her and Leonard in the South room."
'Here, runaway" said he, as he entered
the room, "why did you not meet me as you
iii ! in the days when | camo a wooiugl"
81 certainly would, had ! known of your
arrival; but Leonard and | were out watch
ing the skaters on the lake. ! have never
been on the ice before, since the day, six
years ago, when it proved so treacherous to
me, and when dear Leonard rescued me from
the chilling water"
"Dear Leonard thought it was your
brother who saved you exclaimed Philip
at was my brother, dear Philip. Let me
introduce to you my hoJ brother, Frank
Leonard Percy. / should haze made YOU ac-
quainted before, but wished to try some Of
tho pleasures Of flirting; no one understands
that so well as Leonard-except my husband"
"And he will gladly give up al claims to
proficiency in the art, as you call it, il you
will promise 10 let it alone in FUTURE" said
Philip, who mad been shaking hands heartily
with Percy