Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-01-28
CHPTER FIVE.

w e have surely every th1ilg necessary
to our comfort. my dear Lucy,' said Mr
Cunningham. 'our happiness does not
depend on the splendor of our furnitur',
but on our affection for each other You
would be no dearer to my heart in the
paraphernalia of duchess, diamonds and
all, than you are in your simple morn
ing dress; and | hope you do not love ne
the less, for not being able to furnish my
house in tire style of Mrs Westbury's'
Ono of course not. said Mrs Gun
ningham, in tone utterly devoid of
all tenderness or feeling; but then l
should not love You the less for having
these beautiful things, suppose. And
really, Edwfrd, think one of the best
ways in which husband can show his
love to his wife, is by gratifying her in
dress furniture, company, DC
He must ruin himself then, to show
his love- said Mr. Cunningham. throwing
his head back on his easy chair, with q
mingled expression of bodily and mental
pain on his features.
Mrs Cunningham, however. did not
look up to mark the expression of his
conntenance, but half muttered, in reply
to his remark
i never knew n an who was too
stingy to dress his wife decently. fail to
excuse himself on the ground Of necessi-
ty. How do detest to hear man talk
of ruin. if his wife only ask for a pair Of
shoes
Mr. Cunningham was to deeply woun-
dcd to reply; al Mrs Cunningham hav-
inc vented some of her disconte t IN
this gentle ebulition. llrted out of the
chamber, without even casting a glance
towards her sick, and now afflicted hus-
band.
In due time Mrs T---'s invitation
was received, anu this it WAS Mr. Westbu
rvs wish that Julia should accept.
Without manlfesting the least reluctance
she consented, and Mr. ". went so far as
thank her for her cheerful compliance
with his wishes. This was very slight
courtesy, but there WAS something in Mr.
Westbulys voice when he spoke, that
went straight to Julias heat and she
left the rom to conceal the tears causod
by SO trivial cause. She certa'n Iv
contrives to please me. he the motive
what it may thought Mr. Westbury
when left alone-and though | cannot
love her, honorary gratitude demands
that l make her as happy as eircumstan-
ces will allow He took pen. and
hastily writing n few iaes, enclosed
bank note of considerable value and left
the little package on her work table that
she might see it as soon us she returned
He then left the house. When Julia
resumed her seat by her table, the packet
was the first thing that attracted her no.
tice. She hastily opened it and read as
fellows; AS Mrs Wcst5ury is too dele
cate and reserved ever to make known q
want, she may have many which are I'm
thought Of by him who is bound to sup
ply them. Will she receive the enclosed
not as a gift, but as her right? erhaps
new dress may be wanted for T---'s
Ieyee, if not, the enclosed can meet some
Of those calls oil benevolenee. to which
report says Mrs w stbury's ear is alwavs
open. And if Mrs Wesbury Will SO far
overcome her tmd deIcacv. as freely to
make KIN wn her wauts Whenever they
occur. she will greatly obliga her hus-
band.
Jnlia pondered long on this note. 1t
was ceremonies md c5ld.-cold enough
vet not SO frozen as the only letter SIZE
had received from him. Perhaps it was
his way of letting her know that he
wished her to dress more elegantly and
extensively. Il will not remain n doubt
l will know explicitly,' though, she anb
taking a pen in her turn, She wrote the
foowing;
Mr. Westbury is so munifcent in sup
plying every want. that his wife has none
to make known. Ifthere is any particn ar
dress that would CRAFTY Mr. We<tbury's
taste, Mrs w. would esteem it great
favor would he name it, and it would be
her delight to furnish herself accordingly
She accepts with grtitude not as her
right, but as a gift, the very liberal sum
enclosed in Mr Westbury's note
Julia placed the note on Mr. w. read
ing desk III tie library, and felt m almost
feverish impotence to lave an answer
either written or verbal. For more than
an entire day however, was she doomed
10 remain in suspense, as her husband
made no allusion elhe to his note or her
own, though the one she laid on his
desk disappeared on his fist visit to the
library. But her suspense at length ter
minated. On going to hor chamber she
observed little box on her dressing
table. On raising it she discovered
note that was placed beneath. The note
ran thus
Mr. Westbury, highly approves the
elegant slmpl ct, of Mrs Yves bury's
style of dress, and in consulting her own
taste, she will undoubtedly crafty HIM.
He has yet but once seen her wear an
unbecomino article. The cont mis- Of
the accompanying box were selected not
for their intrinsic value or splcndor. but
because they correspond SO well with
Mrs Westbury's STYLE of dress and beauty
If she wear them to Mrs It's she
will CRAFTY the giver.'
Julia opened the box and n set of
beautiful pearls met her view. How
delicate, how kind, and low cold he isl.
thought she. %, how trifing the value
III "