The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-04

she dropped asleep upon the sofa.
The vision of an elegant home rose be-
fore her The hangings upon the wall
were choice and costly; the carpet was OF
the finest texture the rich furniture and all
accompanimeuts of wealth and luxury sur
rounded her while before the windows hung
the identical shades which had filled her
waking moments with such anxious wishes.
But size, the mistress Of it all, was still I'm,
happy. A vague, underlined fear found its
way through the lnazes of Sleep Her hus-
bands affections seemed alienated from her,
and she alone at nightfall anxiously await
ling his return. A confused murmur of voices
ran through her dream; heavy footsteps
were treading the hall; the door opened,
and the lifeless body of her husband was
borne into her presence. So sudden and ter
rible was the shock, she only gazed in speech
less agony upon the wounded body OF her
beloved companion The strangers who
had porne him thither had withdra yn, and
she was left alone with the partner of her
Husband, who approached her, and graspng
her arm firmly said in tones of deep stern
ness
woman, behold your work! In your pride
and ambition you have wrecked the happi-
|
since he came into the store with pale and
agitated frame 'Walter, he said, feeling
| ~, 4 am ruined man. To crafty Affie' $
ambition, and have peace i'll my household,
| have bartered my soul and body, and now
the end has come. | am overpowered with
debt; | cannot meet the eyes of the world,
nor the reproaches ofmy wife; and before
could detain him he had taken his own life
Into his hands, and ended his miserable ex-
istence. You have sent him uncalled and
unprepared into eternity. His blood be up
on your head! ~
In agony Af1ie awolle from her troubled
sleep,an springing up gave an eager
glance around the apartment.
THANK God" broke fervently from her
lips, 1T is only dream!"
Never before had her own little parlor
looked so sweetly in its plain, substantial
dress and even the despised shades wor a
changed look, now that she no longer saw
them through distorted vision.
''Dear Fred what q naughty wife | make
you. ought to be ashamed and | am tru
i y. You are yet hardly started in business
and Of course want to be prudent till you
know how you are to succeed am ur-
dening you with reproaches, and teasing
you for everything that comes into my little
wilful head. Oh, If that dream had been
true it must serve me lesson at any rate
| was no happier in my sleep, that / had
these beautiful objects around me, for whlc h
| had been wishing so constantly and what
would they be worth if friedrich did not love
me while have him and the wealth of
his deep affection, | ought and will be sat
isficd.
The tears flowed down the flushed cheek
not the bitter tears of uDsatisfed pride
but of hearty, generous repentance. Be
fore they were wiped away, the dOorbell
rung, the new shades had come.
''Mr. Percival sent them, i'll which room
will you have them hung?"
Aftie was not expecting them, and there
was a momentary struggle before she an
swered firmly:
Il am sorry to have troubled you, sir, but
since my husband went out | have conclu
ded to do without them. What shall l pay
you for your Inconvenience, and get you tc
take them back?'
Not anything, Mrs. Percival, was the
hearty responce. ''indeed | hardly knew
how to let your husband have them as they
were partly promised to another but he
them. 1t is all right, | persume."
The clerk went down the steps, an Affil
turned back into the parlor with a happier
heart than she had ever known at the gra
LITIGATION of her most cherished desires !;
and when on the same afte rnOon, she haC
received a call from the partners wife, SC
fair face had her home put on that she
forgot the contrast between the two, and
ceased to feel the least modification at her
own humble lot ...#-
The day wore away slowly, and long be
fore the usual hour Affie had tea ready, anC
stationed herself at the window to watcf
the coming of the absent one. The warn
breath that left its faint impress npon the
glass against which her anxious face wal
pressed came little quicker as the faniia
: form came up the street. She ran to oper
the hall door as usual, but bushes nestled
In her cheeks, and there was an embarres
ment mingled with joyful greeting.
Her husband met her kindly, but fain
remembrance ranked i n his heart, and he
could not forbear the thought.
: Il should have met with a colder recep
ton had it not been for the 7shades, "conse
: quentIy his first glance torrd the windows
but the same old curtains occupied thei
place.
4 ''Didn't Mr.. Webster send those shades
e l ordered?" he asked little impatiently.
: What shades, Fredrick?" inquired Affie
+ with a strong effort to controe her mirtl
that was speaking from her eyes, and whlcl
at last broke from the rosy lips the hlsto
!, ry OF the day.
But as she proceeded tears took the place
: of Smiles and the eyes 70 her husband pres
q ented a sympathetic appearance, and II
pressed her more closely to him, and SAID:
t 'BIess you, my little wife. and forgiv
9 me- too, for harboriug such unjust thought
:, toward you. went into town feeling yer.
S bitterly, and everything went SO badly it.
Z only increased bad feelings. After tins
e Mrs, Denham and her cousin came in,l wa
:, hidden from them by a pile Of goods, ant
s the first words L noticed were from TIA
younger lady.
r GIVE are going to call upon your part,
q Iner's wife this afternoon, Mr.. Denhan and
: | am prepared to love her dearly from
: Testers account. at
e ''Ah, Afie. in my pride Of and for you,
e might have realized the fatal ending. LIE
q us wait awhile, till we are established Il
! business, and be sure not to 20 one cent be
You'd our income now, and perhaps one da,
q we may have luxunes too.
g '.And don't we have them now, dea
Fred? Isn't it luxury to have you com
home so strong and wei, and to hold s
much love for each other in our hearts ?
| How foolish have been to envy Mrs Den
4 ham and to make myself wretohed, and yoI
d too. Forgive me just this once. and l pro
Y mise never to forget the Dream Lesson ;"
] she is paragon Of perfection in be-
= eyes, l believe, was the reply; and sh
: quite merits it, for she is truly charming
e little woman"
r ooh, Fred, Mr.. Denham didn't say that
e about me ?' chin!ed in the young wife II
: a pleasant voice.
: Eyes, and that's not all. Yes, Mrs. Dne
ham went on to speak ofyou.ip terms OF tn