Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-05-06
A STORY OF THREE WIVES.
FROM THE GERMAN. r.. .

A STORY OF THREE WIVES.
.. FROM THE GERMAN. s.. ...e.
Do not, dear reader, apply the conduct Of
either of the three wives we are going to tell
you about, to yourself, unless tbs cap .fts
On bright surshiny morning, in the early
summer, about two hours before noon, a
young man and serving maidcn,i both faithful
domestics of the family in whose household
they had been brought up, were with great
care laying the breakfast.table Of their young
master and mistress, lately married. 1t was
evidently labor of lovo with both of them ;
for, had not Miss Emma herself taught Bet
tina to read and write, while both teacher ard
taught were but children? and had not the
old squire, Miss Emma's father, taken Hal
when left an orphan, into his house. and made
him first rate serving man 2 and were not
he and Bettna (now betrothedthe trusty and
loving servants of their young mistress and
her bridegroom? So it was in every sense a
labor OF love, as was evident by the sffection.
ate looks exchanged by the two servants, and
the playful skirmish of words that passed
between them. And they are arranging the
table with more than usual care for the old
squire and his wife are coming to breakfast
with their son and daughter for the first time
since the marriage Of tine latter.
At length the preparations are completed ;
Halls eyes sean the table up and down and
across with the keen gaze of major domo,
and stops his tender and lively conversation
with his companion with the words, "Very
good; the table is set"
Betrina, in her turn, gave a glance of ap-
proVa, and confirmed it with the single word
"YesH
"That is not enough" objected Hal; "you
must say as did, Bettina, Very good the
table is set"
"What for ?" asked the astonished maid
en-.
1T is custom in my part Of the couu.
try" returned llal, when one has complet-
cd any appointed task, to say, by way of
thanksgiving, Very good or 1t is well,
such or such business is done or Such
an adventure has come to n happy end"
Bettina, however, in the levity of her heart
would not be persuaded that there was any
thing but absurdity in uttcring such words,
rs applied to the transactions of every day.
Hal entreated her, for his sake at least, to
say them. No" Because he wished it
"no;" and am sorry to say the young man
took his Bcttina urgently by the wrist,
squeezing it with most rough pressure, in
the endeavor to force her to comply, till she
broke away in petulant anger, and, stamping
her foot, declared that :" all was ovetrbetween
them"
As she rushed out Of Halls presence, that
worthy gave u,tcIancc to the following sen.
timent: Caprice, thy name is Woman =
Entrcalics, tears, force, ali have been in vain.
| might have beaten her to a jelly, but she
would not yield ~ 'l0's'# .....
''Do not spoil Bettina's figure thus, "said
voice as the opposite door opened, "let her
live tSchange her mind ~ SO saying, the
young squire, Alfred, entered the room,
laughing heartily at the recollection of what
he had overheard while writing in his study,
which joined the parlor; for .he young couple
in Ethe heat OF their argument, had raised
their voices higher than was prudent. Halls
confusion may be better imagined than dcs-
cribed; but his young master condescended
to comfort him, and then gave directions for
bottle OF claret, which must be put on the
table, as his iather.in.law liked that accom-
paniment to his aejeuner. --a
AS Hal left the room to visit the cellar, the
young bride Emma entered, and before long
her husband recounted to her, with much
merriment, the conversation he had heard
between their two servants.
"Bettina refused and Hal insisted, till at
last they got into regular quarrel he tried
to force her to say the words, but to the last
she would no."
"And quite right !" was the unexpected
reply from the lovely bride: zone might ask
which was the most obstinate of the two |! I"
"Only," said the husband, she requested
her to say it,
"But it was an absurd request" .t
Think you it was worth while to persist
in an obstinate refusal of such q trae p
asked the husband,
"Just as little was it worth while for him
to persist in the request. | do not consider
Bettina to blame" returned the lady, with a
little warmth of manner, her fooot impatient
ly tapping the footstool it rested on as she
sat at her work. a...- s.g..f.
Well, said the young squire, "do not let
US quarrel about it; if were to ask you to
say anything, you would say it l am con-
vinced you would" asal
"And suppose | would not p asked the
wife in return, after little laughing hesita.
ton. Il saJ
"The case is not possible; let us put il to
shV piooiJ saiu hlISu.
"No, no" exclaimed Emma eagerly; "pray
do not |"
IL beg you, Emma, just say once, to please
me, "Very good, the table is set"
But alas the consequences Of this simple
request became even more serious than in
the case already described for it is well
known that when highly educated and pol.
ished members Of society cordescend to quar-.
rel, their words are no less cutting, and the
wounds inflicted are no less gricyous, than
those which are exchanged between disput-
ants Of lower grade. So, is this case, the
wife insisted upon the folly of the request,
and the husband declared that it was not
now matter Of folly. or wisdom, but test
of her affection for him. But she would not
yield. ias
And now the loving bride sat working
with unnecessary diligence, her face TUNED
away from her husband, while the fond Al
fred seized newsapper--that refuge for PET.
picked husbands but after few moments,
he glanced over at his wife, who refused to
meet his eye; then clearing his throat, and
advancing a step or two he said, Have you
thought better Of it. my Emma? will you
give over this pcrverseness p
Emma threw down her work in a passion
How! pcTverseness You know | cannot
endure that word and am not perverse
but it is you who are so IN tbi,..mattef, to IN
sist 30 obstinately on this piece Of folly"