The Shasta courier., 1865-06-24

"Cathie, perhaps these gentlemen wouldn't
object to waiting until-ahem-bur co,k
could prepare more suitable repast"
"It's very nice, Pm sure" said Cathar-
inc, looking dreamily straight before her.
Very good, indeed" said Mr.. Talboys.
mOh, excellent exclaimed Howard.
" And after all,n resumed Cathie, " it's of
very little consequence what we eat OF. drink,
as long as the higher cravings of the intel
lectual nature are satisfied"
Mr.. Yerdon coughed obviously, and be-
gan to carve the tongue, vowing never to in
vite company when Cathie was occupied in
cultivating her mind.
| The gentlemen played with their tea
spoons, and dallied with their forks, alt
neither of them essayed second mouthful of
either tongue, cabbage or coffee. Mr.. Yer
don noticed this fact with deep mortifca-
| ton.
You don't eat anything, Howard"
| "Oh, | have dined very heartily, / as
sure yOu," politely responded MIR. How
ard.
"Have little more of the tongue, Tai
boys
i No more, thank you," returned Tai
boys, spasmodically holding on to his
plate.
Z" Howard L think we have an engagement
at this hour
% If your charming and intellectual host.
ess will excuse us" said Howard bowling
courteously.
" Won't you stay for little of the ice
cream-and-calves' foot jellv?" questioned
Mr.. Verdon, drawing on his imagination for
hypothetical dessert.
g Thank yon-we couldn't possibly !"
said Mr.. Talboys And Mr.. Verdon could
not avoid a dim perception that his guests
were glad to depart.
When he had returned from seeing them
off, Cathie was sitting in the parlor, cutting
the leaves of new volume.
"Ohl Catharine!" he said, half sadly
half angrily, why didn't you 60 down and
see about the dinner?"
DINNER ?' repeated Cathie, with wide
open blue eyes. Why, Alec l thought
you wished me to become intellectual. I'm
sure you said yourself that domestic cares
ought to be secondary to the cultivation of
my Intellectual naturep'
Alexander Verdon banged the door and
strobe off down stairs in a genuine rage.
81 wonder,.' he thought, if this state of
things is inevitable. I'll go and see Ogilvie
hanged if l don'tp'
And he clapped on his hat and straight
way went
1t was nearly twilight of cold December
day. when he entered DR.. Ogilvie's parlor
The furniture was shabby and thatched with
dust-the torn curtains hung drearily from
their hooks, ard an ashy fire was shoulder
ing in the CRATE, while Ogilvie himself, in a
faded dressing gown, sat in an easy chair
smoking cheap cigar.
+" 0gilvie," said Mr.. Verdon, after the
preliminary salutations had been exchanged,
" want to ask you question"
Well"
"Your wife is a cultivated woman ?''
| "Yes-she's that. and she's nothing
else,' groaned poor Ogilvie.
"My wife is not-that is, intellect is not
her forte. She's,a dear, sweet, domestic
little thing, with no particular taste for met
aphysics or transcendental theories Now
would you advise me to make an intellectual
woman of her-a woman for instance like
your wife?"
"Would l advise you to take strychnine
or Jump off into the river at high tide Man,
if you've got wife like that, don't for PHYS
sake, try to alter her instincts! Take her
as she is, and be thankful from the bottom of
your heart. Sure, you don't want to live
like Mis?"
He looked with a scornful shrug of the
shoulders. around the faded, desolate room
and added;
MY wife shines in society-tAis is our
home"
And Alexander Verdon took his leave
fully cured of the ambition to have his little
Cathie like Mrs. Ogilvie.
" Catharine," he said, somewhat sheep
ishly, as he once more came to the little
table where she was so drowsily cutting the
self same leaves, you have consulted my
wishes in one thing. will yon consult them
in another?"
g les, Alec"
= Leave off trying to become Madame
de Stael, and be my own little Cathie once
more"
The bright color flushed to her temples.
but | thought you wanted an intellectual
wife, Alec ?"
d" My dear, fancied that did but am
entirely convinced now that | have been an
egregious fool"
Which was so very unprecedented de-
claration for Mr. Alexander Verdon to make
that we think his wife was entirely justified
in acceding to this new proposition. And SC
the little household fairy came back to his
hearthstone once more, and shirts and din
ners are nearer perfection than ever. Bu
Catharine has learned one lesson; she ha:
become companion to her husband in the
highest sense of the word, and can read and
talk almost as well as che can keep house.
"IF you wish to appear agreeable" said
Tallyrand, ''you must consent to be taught
things which you know already"