The Lansing state Republican., 1865-02-01

Il wonder what Your eyes are worth -
Just look here And Ms. Dixon took d
strip Of paper and measured from tie left
hand side or tic frame across tie wbir-
margin 10 the edge OF the picture. Do
you see tL1- AlI She marked tie dis
lance on the paper. WOW see here" law
lng the measure on Tie rght-hanG SIDE. -
An eighth of az inch d.fe-ence.~
mot q sixteenth. nor the hair Of q siy-
teenth- replied Mr Dixon with whom dis
appointment was passing into ANNOYANCE.
Il Is scarcely apprecl41.e, aud not worth
i thought. Why d0l't You .0OA q, the .ic-
P ture and not at the frame"
Its more than sixteenth" said Mrs
Dlxon' perunac.ously and sle measured 4
49aiA- Il c..n never LOOK al il with pleas
aFe: would De simple eye-s0re"
MI Dixon turned away and walked across
.He room HIS honey was turned into gall.
lie had lenlei himself IN order 10 give en-.
suit
You've been cheated in this nic.nra 80,
The words cut sharply on bis ears as he
gained Tie opposite side OF the room
Just loOk mere -
What Is it, he asked, with as much
calmne,s as be could assume
III isn't perfect copy There's spot
on the cloak"
Where ~
Jusi under the hood
81 don't see IT,"
There Is as plain as daylight"
"Oh That little sp0tin
Little spot, indeed! \ blemish is q
pleniish, aud spOils tie picture wouldn't
nave L. When / paid ny money for
thlng, II should be right You've been
cheated"
Ny intention was good. Imeant 10 give
YOU pleasure, said Mr. Dixon. In q sober
voice. And, lifting the picture from the
table ON which his wife hal placed If be
carried il from the room.
lie did NOT come back 70. nearly GUAR.
ter oil an hour. His wife mad opportnnitv
Tor reflection. Ny intention was GOOD. I
meant 10 give You pleasure" The words
repeated themselves in her memory over
and over again.
On returning Mr. Dixon made no remark.
anu MS wife kept silence She was far nom
oei"5 Satls1ed "lln nerSeu; but She was
not one OF those Who are apt TO confess er.
ror. Fride was TOO strong an error in her
character.
HE evening passed without further ret
erence 10 "Eyaugellne" on either side
The ueXt morning, as Mr.. Dixon was ab0ut
going away. be said.
Il VII see Mr. Bird. the print-Senar
about that picture. lie will send for it," r
During the forenoon a bov called for the
picture and took it away. DAYS passed.
but II was not sent home again. Mr.. Dix
on said nothing about il, and his wife d.l
not venture 10 ask any questions on the
subject
About month afterward. in visiting
friend Mrs. Dixon noticed picture Of
'Evangehne' in the parl0r II looked
very familiar. She was standing before il
when her friend came down.
~ present from my husband" said the
friend Isn't It charming He took me
by surprise, yesterday. l was 50 pleasedr' .
She paused, but Mrs. Dixon did not an
s"eri she had already recognized picture
and frame.
There's story about il, continued the
friend. 'Mr. Bird sold it to a gentleman
who wished 10 make a present to his wife.
l'''' -oiqe defect In the frame prevented l4ce
lrO- emo! lng the picture. and Il was sclt
back 10 be resOid Ny husband bought il
Just as il was. and find beauty where an
other saw blsmish. Pm sorry Tor the ladv's
husband lie must be a kind and thought
la man. and deserves more appreciatIve
VIE suppose l hadn't iauc'ed the frame
DO yol think | would mar nv husbands
pleasure, or hurt his good viii toward me
~ pointing u out, or letting it shadow nv
del5htE HIS thoughtful love. expressed in
lAis Silt Is lar more 10 NE than the gift il
sell That would make even LONELINESS
beautiful in my eyes. l don't wonder that
some men grow cold toward their wives"
Mrs. Dixon turned away from the pic
ture with clicked feeling. What could
she answer? Nothing Her call was brief
new revelation had come to her. and she
fastened home to con It over in her
thoughts
Il don't wonder that some men grow
cold toward their wives" She cOuld not
forget this sentence. Mr. Dixon was grow
ing cold. She had felt this painfully Tor
some time. It bad been more apparent
than ever since that little affair about the
picture, which had lett her in a state OF
doubt and obscurity. She understood tine
case better; saw her own blind foolshness.
and was touched for the disappointment
which her husband had felt.
Il must act differently" she said. "I
must have clearer eyes for beauty and dull
er eyes for defects. must look past things
TO intentions. Il was q mean, narrow. sell
ish spirit which could only see the blemish-
es in that picture, instead OF the love which
prompted my husband to deny himself that
might have pleasure. And am right
" punished. But heaven helping me-.
Will be a wiser woman, and q truer wife
lereaf(er,"
And we may hope that she was.