Maryland free press., 1867-01-03
A LESSON FOR HUSBANDS.
BY ANY RANDOLPH.

cluster of rubies, was shining ruddily through
the twilight; the table was spread with faultles
china, FURNISHED silver and glittering cut-glass
and Mrs. Thorneycroet herself had been out int,
the garden and gathered the blue, bloom,
punches oflate grapes that were in the basket OF
the side-board, destined to adorn the DESERT
And, as she stood before the fire, balancing frs
one small slippered foot and then the other or
the polished rail of the fender, she smiled to her
self to think what charming culinary surpris,
was covered up in the kitchen oven, in the shap,
of sundry dainty birds, nesting on toast ani
Drowned to a marvellous shade Of perfection.
~ hope he will make his appearance befor,
they are quite spoiled" sighed Mrs. Thorneycroft
as the bronze clock struck the hour of six isHs
is SO careless about being in time for his meals >
What trim, dimple, satisfactory little Mrs
Thorneycroft she was, as she stood there, will
the freight shining into her blue eyes, and
CLOSING her satin-brown hair, aad just reveal
ing the faint, peachy bloom on her cheeks and
the exquisite turn Of her round white throat
The very black silk dress she wore seemed to fl
her by instinct, and the white apron, with It.
ruffied pockets, was simply bit of jaconet per.
fection.
Suddenly she Strengthened her little figure,
and her larkspur blue eyes sparkled, an foot
step sounded on the Threshold below.
'It's Harry only FIVE minutes behind time
after all.'
But it was not Harry-it was only the cook;
cousin, come to pass social evening back of tn,
kitchen stove. Poor Milly she thought of the
fast depreciating birds and sighed.
Fifteen minutes past six. Milly rang for tht
cook to take the tea-urn down stairs again.
'You can bring it up when Mr.. Thorenycrof
comes in, Bridget"
Halfpast six-l quarter to seven
Milly began to grow a little nervous sh,
went to the paror window and looked up and
down the street.
IL wish he scouM be little more punctual' u
The wish was yet framing itself in her mind
when there was a night-key slipped into the doc,
ii tramp of masculine boot-heels on the hal
oil-cloath, and Harry came jovially into th,
room.
"As dark as pocket, eh, Milly ITere-give
me match, and I'll light the gas.''
"What makes you so late, Harry ~
"Late? Oh-let me sea- fellow came ntc
the Office, and we smoked cigar together, and
the first knew it was halfpast SIX"
"The dinner is spoiled" sighed Milly, sand
am so tired of waiting"
20, never mind-never mind" said Harry,
brskly, sitting down to the table. ttIIa llo ar,
these shriveledup little anatomes all you have fol-
dinner?"
"They were beautiful birds an hour ago"
"Well at all events, we can cat the chicken
pic. The teais as cold as a stone'
az d,rc say" said MiIly, drylv. "Six is our
dinner hour"
'Where's the use of being particular to q
shad .2' demanded Mr.. Thorneycroft, with hi.
mouth full of chicken pie. ''Women are SC
whimsical. What do you say to hearing Rache
to-night?'
Milly's face frightened up.
''I should like it of all things, Harry"
"Then we'll go.' ....
Half an hour afterwards Mlly came down, g
pearl-gray silk, with scarlet opera-circle over
her shoulders, and a coqucttsh French hat o.
white Grape and scarlet buds fastened, as a woman
only knows how, among her brown braids.-
Bid get only wa, iu the room, clearing away th,
| relics of the late dinner.
"Where is Mr. Thorneycroft, Bridget? ?"
"Just stepped out to get shaved, mem-he says
he'll be back directly"
Milly sat down BY the fire and began to read
As she turned the first page the clock struck
eight.
awe shall certainly be late" thought Milly,
nervously.
Five-ten-iftecn minutes went by. Mily
closed her book and laid it aside, annoyed be
yond all expression. 1t was nearly nine when
at length her husband came in.
"Ready?'
"Rcady 2" echoed Milly, who was deliberately
untying her bonnet. "Look at the clock"
"By Jovc calculated Mr.. Thorneycroft, "who
would have supposed it wal so late But, you
see, met Jenkins, and we sauntered down street
a little way, and"
"And so we may as we'll give up Rachel al
once ~
"Never mind, MILL; we can 60 some other
evening"
Milly did not trust her wayward tongue to
answer, else she might have truthfully replied
that all evenings were alike, and that the occa-
| SIOnal ltttle tcdtS hiBit hhfC uhCloiucu
her monotonous life were too often missed
through the carelcssness and sel6shn ess of hei
husband
"Sulking, eh l'' thought Harry, discontented-
ly, as Milly went up stairs to put away her hat
and circle. ttReally, Milly is little too unrea-
sonable. IfI drank or gambled there might be
some excuse for her black looks, but little care
lessness-wberes the great crime of it ~
''Mildred," he said the next morning, at the
breakfast table t'it's not very busy day with
me; suppose we go up to Carrsdae and spend
the afternoon with your brother and his wife"
"Aad return in the evening train ~
eyes. Just imagine what splendid day this
will be for the old woods and glens up there
can almost fancy that hear the yellow leaves
drifting down upon the moss. Besides, believe
a little change would do you good you are be-
ginning to look pale"
ssIt would be very pleasant said Milly,
thoughtfully.
itThon sunnoee Won meet nj the depot at one