The Portland daily press., 1867-09-28
Selected story.
HOW SHE WAS CURED.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

mantel clock whose fingers pointed inexoro
by 10 the hour OF nine.
And you would scarcely have blamed Ma.
jor Vernon Tor speaking rather doleully'
could you have looked round at the sloveniy
room, with its curtains drawn askew its fur
niture undusted, its ash choked fire, and IFS
general aspect of iorlorn discomfort. MAJOR
Vernon, in common with most OF his mascu
line kind, liked bright bearth-stone,a cosy
breaktast-room, and a cheerful race PENN
the coifee-urn and the barometer oil his men
tai organization fell several degrees as ne look
ed round the apartment.
Major Vernon's brows contracted. He
rang the bell violently
"Katie why is not breakfast ready ?"
.Sure, sir it isn't no fault of me own: Rid
Get got mad this mornin', and went without
so much as Shy your laye;' and it's mese,fnev.
er learned to cook, barrin' it's potatoes and
meal; and Widow Flanagan is down in the
kitchen, to help me. | did not know who else
to send for"
And, IN the self-same moment. the crash of
broken china and the clank of metal cooking
implements gave worthless witness to the eff
cacy OF Widow Flanagan's" labors.
Major Vernon rose up and began to pace
the room with hasty movements.
"A man might as well be in Bedlam p
Make haste Katie, with your breakfast; I'll
try to send a cook from the Intelligence-oflice
before dinneT-time."
"What shall order for dinner, sir ?"
Anything, 1 don't care what"
"Sure then, III have porgies and peraties,
bein, it's Friiay-porgies is good and awful
healthy"
Meanwhile, Major Vernon had assembled
the stairs in rapid strides, and knocked impet-
uousy at ereen-baize covered door.
Come n'' responded faint voice.
And the major entered accordingly.
The room was darke. ed by LAYERS within
layers OF heavy window draperies. and the
iootiall SANK nolselessy into moss-solt car
pet. 30 deep was the artificial twilight thus
created, that it was several seconds before
MAJOR vernon could discern in which correr
vi oi. tne room the BIC easy-chair was placed.-A
slight ngure reclned therein-the figure of a
Woman,-Malor Vernon's wife.
She was pale with the palor one might re-
mark IN bleached sprout of CELERY. or a
plant that has grown in the dark and there
was general languor in her appearance cor
roDorated by the rows of medicine bottles on
Ihe toiiet-table and the heavy odor of artifi-
Gal stlmulans aud perfumes that filled the
room.
"Well, my dear, how do you feel this morn
ing?
NO BETTER" was the reply spoken in a tone
of the utmost despondency.
No better? Didn't that last medicine do
you any good?"
mot particle. didn't suppose it would,
George-in fact kne,o il would not"
Nonsense" calculated the major.
On, yes; you may say nonsense Just as
much az you like, George and you may shout
at the top OF your lungs, and split my poor
mead open. too. IL it pleases your humor!-
But dor { know that that will make any
difference IN the actual state of my FEELINGS"
Il beg your pardon, my DEAR said the ma
lor, meekiy. Il wasn't aware that Twas speak
ing so loud"
Its OF no consequence s,;d hi, ;c -
signediy-'none in the world"
- am sorry you are no better. CYNTHIA
never expect to be any better in this
world, George"
But my dear, DIR. Brewer always insisted
that this was nothing on earth but the hypo:'
that you are not really i'll, except through lack
OF exercise and too much of an indoor life"
DR.. Brewer IS an old iogy, no more fitted
Ia he physician than our Tommyl0
Dont you think, Cynthia, you mis Inf rouse
yourself a little? The house is all atsixes and
sevens,and the children are running wild. TO
say nothing OF my Own comfort, and"
He checked himself, for Mrs Vernon had
buried her face in the cologne-drenched hand
kerchlef and was sobbing
On, George, how can you speak in that
way? As if ones health was in ones own
handsr'
10 certain extent, my dear, it is"
Georse, think it is my solemn duty to re-
Pc"s o1A1c ioi ali Wndl nave so often told you
without any seeming etlect-I shall never be
any better, nor can reasonably hone to re-
man many months longer with you.'
"My dearr
hear me out without interruption this
once. lfeelit my duty to warn YOU that YOU
hau oetter proceed at once with all prepare
uons-that your affairs had better be arrang-
ca IN reference Toto my death. | have no
oDJecllons TO these melancholy arrangements:
10 tact, 1t would be rather a relief to know
mat they were completed!"
But Cynthia"
MAJOR vernon, may l beg Two minutes
iurther indulgence ? WHAT was intending 40
remark WIZ soon be said of course cannot
but suppose that my place win soon be filed:
nor DO object, for am fully aware that you
.-hano long ceased 10 regard ma eaght but
"reSched sickfy 1ncunbrance, and -"
10 cynthia. steTnly demanded her husband,
oe sneni! Have L ever given you any right
10 speak IN that manner Of me pr
Mrs Vernon broke into hysteric sobs. and
herhusband quilted the room with bent brows
and set teeth.
'By Jovem he muttered, "this too much
tor any mortal man to stand I'll go and talk
to DIR. Bower about itr
And go he did. The old physician listened
sagely, shook his head, and played with the
bunch OF gold seals that depended from his
watch chain.
MY dear Vernon, your wife is no more
sick than am"
But she fully believes herself To be sop
YES anc that's just what plays the deuce
Win such women. IT we could rouse herr
"Yes-ifr
Don't despair, my boy; perhaps it NAV vet
De DONE" SAID the old gentleman, cheerfuily.
ITS lard to see your domestic happiness
Timed upside down all through one siy.
groundless within. Now let's talk the matter
over; perhaps etween our united wits we NAV
hit on plan that's worth something"
just an hour afterwards, Major Vernon
came Wh1stling out of the doctors Office with
day.
"My DEAR" he said, entering his wife's
room that evening Il have thought over
what you told me this morning, and decided
10 act according to your wishes"
Have you?"
because, of course, there's no use in trv
ing to evade an inevitable conclusion. Pm
very sorry, and all that sort Of tbino. INIT If
it really must be, why there's nothing for if
put 70 submit. So, my dear, rve written to
invite your cousin, Madeline Smythe. here
just TO have an eye to things"
Madeline Smythew repeated Mrs, Vernon.
scorniuily. "A chit like that! what can she
know about housekeeping? You had GREAT
deal better send for old aunt Mehi7abIe
Jones. Bnt Of course it's quite Indifferent to
men '0 W
On, OF courseM said the major rubbing
his hands. Il didn't suppose YOU would care
to be consulted, after what you said last week
about wanting to exclude all worldly cares
ana responsibilities from your mind"
Madeline Smythe arrived and was shown
INTO her cousins room-a dimped. BRIGHT
eyed damsel. with cheeks as fresh as an Ole
ander blossom, and teeth like rows of trans
lucent pearls. Mrs. Vernon extended TO her
rather cool greeting, and expressed her
opinion that ''thdt child could never keen
house." AooP
But it's Georges business and not mine.u
said Mrs. Vernon, with more acrimony than
exactly befitted lady who stood so near the
verge of moral existence.
"Mem!" demanded the new cook. twill We
Place to give me the money for the BARI |
o'how? The mans here waitin,.n
60 to your MASTER"
you Place, mem, he's OUTCOME to the |
central Park with Miss Maddie.n
MIS-. Vernon frowned and gave Norab her
purse. e"'o -'oi"n ner
Tommy" she said, the next dav. as fbe
Gu crept into the room to ask for penny
10 give the organ grinder with the dancinS
money" where is your father?n
nc IN the parlor, reading poetry for /
mothers?" 'ou'u nave TWO
''Why?.
Because Katie asked me last night how