The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-06-03
Mrs. Strings Reception.

our own mouse, IL seems TOO gOod
to be true, don't il
/ As Johu Strings pretty wife was
speaking, she let down the soft,
heavy y-faliug, brocatelle curtains of
the handsome room, half parlor, half
library, where she sat with her hus-
baud; turned on u little more gas, SC
that the Italian peasant girl, aud the
dark, Spanish woman, on the alabas-
ter shade 9th drop light, mi \, ht dis.
play their beauties yet more glowing
| ly aud then seated herself iu little
easy-ehair, beside the lounge where
her husband lay stretched out in the
enjoyment Of the masculine comforts
evening ease and household soyer.
eighty. Taxing up dainty bit of
bright-oolored knitting, she went on:
ut was very nice, to DO sure,
boarding at mothers, but it was a sort
Of vacant life, after all. This is 50
much better. L have something to
do now"
john Stirling smiled.
"Aud something to govern. After
all, | believe it is the love of power
that makes you women so delight in
homes of your own. l don't doubt,
gentle as you women seem, that your
servants fud you as austere as the
Great Mogul.
81 declare, John, you are too bad /;
| never scold aud III sure everything
has gone on SO nicely since we have
been here
IA whole week and all the brooms
new. But don't lock sober. | have
every confidence in your ability to
keep the wheel moving"
She sat silent awhile, until her
husband began to want to hear her
voice again, and rallied her from her
abstraction.
"Wbat is it, little one? You seem
in brown study about something
Remember I'm your prime minister,
aud must know all the state secrets
and cares of government"
81 was only wondering, John,
whether you would see Il certain mat
ter as do. Do you realize how muuy
parties We went to while We were ut
mothers? There were the Hurlbuts
laskcd US three times, and the Gray
ons twtjce, and you know We went
everywhere. ~"
John Stirling knew that very well.
Somewhat reserved of nGeSure Save 10
those of his own household, aud mot
fond of general society, going to al!
continual round of arties had been
one Of the sacrifices he had made du-
ring the first winter of his marriage.
10 please his gay little wifc. The |,
idea crossed his mind, as she spoke,
that she, too, had wearicd of so much
excitement and was going to propose,
for the future, a quieter life.
"Yes, like it, she said, with a
little embarrassment, for her woman's
intuition OWNED the course his
thoughts had taken. 81 was only
thinking. John, that, having accept
ed so many invitations, every one
would say we were mean if we did not
give ut least one large party in re-
turn. 1t would be jus, the best time
now, dou't you Sce2 Everything we .
have is so fresh and new--our draw |
ing are really elegant |
should SO like to gather our friends |
round us, aud give a sort of house. I
warming |"
That's a primitive, comfortable
so, nding term, Nellie. How much |
would this friendly little affair cost
us2
"Ohl I've thought that all over !
We should have to ask every one VIC I
know. 1t wouldn't do to slight any.
Besides, the more the merrier, you
know. We could have Smith get up
the supper aud furnish the decora-
tions. His bill would be about three !
hundred and ffty-say fifty more for
music and new dress for ne"
"Five hundred dollars, eh, Nellie ?"
"Yes, I'm sure | cou make i've {
hundred dollars do it handsomely. | G
could send out the invitations for ,
week after next"
"Well, dear, you must let me dream I
over it | ;eally didn't know reeep /
rions we're such expensive affairs
Five hundred dollars for an e"ening's q
cntertainm ent aud the prospect of t
hard winter, and much suffering |
among the poor Well, Il tell you 1
in the morning. If l eau make up I
my mind that it is right, you shall c
have the party
The rest oil the evening was a little i
constrained, The young wife, soeiug /
that her husband did not care to talk
about the rec ption any more Just ,
then, struggled brdvely TO avoid the
subject, aud, iuasmuch as it held
possession Of all her thoughts, was
ratl o. an absenl-miuded companion.
That night, after his wife was
quietly asleep beside him, John Stir
ling spent an hour of not untroublcd {
thought. Unlike Nellie, he had been I
brought up in quiet country home, !
where hve hundred dollars would I
have been thought by no means mad a
equate provision for the support OF 1
the whole family during the entire
year. Was it right, could it be right, 4
to spend 1t upon one evenings enter {
tainment, for the sake, too, of people 4
who would be in no wise benefited {
thereby-whose choicest pleasu es
we're so common that they had al
ready palled upon their senses ? But
then, as his wife had suggested, they |
had been out so muoh-would not
this drawing back from return of
eivilities look very meanp And John
Stirling shrank, with all the pride Of
sensitive man. from the least inn
petation Of meanness. They were
not rich. True, his capital was his
own and HIS hnsinass was oood hut