The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-11-13

HOW SHE CURED HIM.

It was bright, bay-windowed sitting room
with ruby fire sparkling in the crate, and a
table, well laden with work, drawn up beside
its shrine And the prettiest, freshest, most
attractive thing to look at, in the whole scene,
was the Widow Glenn herself, stitching away
at strip of cambria rufi1ing
She was tall and we'll proportional, with
hair like brown satin flax. blue eyes and q
complexion all pink and white with the Grim.
son bloom glowing beneath the transparent
skin, in a manner that all the cosmetics on
earth night strive vainly to simulate wo-
nan it did ones heart good to look at, in
these days of artificial falsity Perhaps she
might have been thirty, but she did not look
more than twenty-ive for Time, grutf old
n-compromiser that he is, had dealt very
gently with Josie Glenn!
"Why shouldn't marry Philo Mayburne ~
she asked quietly, as she bit off the end OF her
thread with teeth white and even as pearls.
Mrs Jonesbury groaned and gasped!
"He's handsome, isn't he?" asked the
widow
81 haint nothin' to say agin his looks ~
croaked Mrs. Jonesbury.
"And his principles and character are be-
yond reproach ~
''Nobody denies it, as know !" unwill-
ingly assented the elder matron.
''He is certainly we'll off," went on Mrs.
Glenn.
eyes; he's rich s'pose; but"
"But what"
ellis temper Josephine, his TEMPER, if you
must have it !" jerked out Mrs. Jonesbury.
"He's as ugly as Cain, and as fault-fndin' IS
old Pharaoh in the land O Egypt; and all the
world knows that he just fretted his first wife
into the gravel"
"He won't fret me into the grave said
Jessie sewing diligently on.
GLOW be We gwlnc to help YOURSELF" asked
Mrs. Jonesbury with very evident incred-
ulity
"Oh, have ways and MEANS"
"But Josie, you don't really love him p
ayes, do"
"With his temper?"
"In spite of his temper, Mrs. Jonesburv.
see and esteem the good which lies unreclaim-
ed beneath that upper stratum of acerbity.
Keep down the weeds, and the flowers will
grow in almost any nature"
ats dreadful easy talkin'," said Mrs. Jones'
bury, with a dubious shake of her capped
head. "But We don't know what it is, Jose
phine Glenn, to be tied for life to a man that's
forever grumbling about nothin,." as,r
"There it is" said Josephine, with blue
sparkle beneath her long brown eyelashes. 81
mean to give him something to grumble
about"
81 don't understand your"
"Dcn't youe Nevertheless"
But at that instant bevy of visitors was
ushered into the apartment, and Mrs. Jones'
bury was forced to take her departure, uncn-
lightened as to the Widow Glcnn's matrimo-
NAL policy.
So Philo Mayburne put wedding ring on
Josie Glenn's pretty plump finger, and surren-
dered himself legally into the keeping of that
blue eyed dame little rocking of the ordeal in
store for him.
.yre -" ,trf rsH,r,tts
"Mrs. Mayburne!"
Eyes, Philo."
1t was an evening, during their first week
at home, after the varied changes of the we'd
ding tour, and the newly made husband was
stalking up and down the floor, with his hands
in his pockets, and deepening wrinkle be-
tween his brows. .
'.Its one minute after six o'clock"
81 see it is" said Josie, glancing up at the
timepece.
"And dinner isn't ready! lsthis your idea
of punctuality ?"
The wife made no answer.
''The fire sulking again. do wish our SER
wants would ever pay any attention to the
fire"
Still Josie read on.
''Mrs. Mayburne !"ejaculated the husband.
swell, my dear Z" cOOed Josie. -atc5.'
'Why don't you answer me y
''What shall sayi"
Anything, Mrs. Mayburne."
SWELL then, permit me to observe that
am very much Interested in the book am
reading
Philo's brow grew dark but he was stop
ped from further comment by the ringing of
the dinner-bell. % O.. f''.' @'Hf
''Oyster soup burned again." he growled
letting his spoon drop into the plate with a
splash.
II think it is very NICE" said Josie.
'And the beef roasted, when told the cook
especially to have it boiled !"
''Dear me-" said Mrs. Mayburne, "where is
the differencelp sfs
Difference, ma'am difference" barked
Phio, "enough difference to spoil my dinner,
that's ALL
And pushing back his chair, he strobe away
from the table
Mrs. Mayburnc stayed to finish her meal,
and then sauntered leisurely into the parlor
where her spouse sat glazing into the fire.
"Where are my slippers, Mrs. Mayburne 2"
"On the rug, close to your feet my dear"
81 don't want the slippers with the fox's
head OH want the slippers with the rose
buds and leaves. It's very strange u man can.
not take any comfort in his own house"