Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-28

bage leaves forming a green island in
the centre Of a mammoth platter
There was half loaf of bread and a
sooty pot of butter, and tall tin cof-
fee pot wherein Polly had brewed
muddy and villainous mixture that she
fondly fancied to be coffee.
Alexander Verdon looked with eyes
Of piteouS appeal to his wife.
'Cathie, perhaps these gentlemen
wouldn't object to waiting until
ahem-our cook could prepare more
eatable repast.
It's very nice I'm sure said Cath
crime, looking dreamingly straight be-
fore her.
Very good indeed, said Talboys.
ooh, excellent! chimed in How
ard.
And after ALL resumed Cathie, sit's
of very little consequence what we
eat or drink, as long as the higher era
wings of the intellectual nature are
satisfied
Mr.. Verdon coughed obviously and
began to carve the tongue, vowing nev-
er again to invite company when Cath
lie was occupied in cultivating her
mind.
The gentlemen played with their
| teaspoons, and dallied with their forks,
but neither of them essayed a second
mouthful of tongue, cabbage or cof-
fee. Mr.. Verdon noticed this fact
with deep modification.
You don't eat anything, Howard
'Oh, I've dined very heartily, | as
sure you,' responded Mr.. Howard.
Have little more OF the tongue,
Talboys.'
No more, thank YOU returned Tai
boys, spasmodically holding on to his
/ plate. Howard, l think we have an
engagement at four
If our charming and intellectual
hostess will excuse u.s.? said Howard
DoWlng cOurteOusly.
Won't you stay for little of the
ice cream and-and-calve's foot iel.
~ questions Mr.. Verdon, drawing
on his imagination for hypothetical
dessert.
Thank you've couldn't possibly,
said Mr.. Talboys. And Mr.. Verdon
could not avoid dim perception that
his guests were glad to depart.
When he returned frem seeing them
off, Cathie was sitting in the parlor
cutting the leaves of a new volume.
'Oh, Catherine ? he said half sadly
half angrily, why didn't you 90 down
and see about dinner?'
Dinner ? repeated Cathie, with
wide open blue eyes. Why, Alec,
thought you wished me to become in
tellectual. l am sure you said your
self that domestic cares ought to be
secondary to the cultivation of my in
tellectual nature
Alexander y erdOn banged the door
and strobe off down stairs in genu
inc rage.
4 wonder, he thought, if this STATE
Of things is inevitable! I'll 90 anC
see Ogilvie--hanged if l don't.
And he clapped on his hat anC
straightway went.
1t was nearly twilight of cold De
cember day, when he entered Mr.. Ogll
vie'S parlor. The furniture was shah
by and thatched with dust, the tori
curtains hung drearily from thei
| hooks, and an ashy fire was shoulder
ing in the CRATE, while Ogilvie himsel
in faded dressing gown sat in an ca
) sy chair smoking a cheap cigar.
) 'OgiKie, said Mr.. Verdon, afte
= the preliminary salutations had bee
exchanged, 4 want to ask you a ques
tionn
, Wenr
Your wife is a cultivated woman
Yes, she's that, and she's nothin
= else, groaned poor Ogilvie.
t NY wife is not, that is, intellec
t isn't her forte. She is a dear, swee
= domestic little thing, with no particr
lar taste for the metaphysics or trar
; scendent theories. Now would yo
: advise me to make an intellectual VIC
man Of her, a woman, for instance
like your wife?
5 Would l advise you to take strycl
: nine, or jump off the pier at high tide
Man, If you've got wife like tina
don't for PHYS sake try to alter be
!" Instincts! Take her as she is, an
f be thankful from the bottom Of you
heart Surely you don't want to liy
+ like this
q He looked with a scornfuI shrug {
: the shoulders around the faded, dest
5 late room, and added:
My wife shines in society-this
i our homeT
= And Alexander Verdon took hi
r leave, fully cured of the ambition t
have his little Cathie like Mrs. Ogi
: vic.
f Catherine, he said somewhat sheeI
S ishly. as he once more came to Il
S little table where she was drowsil
l. citing the selfsame leaves, you hay
consulted them in another?
; yes, Alex
9 Leave off trying to become Ma
+ ame de Stael, and be my own lit
J. Cathie once more
f.. The bright color flushed to b,
d temples.
e But thought you wanted an int
lectual wife, Alex
is My dear, | fancied that | did; b,
n am entirely convinced now that
It have been an egregious fool!
a. Which was so very unprecedentt
" declaration for Mr.. Alexander We
a. don to make that we think his wi
was entirely justified in acceding
e his new proposition. And so the |
tie household fairy came back to h
~ hearthstone once more, and the shir
r. and dinners are nearer perfection th'
q ever. But Catherine has learned o.
lesson she has become compani'
p. to her husband in the highest sen
" of the word, and can read and ia
ne almost as we'll as she keeps house.
se A Pennsylvania won bet recel
. ly, by drinking four quarts of VIII
"a key. The money came handy to p
r. his funeral expenses.