The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-07-05

Catherine, looking dreamingly straight
before her.
Very good indeed" said Mr.. Tai.
boys.
"Oh, excellent ~ chimcd in Howard.
And after ALL" resumed Cathie, otis
of very little consequence what we eat or
drink, as long as the higher cravings of
the intellectual nature are satisfied
Mr.. Verdon coughed obviously, and
began to carve the tongue, vowing never
again to invite company when Cathe was
occupied in cultivating the mind.
The gentlemen played with their tea
spoons, and dallied with their forks but
neither of them essayed second mouth.
ful of tongue, cabbage or coffee. Mr..
Verdon noticed this with deep mortifca.
tion.
You don't eat anything, Howard "
Oh, I've dined very heartily, as
sure you
Have little more of the tongue, Mr..
Talboys."
No more, thank you" returned Tai
boys, spasmodically holding on to his plate.
Howard, | think we have an enga agement
at four ?"
If our charming and intellectual hos
tess will excuse us ?" said Howard,
bowing courteously.
Won't you stay for little of the ice
cream and-and-calve's foot Jelly ~
questioned Mr.. Verdon, drawing on his
imagination for a hypothetical dessert.
" Thank you-we couldn't possibly !"
said Mr.. Talboys. And Mr.. Verdon
could not avoid dim perception that his
guests were glad to depart
When he returned from seeing them off,
Cathie was sitting in the parlor, cutting
the leaves Of new volume.
"Oh, Cathie !" 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 intellectual.
I'm sure you said yourself that domestic
cares ought to be secondary to the culti-
walton of my intellectual nature !"
Alexander Verdon banged the door,
and strobe off down the stairs in genuine
rage.
." wonder he thought, g if this state
of things is inevitable? I'll 90 and see
Ogilvie--hanged if don't !"
And he clapped on his hat, and straight
way went.
1t was nearly twilight of cold De-
cember day,when he entered Mr.. Ogivies S
parlor. The furniture was shabby and
matched with dust, the torn curtains hung
drearily from their hooks. and an ashy
fire was smouldering in the CRATE, while
Ogilvie himself in faded dressing.
gown, sat in an easy chair smoking a
cheap cigar.
"Ogilvie,' said Mr.. Verdon, after the
preliminary salutations had been ex-
changed, | want to ask you ques-
tion?"
Well"
Your wife is cultivated woman ?"
Yes, she's that, and she's nothing
else" groaned poor Ogilvie.
My wife is not, that is, intellect isn't
her torte She is a dear, sweet. domestic
little thing, with no particular taste fol
the metaphysics or rtranscendental theories
Now would you advise me to make an in
tellectual woman of her, woman, for in
stance, like your wife ?"
Would | advise you to take strych.
nine, or jump off the pier at high tide
Man, if you have got wife like that
don't for PHYS sake try to change her in
stincts Take her as she is, and be
thankful from the bottom of your heart
Surely you don't want to live like this"
He looked with scornfnl shrug of the
shoulders, around the faded, desolats
room, and added
My wife shines in society-this is ON
home -
And Alexander Nerdon took his leave
fully cured Of the ambition to have hi.
little Cathie like Mrs. Ogilvie.
Catherine" he said, somewhat sheep
ishly, as he once more came to the little
table where she was drowsiy cutting the
self.same leaves, "you have consulted my
wishes in one thing-will you consul
them in another ?"
Yes, Alec"
Leave off trying to become Madam,
de Stael, and he my own little CATH,
once more"
The bright color Ahshed to her tenn
pies.
But thought you wanted an intel
ectual wife, Alec"
"My dear, | fancied that | did but
am entirely convinced now that | hav,
been an egregious fool !"
Which was so very unprecedented
declaration for Mr.. Alexander Verdon t.
make that we think that his wife was en-
tirely justified in acceding to his new pro
position. And so the little househol
fairy Icame back to his hearthstone ono
more, and the shirts and dinners ar
nearer perfection than ever. But CATH
has learned one lesson she has becam
a companion to her husband in the high
est sense of the word, and can read an
talk almost as well as she keeps house
4 Florida Indian. nine and half fee
tall is evidently no relative of" I.o."