Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1871-01-13

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concerts, exactly as your friends do, or be
voted bizarre, and out of the world altogether
You my poor Jenny, who are by no means
fond of dress, what would you do at fash
ionable watering-place in the hottest days in
August with five changes of toilet from morn
ing to night, and a French lady maid to ty-
ranize over you all the time into the bargain ~
"Horrors !" calculated Jenny.
"Balls that you must go to in spite Of ia
| tigue, parties that you must grace in spite OF
the heat, calls that you must make on people
whom you detest Oh. Jenny, should rather
| be at home with the butter and cheese If
were you"
Jenny was silent. Here was the dark side
of the bright picture which she lad never seen
or dreamed Of before.
"You love your husband, Jenny ~ said
her friend, after time.
| Jenny opened her eyes widely.
Glove him Why isn't he my husband ~
was her naive reply.
Mrs. Van Howth laughed.
Some women in society might think
that reason why you should not love him,
shs said drily. And he loves you also2
~ should die tomorrow if thought he
did not |"
"But, child People leave this world when
God wills it, not before you have lived through
such things"
"Don't talk of it Margaret could not
bear it. Why, his love is all the world to me.
How could bear to lose it2'
"Then don't wish him to be city mer-
chant, my dear. | dare say there are great
many good men in the city-men who love
their wives; but, on the other hand, there
are so many temptations, especially in society,
that sometimes wonder that SO many remain
true to themselves and their duty"
She spoke absently, and her eyes had a far
away glance, as if they dwelt on other things.
Jenny ventured question.
Margaret, is yours a happy marriage
Do you love your husband And does he love
you ~
Mrs. Van Howth impulsively started, and
turned crimson.
Jenny wonld have loved him--T would
have been good wife TO him; but he never
loved me. lie brought me to place me at the
head Of his house, because he thought me lady
like and interesting that was all. He told
me SO once, though not quite so plainly os
this. And since then we have each taken our
own way, independent of each other. ] sell
dom see him at our house in town | have
my carriage my diamonds, my opera box In
the season, 60 to Saratoga or Newport,
while he favors Long Branch with his pre-
sence. We are perfectly polite to each other
we never quarrel; and l supposa, were tc
die tomorrow, he'd be the most inconsolablt
not wish to change places with me again
Your husband might change rs mine has done,
exposed to the temptations. Thank heaven
that yoa have him as he is, a good, true mar
who loves you; and never mind the butter and
cheese, Jenny, so long as your happiness and
his is made up with them.p
| She arose from her seat as she spoke, and
strolled down the garden path alone.
| Jenny did not follow her. She sat on the
step, lost in thought. The riddle Of hei
friends life was at last made clear to her.
She had often wondered why Margaret, in the
midst of all her wealth and luxury, should
seem so sad and i'll al ease. She wondered nc
longer now To be the wife Of man who
has no love for you What lower deep can
there be for proud and sensitive woman thar
this?
Jenny turned with tears in her eyes to mcei
her handsome, stalwart husband rs he came
from the field.
"Well, little woman" he cried, and then
she got the rough embrace and the hearty kis.
for which she was looking.
Yes, Margaret was right. The butter and
cheese were of very little consequence, while
love like this made her tasks easy to endure
And the rosy-cheeked little woman bent fond.
ly down over her Hiram, as he flung himself
on the porch-seat, and famed him, talked "a
him, brought him cool lemonade, and made
him thoroughly happy, while he enjoyed his
rest Poor Margaret Happy Jenny Never
again would she wish to be anything more,
only a farmers wife.