Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-10-12

J
} quietly observed the middle-sged lady,
'as they are usually found to be the most
devoted slaves to fashion. and the most
> neglected. of the claims of husbands and
, children
4 'Well, suppose we see what the rest of
the company are doing to amuse them
Selves said Nell, as she waltzed away
J from them, and the conclave broke up.
, Later, Mrs. Hart babe farewell to her
hostess, was shawled and hooded by Mr..
? Cloud, gallantly conducted to her car
riage, and carefully placed therein.
, YEARLY she leaned back, closed her eyes,
and wondered whether Harry had re-
turned. A few moments, and the carriage
stopped at her own door, and she entered
the library to find it as she had left it.,
except that the fire had burned down.
Hurryin2 up to her room and waking
the sleeping maid, she sent her to bed
and began to disrobe.
In a few moments she heard his key in
the door, and moment later he entered
the room, expressing surprise that she
was still up.
L just arrived home myself said Mrs.
Hart.
why, where have you beenP
/ TO Mrs. Elders party
/ Sure enough, l forgot all about it :;
/ why did you not remind me ?
! I forgot it myself until after you had
gone-and feeling lonely, l concluded to
go and be amused, if not instructed
And were you?'
Both
Amused and instruction.
Yes
What amused you ?
Seeing people try to make believe
they were enjoying themselves; seeing
Mrs. Smith, the green-grocer's grand
daughter, assuming an air of exclusive
ness and hauteur to people whose parents
had honorod the said grandfather by pur-
chasing their lettuces and cabbages of
him seeing Mrs, jones' attemps TO snub
Miss Waters on account of her fathers
f4ilnre, and her failure to accomplish the
said Stumbling: aud other things, too
numerous to mention
And what instructed Won, dear"
"A dizcussinn between Cousin Nell, I'm
cle Charles, Mrs. Gray and Mr.. Cloud, as
TO the causes for husbands abseuting
themselves from home so often, and COM
polling wives to find entertainment where
and how they can quietly replied Mrs.
Hart
And what conclusion did they come
IN ? a4ked Harry, with keen glance
into her face, ss he sought to read there
any hidden moaning which her words
might have.
They came to no conclusion, of course
two women against two men, could
do nothing except dis49ree'
And what conclusion did you come to,
dearr asked Harry.
4 hardly know-Uncle Charles says
that men g abroad for the entertainment |
which their wives are incapable of furnish |
ing, by reason of their frivolty and devo- |
ton to fashion ; Cousin Nell retorts by
saying that women would not be so friv-
nlous if m9n would give them more of
their aOc;ety-and farther, that women |
can't Rt themselves for companionship |
with men without iucurring the stigma
of 'strong-mindedness.' which all men
abhor; thst men prefer simpletons who |
know aOthing, to Intelligent women, and |
detcsr women who know anything hut
honse keeping and nursing. Mr.. Cloud |
says he had rather go buttonless and eat
cold dinners all his life, than live with |
one of those simpletons, while Mrs. Gray |
says that mon manage their wives as Ma
poleOn managed the French-keep them
amus d and diverted, TO prevent trouble
some thoughts upon their condition, and |
consequent Rebellion
And what do you thick, dear ? again
asked Harry.
Il do not think I would have gone out
to night. if you had remained at home
with me- she said, smiling up in his
face.
But really, 1t was unavoidable, Helen
I had an engagement to meet a gentle
mau-and business must be attended to
before pleasure. How do you suppose
I am to support this establishment and
dress You IS do, without the closest at
tention to business?
'You always say that, dear-and I al
ways have to tell you that [ would be
satisfied with palmer establishment and
palmer wardrobe, if I could have in ex-
change for them more of your sooiety'
Nonsense the love of dress is born in
women-and she must dress, or die of en-
w and chagrin.'
love of beauty and fitness may be -,
mate in woman, but they may be attained
at much less expense than is often in
Cured in producing ugliness and distor-
ton. The rivalry between women ia not E
as to beauy or fitness, but as to cost-and .
this is a rivalry that no cultivated woman
could engage in. I agree with Mrs. d
GRAY, that if women were more highly :
cultivated they would spend less money, e
upon mere glitter and display; and hua- !
bands would consequently have more time
to enjoy the society of their families
Now, dear, don't you get strong mind 6
ed, or you will lose half your charms to Q
me. love You truly-you are the dearest, I
most dutiful of wives-and I would not {
have you know one whit more than you 6
do
Life went on much as usual in the b
Hart mansion. Harry came and went, v
leaving his wife alone many evenings r
though lately she was not always alone
Mr.. Cloud dropped in more and more fire.
luently, sometimes TO return book, some
times to bring a pieco of music, for he II
1ad discovered that Mrs Hart was fine
vocalist, and that her fine soprano voice
accorded wonderfully with his tenor. P
;hus they spent many evenings at the il
piano, that would otherwise have been ii
onely for Helen-and she began to look II
Onward with pleasure to his coming.
Danger she never dreamed of; she was con- y
cious only of great enjoyment of the &C
music and of his conversation. 1t would te
,e difficnlt to determine Clouds motives b
n seeking this gentle, innocent woman, Of
vho could be nothing to him. Vanity, ii