Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-12-15

sob. But 1t did not last long Lucy
We have been married just two year
to-day. He will not remember tn
day. He left me this morning with
out kiss, as he always does. HI
will come back to dinner in the sam
way, and after 1t Is all over he will
go out to his club. or-or some othe
place, and never come home til
after I have gone to bed. Yet I hav
been a careful wife to him. l hav
u1ied his comfort in every way
and this is my reward !"
She hid her face in her hand q
she spoke. Lucy bent over her ant
whispered:
"In every way save one, dea
Mary"
Mrs. Strong looked up.
"What do you mean ?"
"Promise not to be angry and
will tell YOU"
"Go on"
"Your husband used to be very
fond of music. Do you ever play ol
sing to him Of an evening now?"
ooh, no. We gave that up lonl
enough ago."
"But why?"
"I'm sure I can't tell. 1t wal
a bore to practice"
"Do you read aloud to him, or hav,
him read to your"
mo. l used to: but somehow
that is given up too"
"And your dress; shall you chang,
1t before dinner?"
Mrs. Strong shook her head. She
wore dingy flounced delaine, M
collar or cuffs, and her hair wa'
rough and -untIdy-her whole look
was one of extreme carelessness.
"He woSld not notice 1t If / did
Where is the use, Lucy? 1t Is all
too late" ....
"No, 1t Is not too late. But IL may
be soon," said Lucy, earnestly
"Mary, some one ought to tell you.
No one dares to but me. Your hus.
band does not 60 to his club of an
evening. He goes to Mrs. Wylie's.
You know how you have heard her
named in society, "The Queen oI
Flirts." Mary, she Is dangerous
woman. She lives but for admira.
tion, and that she means to have
your husband gives her admiration
now; take care he gives her no more
his love !"
Mis-. Strong burst into tears.
"What am 10 do ?" she walled
"I know that woman to well. What
chance have I against her?"
yourself chance" said Lucy, with q
kiss. "Let your husband find q
pleasant welcome from q wife neatly
dressed, Mary. Forgive the hint.
You have beanty and grace. Do not
neglect them longer. Sing to him,
Mary play to him charm and fas-
cinate him, You have done 1t once.
Try again, and save him from the
"Queen of Flirts."
She stole softly from the room. II
had not been pleasant lesson to re-
ceive: it might not have been q
pleasant one to give-who shall say
But Mrs. Strong was a sensible as
well as pretty woman, and five
minutes after Lucy Moor had gone,
she went up to her own room, ac~
knowledging that her friend had
spoken the truth. That evening.
just after the street lamps were light
ed, Mr.. Strong came carelessly to-
wards his home. Carelessly? Yes, that
was the word. The house was fast
to him only place to eat.
sleep, and dress ina place for which
he had to pay rent and taxes, but In
which he took no comfort or pleas.
ure, IL the truth must be told.
"Never mind; I'll go to Grace as
soon as dinner In over, and she will
make IL up to me-" thought Mr.
Strong as he opened the front door
with his latch key and strode across
the hall. q a7
Only halfway, however, for there
before him, at the foot of the stairs,
stood graceful, pretty woman, with
brown hair, bright blue
eyes, and cheeks as red as roses,
wearing a pretty evening dress of
dark blue silk, aud shining orna.
ments upon her snowy neck and
arms.
"Welcome home, dear James," she
said, with heavenly smile. ut Ii
the second anniversary Of our wed.
ding-day. Won't you spend this
evening with me, dear ?"
His only answer was q close EN-.
brace and sudden kiss. His eyes
were dim as he sped up stairs to his
ewn room to prepare for dinner.
"Brute that I have been I" he
thought to himself.
After dinner, on the plea of smok.
ing one cigar, he stole out, and re-
turned with pretty gold watch and
chain as q present for his wife.
They sang the old songs together
that evening; they talked q long
time ever the dying fire. All, 1t was
not too late. He loved her still, and
she had saved him and their happy
home.
The lesson was not lost upon her.
From that day she has never grown
careless-never ceased to strive to
keep her husbands as she once tried
to win her lovers love.
Oh, wives who weep and mourn
while your truant husbands seek
some fascinating "Grace, " have you
fallen into MAry's error? Is this the
reason why? ~