The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-11-22

er, and turned to her companion with
tremulOus smile.
"Who is that lovely dark -haired
lady with Mark ?'' she asked, and tried
to make her voice steady, but it quiv.
SMiss | Reeves, . be answered. "You
mus. have heard of her. She is q
thorough woman of the world, but has
the art to hide it under . great deal of
fine talk and affected sentiment. She
has cultivated praces a mind rather
than those of the heart, and the only
crop brought forth by the latter is one
of vanity and selfishness
Kathie looked mystiaed, and was
inclined to think Mr.. Hilton judged
the lady somewhat harshly. Bit she
did not care to pursue the topic farther,
or analyse the painful feeling at her
beart. She was . brave modest gifi,,
and when she understood that Mark
had regarded her simply rs q friend,
she put aside whatever thoughts she
might have cherished, and would not
acknowledge now to herself that they
had ever existed.
Mrs. Vanes' party was fruitful of re-
suits, for not only Mi9 Reeves, but
Kathie herself, won q huBband there
i by. John Hilton did not think the
/ frank, true-heafted girl, Who welcomed
him with such bright eyes. and was SO
practical and efficient in every relation
of life, commonplace; or at least If
he did, he thanked Heaven that few
such commonplace women still existed
to brighten and purify the lives of
brothers, and fathers, and husbands.
And perhaps it was because he did not
possess those "higher intellectual
needs" spoken of by Mark Somers,
that he never missed in her sympaty
Herewith, for whenever he talked,
whether OF fields, or flowers, or birds,
or books, or business, he always found
her a genial and appreciative listener.
1t is true, they did not rail at the
world and their fsllow-beings as Mark
and Miss Reeves were in the habit of !
doing, or enter into metaphysical dis |
cussions, or fancy that mortals had
never before been created with such |
sensitive and finely attuned Organiza-
tions as theirs. But they were very |
happy for all that, and JOHN Hilton
thought it the prOudest moment of his
life when Kathie shyly owned her love |
and confessed that he was dearer to
her than "all the world beside" /"
Marks w0oing was some what diff
ferent. For Claudia Reeves, with all
her romance and sentiment, looked at
love in q far m ore practical light than
our little Kathie, and regarded rather
the eligibility of the suitOr than her
own feelings. Mark possessed com.
Portable income, but was not rich, and
this was the reason why she kept him
vaoiliating SO long between hope and
nd oil foI iv,Vy |
pelling his advances. But Claudia was
nearly twenty-five. and was depend.
ent upon an aunt whom she detested,
and Mark was handsome and had ele-
CANT manners, and so the scale finally
turned in his favor.
The two weddings as unlike as posi-
ble One was quiet and unpretending,
the other all show and glitter. Both
couples went to housekeeping at once,
but Claudia did so reluctantly. protest
ing that it would cost far more than
boarding. And so it did under her.
management, but not under Kathie's.
For while Kathie consulted comfort
aud was chiefly anxious to please her
husband, Claudia sacrificed ease to
luxury, and sought the worlds appro-
val rather than Marks
N col W Cut ny anu " C0Sh AouSS0
hold came a little stranger. Claudia
had but cold welcome ready. |
"Children are such a nuisance, " she
said to Eark. 1 always detested them.
OF course shall feel differently toward
my own, but as to making such sacri-
fees for them as some mothers do,
never could.
Kathie caressed the babe on her arm
ny,6 !
The wee darling! God make me
worthy of the gilt" But she was only
a simple e-hearted, loving little woman,
and lad no such aspirations as Claudia,
no such .'yearDings after the unat-
tainable. /
The two families on visiting terms,
and Mark Somers, loyal husband as he
strove to be, could not help contrast
ing Kathie's cheerful content with his
wife's ill-humor and dissatisfaction, for
when it was too late Claudia began to
think her marriage a fatal mistake.
and that she might have done better II
she had waited longer. She was not
wise enough to keep her disappoiat-
ment to herself, but le'ss it be seen IN
Eunberless ways.
"You had no right to mary on such
beggarly income," she said, bitterly,
when Mark reproached her for some
extravaganza. "Of all evils, poverty
is the worst"
"My circumstances were known to
you," he replied with dignity, but an
angry flush dyed his cheek. pardon
me, though, if think the word beg
carly hardly applicable to an income
of five thousand dollars year. John
Hilton has but little over half of that,
and yet they managed to live, and so
far as 1 can see, as comfortably, or
more so, than We"
"Oh, Mrs. Hilton is famous house
keeper, and have no talent for any
thing like that. She's completely
wrapped up in her husband and baby,
and very seldom goes into society. l
could not lead such life of stagna-
tion.' l-
.'But home duties ought to claim a
share of your attention, Claudia. Pm
a little tired of balls, and parties, and
operas, and this constant gayety and
excitement. The cost of it, too, is more
than we can afford.
ave may as well understand each
other first as last" she answered, cold
ly. az was never meant for house
hold drudge, and don't intend to sink
into one. Because you are growing |
humdrum and commonplace, it is no
reason should"
Certainly not" and he smiled sar.
castically. Sacrifice what you will
to society, cannot prevent it, but /
upon one thing 1 insist, that you do
not run into debt any more" /
~ hate economy, and to be always
thinking of ways and MEANS" she said |
pettishly. "Y6u ought to have mar
ried woman like Mrs. Hilton, she's |
just petty minded enough to delight in
such things"
Mark Somers looked at his wife
little critically. She had on soiled |
wrapper, her hair was uncombed, her |
whole appearance slovenly in the ex- |
treme. She kept her fine raiment as
she did her wit and grace and cOnyer- |
sational talents-for the woodland |
| thought it would be waste of mate
rials to use either at home. And this |
was the woman whose delicate sensi- |
bilities he had rated so high above |
Kathie's. He could not help thinking |
of it now, and recalling a picture he
had seen that morning, on his way to
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