The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-11-22
"Such perfect harmony is

the nurse. "Such perfect harmony
rarely seem"
"1t is all Kathie's doing" answere,
John, ''fOr she knows just when an,
where to oil the domestic wheels s.
that they never jar or creak. A VIC
ffian's tact is something wonderful"
"Then you never disagree, neve
have 60 much as ghost of a quarrel?'
and Mark looked at his friend curious
ly. His tone was jesting one, bu
not so the feeling that prompted thi
1--WE are no more than human,
John answered, smiling, "and, o
course, do not think exactly alike Oh
every point. T respect Kathie the
more that she has certain individual
ity of her own, and does not reflect all
my likes and dislikes, my preferences
and prejudices. Her opiuiOn is often
a corrective of mime"
"But if her views of life were shallow
and heartless, and she persisted in fol-
lowing a course you disapproved, what
would you do then ?n Mark asked,
bitterly. =
John hesitated before replying. He
more than half suspected that Mark
referred to Claudia, and had a dislike
OF anything that seemed like inter-
ference between man and wife. ~
should reason with her." he said, fin
ally; ''try to make her understand the
wrong she was doing us both. If that
failed; if nothing l said affected her,
l could only make the best out of what
happiness was left me, remembering
that I had chosen with my eyes wide
open and that it was my own fault if /
had mistaken her character"
Mark WINGED little at this, plain
speaking, and instead of pressing the
topic, said abruptly, "There is one
other question l would like to- ask
You, and hope you won't think it
impertinent. How is it that you live
so comfortably ON your small salary ?"
John opened his eyes very wide, and
SO did Kathie, who just then entered
the room. -~~.- ,-..---
, "Small, ;" echoed she in amazement; !;
"why it is three thousand dollars q
year, and we used to. lay aside one
third of it before baby came.i 81
"YeU there are those who think five
thousand little better than beggarly,"
said, Mark. "Pray let me into the
secret of your management, Mrs. Hill
ton. / see no evidences of poverty
here" and he glanced around the
little sitting-rOom, with its tasteful fur
nishing, cosy air of comfort, admiring-
ly. "Cheap and tawdry," were the
terms that Claudia would have applied
to it, contrasting it with the artistic
elegance of her own rooms but Mark
remembered their desolateness, and
the dust that lay thick in corners, and
thought this one far more cheerful and
pleasant.
Kathie laughed gleefully. "If you
only knew what time had hunting
for bargains when We started house
keeping" she said, "and in what a
constant state of surprise l kept John.
There was sure to be something new
every night, and he finally began to
look around for the last wonderful pur-
chase as soon as he came home. Every
article in this room has a history,
more or less romantic"
"Kathie was very fortunate in her
raid upon furniture dealers and carpet
stores" said John, with a look to-
wards her, half tender. halfmischiev-
GUS. "She is wise little housekeeper,
too, and knows how to husband her
resources"
Kathie's cheer flushed, for Johns
approval was as dear to her now as
when they were first married. Some
thing in Marks face, though made
her think of Claudia, and she turned
the conversation to other topics.
Mark found his wife at home when
he returned that night. She had been
absent on a visit, and they had not
seen each other for a month. But her
manner towards him was indifferent
as usual, and instead of inquiring after
his welfare or that of their child, she
began at once to talk of her social
triumphs.
"There were several famous people
at Mrs. RS" she said, "men and
women both: but 1 held my own
among them, and was as much ad-
mired as any one. A musician from
Boston was enchan anted with that little
song of mine, the Stricken Heart
and begged that would have it pub
lished. Then we had private thea
tricals one night, and wrote drama,
ard acted the principal part myself,
and created such a sensation that all
the other women were jealous. Mrs.
R. declared that we ought to live in
the city where my talents would be
appreciated, and that it was shame
for me to bury myself up in this coun-
try town."
"You are greatly to be commisser-
ated," said Mark, sarcastically, "es-
pecially as the town has only fifty
thousand inhabitants, and you seclude
yourself so closely at home"
at is trial to be cramped as am"
she continued, without noticing his
interruption, "and 1 wish you had
little more energy and ambition.
There is no reason why you should not
make money as well as other men,
and perhaps you might in wider
sphere of action like New York. Then,
as Mrs. r. says, one ought to think of
the social advantages and OppOrtuni-
ties for culture to be found there.
The fact is, and she looked at him
critically, 1--WE are both deteriorating
here, you even more than l."
Mark had indeed grown somewhat
careless of his appearance, and was
looking worn, and altogether present.
sented quite contrast to the man she
married. That the change was her
work she never suspected, but ascribed
it rather to his low tastes and pursuits.
For it was herself, and not him, that
she considered the victim of their ILL
assorted union.
Claudia" said Mark, quietly, con-
trolling his indignation, II should
like an honest talk with you. No
woman has a right to ignore the claims
of husband and child, and give the
best of herself to the world. Yet that
is what you do. Even if, as you hint,
1 have fallen below your expectations,
the bond that unites us ought to be re-
spected Believe me, these dissensions
that embitter our lives are worse than
useless. Let us avoid them for the
future, and try to conform ourselves
one to the other, both for our own
sakes and that of our child.n
"You are really eloquent" said
Claudia, with a sneer, "but for my
part hate pretence, and why should
we stimulate an attachment we don't
feel?s Our marriage was a mistake,
forno two persons were ever more uri-
congenial than you and l."
"Yet you thought different once, or
at least said so ?"
"I was deceived" she answered" I"
cofdly. rYou appeared to have intel
lectual aspirations then, and a taste
for music, and pictures, and society,
and beautiful surroundings, and were
as unlike as possible to what you are
por ", '--E q - q