New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-17
THE PROFESSORS WIFE.
CHAPTER I.

A quaint, old-tashioned room. formin g
the setting TO a picture as bright and
pretty as any of the home interiors which
the domestic painters of the Academy love
to depict-a room that might have been
built in the reign Of Queen Ann, so full was
it of hooks and angles, in which no modern
furniture could by any possibility be in
duced TO fit, room that matter-Of-fact peo-
ple. with an eve to the economical cutting
of their carpets, call uncOmforta bic and
awkward; but a room which, having once
known, you never forgot. You might have
been happy or you might have been sorry
there; but so surely as in after years you
looked back upon your happiness or your
sorrow, back came the remembrance OF the
thick walls, in which the doors stood as it
were in recesses, walls on which somehow
the modern paper looked out OF charact ter
and you loved or hated the room accord
ingly as you loved or hated the people you
had met within 1t.
Something of this Hester Carroll felt
rather han thought, as. with her busy little
hands lying in unwonted idleness on her
lap. she sat waiting for her husbands re-
turn on the fifth anniversary Of her wedding
day Nearly five years ago she entered that
room: that had been her Hrst glimpse OF her
new home; and happy smile rippled over
her mouth as she remembered how closely
her husband watched her to catch the first
Il told him then that | knew should
like it; and | almost think | love it now
my dear happy home, murmured Hester,
and she tried to remember exactly how It
looked then; but that was not SO easy; there
We're so many little additions and improve
mcnts that had come one by one. but that
seemed part and parcel OF the room now.
There were the lace curtains she lad bought
with her first poCket-money, the couch her
husband had got for her during some slight
illness, the wol k-table that had been an
other Of his presents, and the fern case,
that was her own last extravaganza.
Il was not so untdy them" though Hes
ter, locking at the grand piano strewn with
loose sheets Of manuscript music, and her
glance wandering round: 1.-The things We're
new, but it looks more home-llke Tow, and
I'm better manager. l am sure the ar
rangement of that tea table is master
piece, and | don't believe a protested cook
could make better cake. The first made
all the currants settled at the bottom.
never found out now that was: l.
Didn't stir it up, perhaps"
'Oh Roland, how silly you are" cried
Hester. You need not come up so quietly
another time
My boots were so fearful, muddy that
! took the Ia off in the hall tol '"ar OF leav
ing my trail behind me on the :arpet." he
replied, but let's have tea, darling. l am
both hungry and tired"
And wet through, too, / believe" said
Hester, putting her hand on her husbands
coat sleeve as he kissed her. Have you
walked all the way up, Roland -
Yes, dear: the cars we're more EnpIeas-
ant than walking.
You could afford carriage. it seems to
me. Roland, better than you could afford to
catch cold" said Hester, as. sLe'cut her cake
with d great deal oi savage determination;
you have 10 business to do it-you ought
to think of Nessie and me-
All, where is Nessie:' he asked, gone
to bed p
No; she's asleep on the hearth-rug." re-
piled Hester; take your coat Off and ring
the bell, Roland, before you touch her"
Very obediently. being model husband.
Roland attended to this Injunction, and
then very gently, as if she were composed
OF something extremely likely to break, he
lifted the sleeping child from the floor
and Nessie, after rubbing her eyes for
some time, and becoming gradually aware
of the fact that she was to be allowed to
share the delights OF high tea" forth
with proceeded to extend her privileges to
the utmost limits of the law, so that until
she was carried off to bed, Roland and
Hester were constituted willing subjects of
the imperious little fairy.
For some time after Nessie's departure,
Roland sat playing while Hester put away
the scattered toys; then, coming to his
side, she laid her hands on his shoulders,
saying, playfully. Il think you have had
enough of shop by this time. and it is my
day, you know, dear; come and talk to me,
Roland"
Her husband smiled at the eager face bent
over him, and, closing the piano, rose ana
put his arms round his wife.
"Your day is it, my Hester' DO you
know l am not sure that | don't wish it
could be completely blotted out Of the cal
cndar."
.Our wedding day blotted out, Roland
You are growing tired OF me.
NO, am not, little wife. There! don't
try to look indignant: the fact is, am be-
ginning to fear
..What 2" she asked
"That the tide is turning" he replied.
"The first four years after We were married
went by SO smoothly. without the vestige OF
a trouble; but this last season has been ter
ribly bad. have not earned as much as
rro hove snent for some time, Hester
..Tben we must spend less was the de
tern;ned reply: and Hester looked at the
fire half wondering whether she ought not
to begin retrenching at once, and take Oh
large lump of coal she had just put on; but
Roland understood the look. and laughed
outright. r,i,o,,
ave won't give up fires just yet daring,
he said. land don't you worry ABOUT wha1
I have told you. Things must take turn
sooner or later it's only question OF tlme'
and. thank God, we can afford to walt NJ
tIe THE fact is, havnt felt very well the
last few DAYS. and perhaps that makes me
look on the dark side of the picture"
Mester glanced up anxiously into her