The Van Buren press., 1872-07-09
MISCELLANY.
The Wife's Lesson.

claimed Mr. Thomas Merritt as, opening
the door of his wife's dressing room, he
discovered the girlish figure reclining up
on the lounge, with her face buried in O
pocket handkerchief. In the name Of
goodness what is the matter now ?"
Nothing, Tom" answered Fanny
with a smothered sob, and rubbing hel
eyes very hard with the handkerchief, in
order to keep back her tears.
"Then, if nothing is the matter, what
in the world are you crying about?" re-
peated her husband in tone of vcxation
Il tell you what, Fanny, it is anything
but agreeable to fellow to come home
from a tresome days work at his office
and in place Of smiles and welcome, be
met with tears and sulkiness. 1t wasn't
so with you before we were married.
"Oh, Toni"
last evening, for instance, resum-
ed Mr. Merritt in an injured tone, at
Mrs Bowers, instead Of making your
self agreeable and being a credit to me,
you were as sulky rs could he, hiding
away in corner and looking so misera,
BILE that everybody must have noticed it.
| dare say they have set me down us q
domestic tyrant, thinking it must OF
course be my fault that my wife is so
change, AMI that only six months after
our marriage.
"And it is your fault, Toni" answer
ed Fanny, lifting her fearful face and
looking at him resoutely.
"My fault? Whew Well, that is
rich. Pray what have done Have
ever spoken unkindly to you or denied
you anything?'
"No, Tom. -
"Aint always ready'to do anything
for, or go anywhere with your
Yes, Tom | know, dear, you are
very good, and don't mean 10 be unkind
but, oh, if you knew how it worries me. y
"How what worries you?' inquired
Mr. Thomas, opening his eyes, and look
ing very much puzzled.
"Why, your-your flirting with those
women. You know you do, Tom, and il
is Of no use denying it Last night you
were promenadIng with that bold Mrs
Maddox a whole hour on the piazza, il
the moonlight, leaving me alone; and
then saw you hanging over Louisa Beck
with's chair, whispering to her. and she
tapped you with her fan, and said, Yor
naughty man. and then looked al me as
if she enjoyed my modification and hcl
own triumph. And, oh, Tom, you don,
know how painful and humilating it al
is to me to DO neglected in public by my
own husband, and see him ilirting with
Others y
And Fanny burst into hysterical tears
"Well, | do declare if this amt the
most absurd joke ever did here Off eN'
claimed Mr. Merritt " To think of youi
being jealous
al amt jealous, Tom. know yor
love me as much as ever; only"
3" Only you're little goose, Fan. The
idea Of your noticing all that nonsense
and worrying yourself about it! Why Q
man must amuse himself somehow OF
other at these stupid parties. Look
here! I've no patience with these fool
ish woman's fancies, and had hoped that
my wife was superior to such. Now, al
i've got to say is this, instead of hiding
away IN dark corners, and watching and
spying upon your husband, you just
amusc yourself as do in little limo
cent Irritation. tn do no harm to any
one, and will make you much more at
tractve than you now are ~
Aud Mr.. Merritt having thus deliver
ed himself, left the room, closing the door
after him with unnecessary emphasis.
1t was a gay season in Westvillc, and
on the very evening after this scene Mrs
Marmaduke Plummer was to give hei
party-expected to be an unusually bril-
liant one on account Of the number Of
eligible strangers then in town attending
political gathering Mrs. Merritt hadn
intended going to this party, but fol
some reason she changed her mind
dressed herself with elaborate care, and
entered Mrs. Piummers crowded par
lors, looking so pretty and graceful that
her husband was gratifed by the admir-
ing gances directed toward her.
"Amuse yourself, and be as gay as
possible, Fan, he whispered. dropping
her arm, and turning to Miss Beckwith
a bold, gay, flirting girl, who had once
essaycd to entrap the handsome young
bachelor, and never forgave Fanny Dale
her successful rivalship,
Fanny glanced for a moment wistfully
after her husband; but just then gen
tleman addressed her, and with an eifor
she turned to him with a pleasant smile
and answered gayly; and then the two
sauntered into more quiet part OF the
room. Mr.. Merritt, looking that way al
ter a while, was surprised to behold his
wife the centre Of a group of gentlemen
How well she is looking, and in what
good spirits :" was his thought, with .
gratlfed feeling in seeing his wife evi
IDENTIFY so attractive And then he re-
sumed his flirting attentions to the ladies
in general, and in particular to Miss
Beckwith Not that he cared straw
for her, or even admired her in the least
but as he had said, she amused him FOL