Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-08-23

change places with me-"
Perhaps not. Would you not like to
change places with me-"
Yes"
And be Mrs. Won Howth instead of
Mrs. Hiram Parker"
Jennie hesitated. She dearly loved
her handsome husband!
"Well, | don't mean that want to
give up Hiram. l only mean that | wish
he was a city merchant instead of far
mer, and as rich as your husband is that
is ALL"
''And that is great deal. Jenny, if
your wish could be granted, do you know
what your life would be p said Mrs. Won
Howth. coldly.
What yours is, Isuppose. What any
lady's is in your position"
But what is that life T? Do you know p
''How should | p
cit is weary one, Jenny, with more
genuine hard work in it than all your
making of butter and cheese"
'Oh, Margaret
"And oh. Jenny! believe me, my dear
there are no people on earth who work
harder that the fashionables who only have
their own amusements to provide for. A
long, long life of mere amusements is a
dogs life, Jenny. at the best"
Il should like to be convinced of it BY
actual experience" said Jenny, doubt
ingly..
$50 I said and thought once. have
been so convinced. And it is all vanity
and vexation of spirit. my dear"
but howl" persisted Jenny
''How Indeed, ten thousand ways.
If you live in the fashionable world you
must do as the fashionable world does. :
You must rise and dress. and hop and
lunch, and dress again and drive. and
dress again and appear at certain balls,
parties, concerts exactly as your friends
do, or be voted bizarre, and out of the
world altogether. You, my poor Jenny,
who are by no means fond of dress, what
Weud. you do 81 "a fashionable watering
place in the hottest days of August, with
five changes of toilet between morning and
night. and a French lady's maid to ty-
rannize over you all the time into the bar
gain F.?
"Horrors!" CALCULATED Jenny.
BALLS that you must 60 to in spite Of
fatigue, parties that you must go to in spite
of the heat calls that you detest. Oh,
Jenny, would far rather be at home with
the butter and cheese if I were you"
Jenny was silent. Here was the side
of the bright picture which she had nev-
er seen or dreamed of before.
"You love your husband, Jenny ?" said
her friend after time.
Jenny opened her eyes wide.
Love him! Why isn't he my hus-
band ?" was her reply.
Mrs. Won Howth laughed.
Some women in society might think
that a reason why you shouldn't love him r.
she said dryly. ''And he loves you also ?''
Il should die tomorrow if I thought
did not"
"Tut. child! People leave this world
when God wills it, not before. I dare
say you would survive his infdelity.-
Many women before you have lived
through such things"
Don't talk of it, Margaret 1 could
not bear it. Why, he is all the world to
me How could [ bear to lose him ~
"Then don't wish him to be a city
merchant, my dear. dare say there are
many good men in the city-men who
love their wives-but, on the other hand
there are SO many temptations, especially
lu society, that | sometimes wonder, not
that SO many 60 astray, but that so many
remain true to themselves and their du-
ty."
She spoke absently. and her eyes had
a far away glance as if they dwelt on other
things.
Jenny ventured question.
Margaret, is yours happy marriage?
Do you love your husband ? And does he
love your.
Mrs. Won Howth started and turned
pale.
Jenny. would have loved him, I
would have been good wife to him, but
be never loved me. He brought me to
the place at the head of his house because
he thought me ladylike and interesting,
that was all He told me once, though
not SO plainly as this. Aud since then
we have each taken our own way, inde-
pendent of the other. I seldom see him
at our house in town. | have my carriage,
my diamonds and my opera box. In the
season | go to Saratoga or Newport, while
ne faVors Long Branch with his presence.
We are perfect strangers to each other
we never quarrel, and I suppose if I were
to die tomorrow he'd be an inconsolable
widower for week Jenny, you will
not wish to change places with me again.
Your husband might change as mine has
done, exposed to the same temptation. -
Thank Heaven, you have him as he is, a
good true man, who loves you, and never
mind the butter and cheese, Jenny, SO