Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-11
The Other Side.


of tears upon her very pretty face. Be-
side her in the daintiest of cradles, slept
rosy baby, and around her were signs of
comfort, and many tasteful articles that
spoke of ease in expenditure of money.
She wore dress of soft fine merino, fash
| ionably made and trimmed, and very be-
coming to dark eyes and hair and rich,
clear complexion; and clasping the fine
| lace collar was a handsome pin, whose
match in earnings depended from the
small ears. Upon table beside her were
| new journals and magazines. basket con-
tanning embroidery for the baby in the
cradle, and Il fancy box, evidently new.
containing choice confectionery. Although
| the room, mother and child formed pic
ture of comfort, yet Bella Osmond was
crying.
While the tear drops fell upon her little
hands clasped idly in her lap, her thoughts
ran in this wise:
| 1t gets worse and worse. | don't be-
lieve Harry has been at home one evening
in n month. He brings me books. papers
and candy. as if was baby, and then he
| has an engagement, and | do not see him
until midnight. after he has been away all
day. Only two years married, and /
scarcely ever see my own husband!
What can | do? Mother says, make your
home attractive. SO | keep up my music
and ALWAYS dress for dinner, and Try my
best 40 be lust the same Bella | WAS be-
fore I was married. when he thot no even
inrs were so pleasant as these he spent
with me. Jennie saws | ought to be thank
| ful Harry don't drink. SO | am thankful;
but | should like to have him remember
that he has home, and not mere sleep
ing and eating establishment. Twelve
o'clock-and hear the latch-key.
"Why. little woman Sitting up for
me?''
1t would have been hard for even an i'll
tempered woman to resist the CHEEKY
voice and bright smile of the handsome
Young man who bent over Bella rs he
spoke with allowing kiss. Bella not hay
mo one spark of bad temper in her COM
position. smiled back again
WHY" cried Harry, as the light fell on
her face - you've been crying! Are yon
sick darling?
Tears started again at the tender tone of
the inquiry.
when Won are not here, Harry
Lonely Why, you have baby. and
YOUR books and papers and piano.
thought women always had sewing and
knitting, and all sorts OF work TO Ill up
the time
But Harry, have all day for work. In
the evening want yon."
Now see here. Bella said Harry, Sc
riouslv, - don't be unreasonable. | cannot
be at home all the time. l am sure give
YOU everything YOU want, don't /?
e Ye-es."
Shawls and bonnets and dresses; You
have only to ask for money to have 1t. !
have to work hard at the store all day'
. and when evening comes | want a little
recreation. You know always where
r am. never insult YOU by coming home
drunk. You have everything YOU ask for
=, and really don't see what any reasonable
woman can find to complain about. Don't
let me find YOU crying again, that's dear
little woman I'll take YOU to the opera
tomorrow evening and cheer you up"
SO Bella went to be comforted little
and really believed she had been a little
exacting.
For week or two Harry came home
" oftener and took his wife out severa
times. Then he drifted back again into
o the old habit of promising to meet Jone'
here. Brown there and Robinson in anoth
IS er place. little influenced, it must be
confessed. by the unanimous opinion ofhi
not spoiled By matrimony a bit Just tht
8 same good old fellow that he Away
was
Bella made no more complaint. Sh
made Il tempting dressing gown, worke,
y beautiful slippers. and had the gratitica
ton of seeing them adOrn her husband Ol
d Sunday mornings, but otherwise neglect
ed She made her sitting-rOom a YER
r bower of beauty, arranged II little table il
the most tempting style. She learned ney
r music, and made herself the prettiest ot
iect in the house. always excepting tn
y wonderful baby; but yet evening afte
evening she had the modification of see
c inc Harry turn his back on her CAREFUL
prepared destinations, pleading an engage
t mcnt and leaving her alone.
Then she tried gathering a few mutn;
- friends around her, hoping to keep Harr
at home in that way; but she soon abar
= doned that, finding it mortifying to pla
hostess in her pretty home alone.
d When she found all her gentle device
useless, she tried to make the time pas
W pleasantly by reading, sewing and practi'
inc, giving often her thought to her ol
-, home in another city. and the cheerfl
y" family group collected there.
The winter was nearly over. when on
evening, after little fall of snow, Harr
~. failed to appear at dinner time. He W.
unusually punctual then, and Bella locke
at upon dinner rs the happiest hour of Il
day. Her husband was cordially appr'
ciative of her really good housekecpin:
1" ready to praise her culinary triumphs an
full of cheerful conversation. Indee,
." Bella often thought tearfully:
. If Harry wasn't such good compan
y and fond of me, l wouldn't miss him
.Is much"
But on this clustering February da
dinner hour was over, the viands spoilins
m the servant grumbling, and Bella uneasil
wondering what could have happene,
IRE when II hack drove rapidly to the door, an
a moment later the door bell was run
'' with violent jerk.
Bella herself ran to the door. Two me
- were lifting a tall figure from the hack
but Harry's voice reassured her, cal
of ing:
ed sprained ankle"
But trying to stand in the hall, tt
Ia strong man tainted with excruciating pai
Bella was not the woman to stand he'll
I'm less or screaming She led the men WI
held her husband, to the spare bed-roo
on opening from the parlor, and sent the Sc
want for doctor, busying herself wit
be bathing Harry's face with cologne wat
and trying to restore consciousness.
be. How did it happen?" she asked.
"a fall, ma am said one of the me
ge touching his hat respectfully. f. There
just snow enough to be slippery, and Il
gentleman twisted his ankle. Me and tn
III man saw him fall, and took him into tt
:. store just handy. 1t was quite spell b
10 fore we found out where he lived, an
=, then we had to 60 a good ways for IL hacl
Can we do any more, ma'am?"
nh THANK you; 1 don't know of anythin,
IT." But you must let me give you this.
know your time is valuable, said Bell
he pressing bank note into the hand of eae
one. l cannot tell you how much l thar