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

baby most amusing companion when
household duties called her AWAY She
played chess, dominoes and checkers by |
the hour and found all the interesting, |
amusing bits in the newspapers for him.
She read aloud or worked while he read. |
| As for nursing, bathing the swollen an
Me, concocting wonderful cool drinks. pre-
pairing tempting repasts. language would
fail me if attempted to describe her sue
cess inthat line of duty.
While Harry was confined to his bed,
Bella ieemed never to leave him. Day
and nisht she was watchfulry attentive.
never firing, never ceasing her efforts to
I make tine pass in pleasant amusement.
But there was rapid improvement soon
in the Injured limb, and one March morn
ing the physician gave permission to his
patient to limp with cane into the sitting
room.
g" You must not try to rest your weight
rest for several days"
8 There is no pain Harry said
No, but the weakness remains. If you
ust it too soon. yon may suffer for the i'm
pruience by more serious injury than the
first sprain."
So Harry submitted to the imprison-
ment with the best grace he conld muster,
and Bella made him comfortable in n
great easy chair by the window, with
table beside him covered with books, news
papers, and choice foreign fruits and
sweetmeatS.
But having made him thoroughly com
fortaole, Bella mysteriOusly vanished.
Now and then, she fitted in with cup of
coffee a luncheon, a word of love, but
pleading world of household cares as an
excuse for running away in II moment.
Harry found it rather stupid, but looked
forward to evening for some music, Il long
chat or chapter or two more of the book
they were reading together, which seemed
to have lost all interest pursued in solitude
His anazement was almost ludicrous when
Bella, after clearing away the dinner table,
put on her hat and shawl.
- i am going over to Mrs. Lees for an
hour" she said in Il matter of course tone.
absolutely stunning in 1arry's ears. but l
have left you the newspapers. If baby
cries, call Jane
Harry tried to remonstratc but found he
was talking only to himself. He tried to
read, he started a new problem in chess,
he vawned frequently said bad word or
two about innocent Mrs. Lee. until eleven
O'Clock. when he began to grow uneasy.
! softly up stairs to the bedroom. taken off
, her bonnet and shawl and calmly stitched
upon an embroidered cloak for baby's
, spring outfit until midnight. Then she
wrapped herself in outdoor garments
stole down to the front door, and, after
+ much rattling Of the night-key and a loud
good night. walked into the sitting room
to poor yawning Harry.
,T1VplVp a clock = she said VaWn mo
>, I had no idea it was so late
I You must have had Il very pleasan
:, evening" said her husband with intense
g sarcasm.
I Delightful! " was the emphatic an
q swcr.
1t was bad enough for once. but tn
q next day there was more cooking am
: cleaning, and in the evening Mrs. Jone
+. had call, still in the bedroom wher
>, babv's cloak progressed finely; and tn
next evening Mrs. Peters had invited Bell
. to 90 to the family opera, and the bed
Ia room had the variety of full dress receptio
by one performer This had gone on fo
20 a week, when Harry became savage
Il Bella, coming in at midnight, all smile;
- in bewidering dress of scarlet and hlar
.s lace, from an imaginary little party i
! Mrs. Smiths, was greeted with:
,o Il would like to know, madam how Ion
is this kind of 4 thing is to 90 on? =
- What kind Of Il thing?' asked Bell;
,e innocently.
- Being out every evening till mdnigh
and leaving me here entirely alone"
70 Alone, Why, You have baby and book
4, ID and"
= - Fine company, to be sure
~ Now see here, Harry, said Bella, wit
: no
-. able. can't stay in this room all the tim
- | give you everything You want, don't |:
~, ~ Yes, but
:" - cook all the nice things | think {
y. ~ and keep You supplied with literature, al
~. lr Sweetmeats have to work hard in Il
- house all day, and when evening comes
T. want a little recreation. You know all n
>; friends. | do not 90 anywhere that y,
disapprove and | really don't see VIII
-, any reasonable man can complain {
M M.n Don't let me find You cross agtin-that's
y dear fellow"
~ ~ "Bella,n
'S This after long silence and in We
as low voice.
- Yes, dear"
- - Bella was it really as lonesom~for v
III as it has been for me?
,,i ,,1 "Oh, Harry. could never tell YOU la
how dreary it has been for NE"
no You have given me a,sharp lesson, ,ilitt
:. ,.o woman. but YOU won't have to repeat it
"a! And she never did. The bachelor frien
81 found all their f,scinations powerlt
ba when Harry was out again, and in We
.n9 .a little while the young husband found the
~ was no place so pleasant as home, no COZ
~ panion so charming rs Bella. But
~ ~ never knew where the little woman spe
~ those evenings, which he passed, viewil
" the home evening question from the 9th
- side.