The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-12-17
A WIFE'S MISTAKE.

ever family that was once nappy anu
peaceful one.
Strange as it may seem, it is neverthe-
less quite true. I was an eyewitness
of the whole affair. I saw the danger,
and was devoutly. thankful for the res
cue which came at last, and only just in
time.
Thus it happened:
On certain Thursday evening Gin
the merry month of May" the West
End mansion of Edwin Lawrence Esq,
broker and discounter, was thrown open
for the reception of such of the literary
world as should deign to remember Mrs.
Lawrence's evening"" and fill her
rooms, and eat her supper afterward.
Mrs. Lawrence was a slight, delicate
looking woman of thirty, who had writ
ten some few articles for ''Temple Bar"
and the est James Magazine, and on
the strength of them, set up for Gilt
erary characters in small way.
Mr. Lawrence, broker though he was,
owned a musical soul within his broad
breast, and was never better pleased
than when accompanying, on the flute,
some skillful pianist through the mazes
of that scientific chamber music which
makes the unscientific listener wall in
wardly, in anguish of spirit, because,
though it certainly has beginning, it
never seems to know when it has arriv-
ed at an end.
Mr.. Lawrence was stout, ford, we'll
to do Englishman of fifty, with ''no
nonsense about him." his passion for
music excepted.
The two partners in this matrimonial
firm had logged along contentedly in the
quiet Life which such people generally
live, in England, for more than five
years, when my story begins.
Then some busy fend whispered into
the small ear of Mrs. Lawrence the
warning that she was burying her talent
in obscurity. Miss Landon had seven
which SO manyof us, in these days of I'M
iversaI European visiting, have made
pilgrimage to see. Why should not
Mrs. Lawrence have Evenings" in
Sloane street2 It was very near to Hans
Place. And the initials of the two names
were precisely the same-Latitia Eliza
beth Landon, T.. E. L. What more
could be asked?
And so Mrs Lawrence had her seven
ings," to which she summoned all the
authors and authoresses of her acquain
lance; while Mr.. Lawrence, on his part,
half filed the rooms with am
ateur and professional musicians, who
glowered at each other savagely as they
sang and played; while the writers herd
ed together in corners, and satirized
each other and their host and hostess
with the most the delightful good will
till the supper was announced, and all
truf1ed turkey and ice creams and iced
champagne.
On the eventfuI "evening" OF which [
write the s'show" of musicians was I'M
usually small. It was the season of
exeter Hail." and all the birds who
could sing, or be made to sing, were
gathered together there. Only three
amateurs, and not single profession
al graced the halls of the West End
broker on that evening. But authors
and artists were there in full forces: and
it was from the lips of the last mention
&c unlucky tribe, that the fatal work
which heads this article CHANGED to fall
He was a very young man, and there
fore given to seek subjects for his brush
in every place, and under all circum-
stances; and to announce publicly that he
so sought; thereby putting his friends
to the inconvenience OF continually
e'posturing' in his presence, and never
daring to be their own free, frank, ma
tural selves.
He stood near the piano, waiting for
the conclusion of a long duet which one
of the lady amateurs was playing, while
Nh. Lawrence, making himself very red
in the face by the exertion, was heroical-
" accompanying on his beloved flute.
Sixteen mortal pages of music had those
worthy people labored through, and five
more yet renamed to be interpreted. -
Just beyond the piano sat Mrs. Law
renee. her head dropped upon her hand;
her cheek was pale; her dark eyes were
fixed upon the flour, with look Of weary
sadness. The truth was, that she was
woefrlly tired of the long-winded duet,
and that she wanted her supper. But
the romantic artist knew nothing of all
this, as he turned to his next neiShbor,
and said, in a low voice:
ssWhat a spirituelle face Mrs. Law