The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-12-15
Cbe 0inres, Nep BluonraelO, 11a.

and with kind of start. I saw mo.
mentary eager flash in her face dying out
and leaving 1t inexpressibly sad"
had to stop here, for Maggy broke out
suddenly into wild fit of sobbing and
crying, which lasted for nearly minute.
"What ails you, dearP" asked, as she
began to be little composed.
ooh you have frightened me SO. If
Jehn should"
She cut short the sentence; but her
frightened face left me in no doubt as to
what was in her thoughts.
She arose and walked about the room in
an uncertain way for some moments, and
then sat down again drawing in her breath
heavily.
{" If young wives" remarked-believ-
ing that in her present state the truth was
the best thing to say-"would take half
the pains in making themselves personally
attractive to their husbands, that they did
to charm their lovers, more of them would
find the lover continued in the husband.
Is man, think you, less an admirer of
womanly grace and beauty after he be-
comes a husband, than he was beforeP'
"Hush hush ~ she said in choked
voice. 81 see it all ! comprehend it all"
And she glanced down at herself. "I look
hateful and disgusting"
After plain, earnest talk with Maggy,
went home. l give her own words as to
what happened afterwards:
"I was wretched all the afternoon. John
had acted worse than usual at dinner time !;
and what you told me about poor Helen
set my fears in motion and worried me
half to death. Long before the time he
usually came home, had dressed myself
with care, selected the very things l had
heard him admire. AS looked at myself
in the glass, 1 saw that was attractive
felt as had never felt before, that there
was power in dress that no woman can
disregard without the loss of influence, no
matter what her position or sphere of life.
"Supper time came. had something
that knew John liked, and waiting for
him with nervous eagerness it was i'm
possible to repress. But the hour passed
and his well known tread along the little
garden walk did not reach anxious ears.
Five, ten, twenty minutes beyond his hour
for returning and still was alone. Oh
shiver as l recall the wild fears that be-
gan to crowd upon me. was standing at
the window, behind the curtain waiting
and watching. All at once saw him a
little distance from the house, but not in
the direction from which he usually came.
lie was walking slowly, and with his eyes
upon the ground. His whole manner was
of one depressed and suffering. dropped
the curtain, and went back into our little
breakfast room to see that supper was put
quickly on the table. John came in and
went up stairs, as he usually did, to change
his coat before tea. In few minutes
rang the tea bell, and then seated myself
at the table to wait for him. He was
longer than usual in making himself
ready, and then heard him coming down
slowly and heavily, as if there was no
spirit in him.
"My heart beat strongly. But l tried
to look bright and smiling. There was,
oh so deary look on Johns face as
first saw it in the door. He stood still just
a moment with his eyes fixed on me and
then the dreary look faded out; flash Of
light passed over it as he stepped forward
quickly and coming to where l sat, stoop-
ed down and kissed me. Never before was
his kiss so sweet to my lips.
81 have found my little wife once more, "
he said softly and tenderly, and with a
quiver in his voice.
"I laid my head back upon his bosom,
and looking up into his face, answered
'And you shall never lose her again."
And / think he will not. The sweet
ness of that hour, and the lesson it taught
can never be forgotten by my friend
Maggy.