Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-02-25

meet Charley at the olab'room at
eight. Where has the evening gone p
"Never mind! Any other evening
will do as we'll" said Ella.
/ The next day was stormy. Ella ap>
peared at breakfast with neatest Of
collars and cuffs, hair in knet like
FURNISHED gold and a face like sun
beam. Will, who had eaten in solitary
state for more mornings than his. wife
cared to count, was as attentive as a
lover. His parting kiss accompanied
the words:
'sTake a nap, Nell, this morning.
We must keep YOU well, you know
l haven t enjoyed my breakfast SO much
for year.
'Don't forget the new songs, Will.
If you will send them round will try
them over before. you come home"
"11l send them then as ! go down
town"
Wet and disnalIy muddy Will came
in from February storm of rain upon
melting snow Ella was waiting for
him, apd drew him into the bed room.
Before the fire hung dressing gown
of bright cashmere with blue silk,
while under the dry, warm socks a
pair of gorgeous slippers were toast
ing.
"Good gracious, Nell, where did
those come from ?" said Will hastily,
drawing off his soaked boots.
sit is your birthday. Have you for
gottens I bought those to day for
YOU"
".:Out in all this raiu'"
81 did not walk much. Try them
on, Will7"
''Fine as Turk 2" said Will, twist
ing before mirror to see how the
dressing gown fitted.
aNow come haye some hot soup, I
made it.
"see here, Nell, amt you doing too
much :"
"Not bit. I needed good roast
ing oyer the fire after being out. and I
took it over soup and pudding in the
kitchen, instead Of over novel here.
That is all the difference. Jane will
ring the tongue out of that bell if we
don't hurry. That is the third time
she has summoned us.
Dinner over the new songs were
tried, few games of checkegs preeed-
ing the music. Then there was some
animated chat about a new business
interest Of which Will spoke and Ella
confessed to having read the paper. t
was one of her old customs resumed,
for Will had dearly liked to discuss tie
days news with her in The evening.
She had a bright intelligence and could
converse we'll on the interests of the
day, but novels had superseded news
papers while she "was not very strong.
Again eleven o'clock struck before
Will knew the evening was half gone.
'Charley will think l have deserted
him." he said, "but slippers and dress.
ing gowns are too comfortable to be
easily resigned"
Ella softly stroked the hair of
head resting upon the back Of the great
arm CHAIR as Will spoke. A strong arm
encir cled her, and she was drawn to
her husbands knee.
.t'Little woman, be said tenderly, 81
cannot tell you how glad l am you
are well again, It was awfully dismal
seeing you always in that direfnl wrap
per, But" and, man-like, he hesitated
Il suppose ought to have stayed at
home more" .r-..-
"You will now = she said anxious
ly.
"Where can I find so pleasant a
place. . he said, with loving fervor, Cor
SO precious companion?"
It was nearly a month later that
Aunt Mary, spending an evening with
Wills mother, heard Charley grumhl
ingly declare:
'There is no getting Will to 60 any
where nowadays. He sticks at home
in the evening as if he were glued
there. | went round there Saturday.
Jane was out, Nell lying on the lounge
with headache, and Will reading to
her, while he rocked the cradle with
one foot. q
"Can't leave" he told me; Nell re-
quires all my attention, for 1 can't
possibly afford to have her sick again.Is
And so Aunt Mary knew that Ella
had "trlea' 10 make home pleasant,
and succeeded