The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-03-19
ELLA GOODWIN'S TRIAL.


game of dominoes."
Anything to get away from home T.
But Will Goodwin was already out of
hearing. His wife, after a fretful re-
mark addressed to the walls, to the ef-
feet that she was a fool for ever getting
married, took a novel from under the
sofa cushion and was soon reading with
an air of absorbed Interest. Baby woke
and made the fact shrilly known. An
impatient toas threw the book down
again, and baby was sOOthcd to sleep
with a gentlenees strangely at variance
with the jerk that had put the book
upon the table.
When he slept once more in the cradle
Ella yawned and again took up her
book. But before she had opened it
there WAS a tap at the door, and sn
elderly lady with sweet, fair face came
in. Z
"Alone?n she said, az Ella eagerly
welcomed her and took off her wraps.
am always alone Will gets his
meals here !" was the bitter reply. 'He
goes to the store as soon as he swallows
his breakfast, and be is always out in
the evening. Now he is with his brother
playing dominoes.
Don't you play dominoes2'
eyes"
" I'd keep him az home to play"
He would not care to stay. [ sup
pose all young married men tire of
home, Aunt Mary ?"
mot all But yOu speak in a bitter
tone that pains me, ELLA. 1t is not like
you"
" feel bitter 1 have no one to talk
to but you, aud L never complained be-
fore, hus ! am tired of being alone all
the time. Baby fills the day, but novels
don't fill the evening""
ella, since you have spoken to me,
Will you let ne give you word of
advice ?''
You know you may"
Look In the mirror, dear, then look
around the room !"
Ella obeyed. In the mirror she saw
slender figure rOled in morning
wrapper, without any collar or cuffs,
and not precisely clean face pretty
and expressive, with a wreath of golden
BAR loosely knOtted into a comb, and
decidedly untidy. The room a hand
somely-furnished sitting room, was beg
Rlng for broom as elOquentIy as a
dusty carpet could beg Harry's cradle
IN one corner balanced a disOrdered
workable in another. The center
table was piled with miscellaneous arti-
cies, amongst which a bowl of bread
and milk and "a fire shovel figured con-
spicuOusly.
A crimson flush rose on the young
wife's cheek.
What is the use of having things
nice when nobody sees them but me. or
dressing, when Will is never at homer"
de might be at home more if things
were nice and you were dressed"
There was silencefOr few moments.
Then Ella spoke:
I'll try 1t, auntie. 1 suppose it is
partly my fault. Before Harry was
born he was Mt home more, but have
been careless since then"
You are not strong, 1 know" Aunt
Mary said very kindly, "and baby is
care, but 1 would try TO be dressed in
the evening and have the room cheerful
Your piano looks as if it was never
opened =
" 1t never Is -
Don't You have time to practice ?"
'' / can't plead want of time, auntie.
Jane is one of the best of servants, and
time hangs upon my hands. am glad
you came In. l believe l wanted a
moral shaking"
Then they talked of other matters. of
HaTry's first tooth aud baby accomplish
ments, of the wint,r fashions, of femi-
riue interests of all kinds. TIE innate
sweetness of Elias temper made her
take her aunt's gentle reproof in the
spirit of love that dictated it, and when
the parting Caress was given she whis-
pered
"Ill try, auntie, to make home more
attractive for Will"
She was fast asleep with HarIynestied
in her arms when Will cIme home. but
the touch of his lips upon her cheek
aroused her
Did you have p 'elsant evening ?"
she asked. ''Auns Mary was here and
left her love for you"
Charley and / played awhile, and
then Mira Creighton dropped in and
sang for us."
She seems to drop in pretty Often -
She Is so ultimate with the girls
never thought her singing very
wonderful
% You sing far better. But when 1
can't get any better 1 like hers"
1t was not the first time Will had told
the same story, and strong in her new
resolution Ella determined upon a good
hour of practice early in the morning.
Jane was rather amazed at the clean
ing the sIttinG-rOOm received at the
hands of herself and her mistress. The
cradle was banishod into the adjoining
bedroom, where baby could still be heard
II he wakened; the fire-shoveI assumed
It's legitimate place at the hearth, 1t
rather astOnished Ella herself to find
how many useless articles were "about." "
ard now universally every thing was in |
tue wrong place. But bv noon the room
was bright as hands could make IT. and /
AFTER luncheon "a
tune the piano, closed for nearly n wear.
The SIX o'clock dinner brouobt WII |
Ella was IN the hall as he entered. and |
led the way to the dining room, where a |
ChoeTy brightness reigued.
Comp ny, Nell?" queried Will, |
hls eyes resting upon his WIFE The |
golden haIr-carefully curled-was |
gathered into mass with a comb. and
fell IN q protusiOn of natural ripplets !
upon Elias shoulders. the waving
bands drawn back from her face. Her
dress, of soft blue merino, was finished |
with dainty rutfles at throat and wrists.
and Nnl.s last Christmas gift. a set of |
canoes held collar, cuffs, and dropped |
from the delicate ears. Not a costly |
uress' bG5 carefully adjusted, fitting |
ing.
IA, r
selves, unless you count HarTv 7
have made you some of the bread |
sauce You are so fond of, Will :"
You're a jewel. Only don't make |
yourself sick in the hot kitchen, Nell ! |
You are not very strong, you know"
Nell biushed at that, for it reminded
her of many a neglected duty, many
lazy hour, for which the plea had been
offered in excuse.
"That did not hurt me" she said,
"fOI was in the kitchen making some
lemon-pies
LemOB-pies You make nv mouth
water. Nobody else can make them to
taste like yours 80
So dinner was a success. Ella was a
good cook, aud Will was never sparing
of praise for the dainties she provided.
Bot she bad i fl The kitchen to Jane so
long that her husband had ceased to
lDpk Fnr the DAINTY 4riH H.