The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-02-11
ELLA GO0DWIN'S TRIAL.
BY 9. ANNIE FROST.

"GoING out again?"
Ella Goodwin spoke in fretful tone,
and her pretty face was puckered up
into most dismal frown.
II promised Charley I would step
round for an hour or two and have
game of dominoes."
"Anythingto to get away from home!"
But Will Goodwin was already out OF
hearing. His wife, after fretful re-
mark addressed to the walls, to the effect
that she was fool for ever getting mar
ried. took 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 toss threw the book down
again, and baby was soothed to sleep
with gentleness 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
tap at the door, and an elderly lady
with a sweet, fair face came in.
"Alone!" she said, as Ella eagerly
welcomed her and took off her wraps.
II 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 he is always out in the
evening. Now he is with his brother
playing dominoes."
"Don't you play dominoes?"
eyes"
"Td keep him at home to play"
"He would not care to stay. / sup
pose all young married men tire of home,
Aunt Mary?"
"Not all! But you speak in bitter
tone that pains me, Ella. 1t is not like
you.'
"Ifeel bitter! have no one to talk
to but you, and never complained be-
fore, but am tired of being alone all
the time. Baby fills the day, but novels
don't fill the evening""
celia, since you have spoken to me,
will you let me give you a word of
advice?"
"You know you may"
"Look in the mirror, dear, then look
around the roomw
Ella obeyed In the mirror she saw a
slender figure robed in morning-wrap-
per, without any collar or cuffs, and not
precisely clean; face pretty and ex-
pressive, with a wreath of golden hair
loosely knotted into comb, and de-
cidedly untidy. The room, handsome
ly-furnished sitting-room, was begging
for broom as eloquently as dusty
carpet could beg. Harry's cradle in one
corner balanced disordered workable
in another. The center-table was piled
with miscellaneous articles, amongst
which bowl of bread and milk and a
fire-shovel figured conspicuously.
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"
"He might be at home more if things
were nice and you were dressed"
There was silence for few moments
Then Ella spoke:
ell try it, auntie. ! suppose it is
partly my fault. Before Harry was born
be was at home more, but l have been
careless since then"
"You are not strong, know" Aunt
Mary said very kindly, and baby is 9
care, but would try to be dressed in the
evening and have the room cheerful
Your piano looks as if it was never
openedT
1t never is!'
"Don't you have time to practices"
Il can't plead want of time, auntie
Jane is one of the best of servants, ant
time hangs upon my hands. / am glat
you came in. I believe l wanted mora
shaking"
| Then they talked of other matters, o
Harry's first tooth and baby accomplish
ments, of the winter fashions, of femi
nine interests of all kinds. The inmate
sweetness of Elias temper made he
take her aunt's gentle reproof in tn
spirit of love that dictated it, and whel
the parting caress was given she whis
pered:
"I'll try, auntie. to make home NOR
! attractive for WILL"
She was fast asleep with Harry nestle
! in her arms when viii came homo, bu
the touch of his lips upon her chez
aroused her.
ibid you have . pleasant evening"
she asked. Aunt Mary was here an
left her love for you"
"Charley and played awhile, an
then Mira Creighton dropped in An
sang for us. /"
Il She seems to drop in pretty often"
II "She Ii 20 intimate with the girls"
| ~ never thought her singing veI
wonderful"
"You sing far better. But whom
I can't get any better ! Ike hers."
ri ltwas mot the hrst time WIN had to|
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