Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-02-25
ELLA G00DWIN,S TRIAL.
BY 8. ANNIE FROST.

Ella Goodwin spoke in fretful tone,
and her pretty face was puekered up
into a most dismal frown.
Il promised Charley 1 would step
round for an hour or two and have a
game Of dominos. f"
sAnything to get away from home y
But Will Goodwin was already out
Of hearing. His wife, after a fretful
remark, addressed to the walls, to the
effect 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 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 mors Il the cradle
Ella yawned and again took up her
book. But before she had opened it
there came tap at the door, and an
elderly lady with sweet, fair face
came in.
"Alone," she said, as Ella eagerly
welcomed her and took off her wraps.
Il am always alonel Will gets his
meals here!" was the bitter reply. s'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 dominos.
':Don't YOU play dominoss"
eyes"
'1'd keep him at home to play"
ole would not care to stay. l sup
pose all young married mep tire of
home. Aunt Mary
"Not all But you speak in a bitter
tone that pains me, Ella. 1t is not like
you"
81 feel bitter! l have nc one to
talk to but you, and I never complained
before, but I am tired of being alone
all the time. Baby alls the day, but
novels don't fill the evening"
CELIA, since you have spoken to me,
will you let me give you word of
advice 2"
''You know you may"
''Look in the mirror, dear, than look
round the room!" Ella obeyed. In the
mirror she saw slender figure robed
in morning wrapper, without any
collar or cuffs, and not precisely clean;
face pretty and expressive, with
wreath Of golden hair loosely knotted
into a comb and decidedly untidy. The
room, handsomely furnished sitting
room, was begging for broom as
eloquently as dusty carpet could beg.
Harry's cradle in one corner balanced a
disordered work table in another. The
centre table was piled with miscel
laneous articles, amongst which bowl
of bFesd and milk and fire shovel
figured conspicuously. 49,
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 lessing when Will is never at home?'
"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. I suppose it is
partly my fault Before Harry was
born he was at home more, but I have
been careless since then
"You are not strong, ! know" Aunt
Mary said very kindly, and baby is a
care, but l would try to be dressed in
the evening and have the room cheer.
ful. Your piano looks as if it was
never opened y
at never ISL
''Don't you have time to practice Z"
81 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. believe want moral
shaking
Then they talked of other matters of
Harry's first tooth and baby accomplish
ments, of the winter fashions, of femi.