Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-12-18


For love, do you mean?' asked ia
net.
Yes; they don't feel at all as we do,
Janet, and it don't take many years of
married life to make them think of a
wife as sort of maid of-all-work.'
A libel, Madge,' said Mrs. Matson,
laughing; / won't allow you to sit in
| Williams chair and talk So
No, because your husband is differ
ent, and values his wife's love, while
John cares for me only as his house
keeper
L don't think that Janet, although /
know that he said to my husband the
other day thatcourting time was the hap
piest of a mans life. William remind
ed him that there is greater happiness
than that, even on earth, if men but
give their hearts to Christ. / know
John did not alter his opinion, but he
went away thinking of his counting
time as joy too great to be exceeded.
Dear fellowl' cried Madge, smiling
through her tears; / do believe he was
very happy then. remember l used
to listen for his steps as l sat with my
dear mother by the fire, longing for
the happiness of seeing him.
Just so, said Janet; do you ever
feel like that now?
Madge hesitated.
We'll, no, not exactly
Aud why not
oh, | don't know, said Madge !;
married people give up that sort of
thing.
Love, do you mean 2 asked Janet.
No, but what people call being senti-
mental, said Mrs. Harley.
Longing to see your husband is
proper sentiment, replied Janet
But some people are ridiculously
foolish before others, reasoned Madge.
That proves they want sense. am
not likely to approve of that, as Will
lam would soon tell you; all | want is
that wives should let their husbands
know they are still loved
But men are so vain, said Madge,
that it is dangerous to show them so
much attention
Her friend looked up.
oh, Madge, what are you saying p
Have you then married with the notion
that it is not good for John to believe
you love him?
No, but it is not wise to show that
you care too much for them
Say | and him do not talk of hus-.
bands in general, but of yours in par
ticular.'
He thinks quite enough of himself
already | assure Won
My dear Madge, sand Janet, smil-
ing, would it do you any harm to re-
ceive little more attention from your
husband?
OF course not. wish he'd try and
Mrs. Harley laughed at the idea.
Then you don't think enough Of
yourself already? And nothing would
make you vain, suppose?'
Madge colored, and all the more who
she perceived that William Matson has
come in quietly and was now standing
behind Janet's chair. This, of course
put an end to the conversation. Madge
retired to her own home to think of
Janet's words and to confess secretly.
that they were wise.
Hours passed befored John Harley
returned home. He was a man of good
abilities, and well to do in the world
and having married Madge because he
truly loved her, he mad expected
to have happy home. But partly be-
cause he was reserved and sensitive
and partly because Madge feared to
make him vain, they had grown very
cold toward each other, so cold that
John began to think the alehouse a
more comfortable place than his own
freside,
That night the rain fell in torrents.
the winds howled, and it was not until
the midnight hour had arrived that
Harley left the public house and hast
ened toward his cottage; he was wet
through when he at length crossed the
threshold he was, as he gruffiy NUT
tered, used to that but he was not
used to the tone and look with which
his wife drew near to welcome him,
nor to find dry clothes by cracking
fire, and slippers on the hearth; nor to
hear no reproach for late hours-dirty
| foot-marks as he sat in his armchair
Some change had come to Madge, he
was very sure. She wore dress be
had bought her years ago, with neat
linen collar around the neck, and had
a cap, trimmed with white ribbons, on
| her head.
You're smart, Madge,' he exclaim-
ed at last, when he had stared at her
for some time in SILENCE. Who has
been here worth dressing for tonight
No one, until you came, said Madge,
half laughing.
L? Nonsense. you didn't dress for
me, cried John.
You won't believe it, perhaps, but l
did. | have been talking with Mrs Mat
son this evening, and she gave me some
very good advice. So, now, John,
what would you like to have for sup
per?
John, who was wont to steal to the
shelf at night and content himself with
any thing he could find, thought
Madge's offer too excellent to be re.
fused, and very soon a large bowl of
chocolate was steaming on the table.
Then bis wife sat down, for a wonder,
by his side, and talked little, and
listened, and loo ked pleased, when at
last, as if he could not help it, he said:
Dear old Madge
That was enough; her elbow some
how found its way, then, to the
arm of his great chair, and she sat
looking quietly at the fire. After
awhile John spoke again:
Madge, dear, you remember the old
days when we used to sit side by side
In ysur mothers Kitchen?
Yes.
i was young man, then, Madge,
and as they told me, handsome; now
am growing older, palmer, dulIer
Then you-you loved me, do you love
me still?'
She looked up In bis face, and her
eyes answered him. 1t was like going
back to old days to feel his arms
around her as her head lay on his
shoulder. and to hear once again the
kind words meant for her ears alone.
She never once asked if this would
make him vain She knew, as it By
instinct, that it vas making him a
wiser, more thoughtful, more earnest
hearted man. And when, after hap