The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-03-18
Ella Goodwin's Trial.
BY S. ANNIE FROST.

"Going out again?"
Ella Goodwin spoke in fretfnl tone,
and her pretty face was puckered up
into most dismal frown.
81 promised Charley l would step
round for an hour or two and have a
game of domines."
"ADything 10 get away from home -
But Will Goodwin was already out
of hearing, His wife, after a fretful
remark, addressed to the walls, to the
effect that she was fool for ever get.
ting 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 a gentleness strangely at
variance with a jerk that had put the
book upon the table.
When he slept once more in the cra-
die Ella yawned and again took up her
book. But before she had opened ii
there came 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 wraps.
81 am always alone! Will gets his
meals here!' was the bitter reply. "He
goes to the store as soon as he gets his
hro l. foc hn NJ
evening. Now he is with his brother
playing dominos."
"Don't you play dominos
"Yes."
''I'd keep him at home to play"
"He would not care to stay. l sup
pose all young married men tire of
home, Aunt Mary?"
"Net all! But you speak in bitter
tone that pains me, Ella. 1t is not
like you"
81 feel bitter! 1 have no one to
talk to but you, and l never complain
ed before, 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 word of ad-
vice?"
"You know you may"
"Look in the mirror, dear, then look
round the roomp Ella obeyed. In
the mirror she saw slender figure
robed in a morning wrapper, without
any collar or cuffs, and not precisely
clean face pretty and expressive,
with a wreath of golden hair loosely
kotted into a comb and decidedly un-
tidy. The room, handsomely fur
nished sitting room, was begging for
broom as eloquently as dusty carpet
could beg. Harry's cradle in one cor
ner balanced disordcd work table in
another. The centre table was piled
with miscellaneous articles, amongst
which bowl of 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 if things were
nice and you were dressed"
There was silence for few mo-
ments. Then Ella spoke:
"I'll try it, auntic. 1 suppose it is
partly my faclt. Before Harry was
born he was at home more, but have
been careless since then"
"You are not strong, l know" Aunt
Mary said very kindly, "and baby is
care, but would try to be dressed in
the evening and have the room cheer
full. Your piano looks as if it was
meyer opened!"
SIT never isl"
"Don't you have time to practice?"
"I can't plead want of time, auntie:
Jane is one of the best of servants, and
time hangs upon my hands. lam glad
you came in. believe | want "A moral
shaking"
Then they talked of other matters,
Of Harry's first tooth and baby accom-
plishments, of the winter fashions, of
feminine interest of all kinds. The
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
whispered:
''Fll try, auntie, to mske home more
attractive to Will"
She was fast asleep with Harry nes
tied in her arms when Will came home,
but the touch of his lips upon her
cheek aroused her.
"Did you have pleasant evening ?"
she asked. "Aunt Mrry was here and
left her lOve for vou !"