Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-07-28

the land of dreams. His deep
breathing had scarcely given evi-
dence of the fact, ere a light move
ment on the part of Mrs. Howland
showed her to be awake. Presently
she drew the clothes from her face,
and raised herself cautiously. The
heavy breathing of her husband
was not interrupted. She sat up IN
bed; she glided from beneath the
covering, and CROPPING in the dark
ness found her husbands vest, from
which she took a key.
"Mother?n The slight noise
made in opening the door had dis
turbed one of the children. Mrs.
Rowland stood still, holding her
breath. The call was net repeated,
and she went ont, cropping her way
along the passage. Entering the
room she sought she closed the door
behind her, and drew the bolt,
locking herself in. Now all her
motions became hurried and nervous.
After lighting the gas, she went to
her husbands secretary. and wlih
the key in her possession, unlocked
one of the private drawers. Her
hand shook so that the key ratified
on the seutcheon before a way was
found into the wards. The first OBJ
iect that met her view was morocco
miniature case, which she seized up
on with clutch as that of 8 bird
of prey. and bearing it to the gas
light. opened the clasp, and exposed
the miniature to view.
1t was a young and beautiful wo-
man, the eyes looking up into hers
with a sweet expression. Away
from the pure forehead, the hair of
golden anburn fell smoothly back,
and Law in curls upon her neck, that
was Whittier and purer than alabaster.
The lips were full, soft, and arching
for a fight of arrows. Loves witch
ery was in the pictured countenance.
Still, very still, did the wife sit
and gaze down upon her rivals face
that face on which, scarce an
hour before, she had seen her has
bands kisses laid. Still, very still,
she sat, the tears creeping out of her
eyes, falling slowly over her cheeks,
and dropping upon the miniature.
Was she jealous of that rival? No!
Her heart was too glad for jealousy,
too full of ioy. too wild with new
born happiness. The bride of ten
years ago was the rival of to-day;
and the heart of her husband was
true to his marriage vows. 1t was
no fault of his that he could not
love what had become unloyely.
Not unlovely in the poorer signifca-
ton of that word, as indicating
changes wrought by the wearYing
hand of time; but unloyely through
indulgence in impatience and fret
fuIness, and in the neglect of self
discipline; unloyely, also, from care
lessness of attire and personal neat
ness.
With the image of herself as she
was ten years before, and with the
image of her husband fondly pas
sionately kissing that image, dwell-
in her imagination, Mrs. Rowland
went back to her bed. She had
suddenly awakened as from a dream;
and the language of her heart was
"Thank God that / am awake!,,
As they sat at breakfast on the
next morning, Mrs. Rowland noticed
change In thes expression of her
husbands face as he looked at her
across the table, letting his eyes
dwell upon her with unusual interest.
1t was a pleased, almost admiring
expression. She was in no doubt
as to the cause, for she had attired
herself with great care in clean,
bright morning wrapper, and wore
cap, fastened at one side with a.
ruby hair-pin, and ornamented with
two or three small pink bows and
sprig Of flowers. A plain linen col
lar, pinned with cameo, around
her neck. And better than all, she
had banished every sign of discon-
tent and fretfulness from her face.
"How sweet mother looks this
morning" said Mr.. Howland glanc-
ing at one of the children who sat
near her, and smiling one of his old,
bright smiles.
''Don't she?" answered the little
one, lifting her little mouth to mann
ma for a kiss.
'tMe kiss too-mamma so beauti-
full" And little ALE scrambled
down from her chair, in new, born
admiration of her mother, and, put
up her rosy mouths isH 1sss salE
q "And me, too exclaimed Mr..
Rowland, passing around the table,
laying his lips softly and lingeringly
upon those of his wife. He saw, as
he-looked across the table, on resum-
ing his seat, that her eyes were dim
with tears. He knew they were
tears of pleasure, but didnot imag-
inc how deeply her heart was stirred,
nor how full Of precious memories
and golden hopes the moment was
crowded.
Ten years after marriage, loves
lamp was burning low; the oil
grown nearly exhausted the wife
so unattractive that the hus-
bands heart was turning back in
worship of the bride. But the lamp
has blazed up again-there is a sup
ply of oil. A beauty beyond any
bridal beauty invests the wife; and
it shall grow more womanly, more
fuxuriant, more enchanting as the
days succeed each other and years
progress, until the soul puts on her
garments Of eternal youth. y ies'.''.
TTLDEN ASA REFORMRE 81 = E,
A Democratic Estimate ofthe Mansi8