The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-04-27
ALMOST ESTRANGED.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

COuSeTSdUOTy Ou IHe SOutU cUu VI luclE
house, and Mr.. Frankland declared it was
all folly and nonsense.
"But it will be so nice to have rosebuds
and violets in the parlor-vases all the
timel" pleaded the bride.
"My pet, it will cost you dollar piece
for every violet" retorted her husband.
1T would be great deal cheaper to give
the flower contract to some florist for so
much day."
"But it would give such an air of ele-
gance to the house," said Mrs. Frank
land.
"An air of fddlesticks" said her hus-
band. "The fact is, Josey, your little
head has been completely turned ever
since you visited the Ardens, who have
ten times our income, and can afford to
have things as they please"
Il don't like to live so shabbily" pout-
ed the fair Joscelind.
Now this was scarcely fair, when one
reflected that Mrs. Harry Frankland had
been school teacher, on four hundred
year, before she married, living in the
dreary hall bedroom of third-rate board
ing-house on Fourteenth street-that she
never saw hot-house flowers, unless in
florists window, and that cabinet-piano
and set of pink china mantle ornaments
had seemed to her almost too magnificent
to be real
The pretty little cottage that Harry had
taken, just out of town, with its green
lawn, its pair of terra Gotta vases in 'front.'
and its picturesque ay-windows, was a
palace; the one little maid servant, with
white frilled apron and knot Of blue
ribbons in her hair, was better than a
whole retinue of Eastern slaves, and the
books in the tiny black-walnut rest repre-
sents the entire field of literature.
But, you see, after six months reign
over her new kingdom, Joscelind had for
gotten all this, and like the ancient prin-
cess who couldn't be content without a
Roc's egg, pined for something more.
'1t will cost such deal !" demonstrated
Harry.
"The cost is nothing" said Joscelind,
who, year ago, had been forced TO count
her pennies one by one, wash her ribbons
in ammonia and warm water, and darn
her gloves long after they had reached
the stage of actual shabbiness. "Dear
Harry, for my sake! | should so like a
conservatory, filled with smilax, and vio-
lets, and safrano rose-buds, and lilies, and
="
"Jo!" said Mr.. Frankland, brusequely,
drawing on his gloves-"dont tease! I've
said once that | can't afford it. Let that
be the end of the matter!'
Mrs. Frankland went to her own room
and had good cry.
There aunt Sarepta found her.
Aunt Sarepta was middle-aged spin
ster, who had come to the cottage when
her niece was first married, on the pre-
tense of getting Joscelind well into the
grooves of housekeeping, and, finding her
self in remarkable snug place, had re-
mained ever since.
"Eh!" said aunt Sarepta, whats the
matter"
ats the conservatory, aunt Sarepta !"
whimpered Joscelind. Harry won't give
me one!"
"Ah!" shifted aunt Sarepta, a little
maliciously. Il always told you he wasn't
so very devoted as he seemed. Men are
always so, my dear They soon tire OF a
new toy"
II don't care!" sobbed the bride. "Ill
accept cousin Mildred's invitation to visit
her. Iii go up to Rockland Lake, and
see if Harry don't miss me |"
That's right, my DEAR" approved the
spinster. "NIen need lesson like that
It'll do your husband good. And you
know | can stay here and keep an eye tc
things"
"Going away, eh?" said Harry, when
with considerable dignity, Mrs. Frankland
impaired her resolution to him that eve
ming at tea. "All right. How long shall
you probably be gomez
"A fortnight at least" said Joscelind
drawing herself up with some dignity
She thought her husband might have
displayed little more becoming sorrow
at her projected departure. "But aunt
Sarepta is going to be good enough to stay
and"
"Oh, she needn't do that!" said Harry
briskly. "Much obliged to her, of course
and all that sort of thing; but really il
isn't at all necessary"
And so determined was he upon the
point, that Miss Sarepta found herself
politely turned out of doors, in spite Of
her anxiety to remain.
But her venom was by no means dis
armed, as was proved by a letter which
reached Mrs. Frankland at Rockiant
Lake, after she had been about weel
with her cousin there:
"MY DARLING JosCELIND: Compos,
yourself Don't be overwhelmed by tn,
tidings have to communicate to you
Meet ill-fortune with determined fortitude
For it is as [ have all along predicted
your husband is unworthy of you
"Now will tellyou how found it out
forgot my box of furs, on the top shell
in the parlor closet when | moved m,
things out. Consequently | had to &c
after it. Harry was out; but, in passing
through his study, [ saw alf-fnished
letter on the table, at which | had the
curiosity to look 1t read thus there is
no mistake, because l copied it with q
pencil on the back of letter that | had
in my pocket to make quite sure):
"'My Dear Jones Come at once. Ny
wife has gone away for a fortnight, and We
can have the whole field to ourselves. Dc
not delay later than Wednesday. for
"That was ALL Called away, probably
by some pressing business, he had left the
pen lying across the sheet-but there i.
quite enough here to prove that he is re
joiced at your absence, and that he make:
haste to summond his vile bacbelo,
friends about him, for unholy orgies anG
expensive revelry, even while he refuses
you the dearest wish of your heart.
"My poor Joscelind, | see nothing be
fore YOU but divorce! Why will moi
women consider before they commit the
mad folly of marriage?
"lf you find yourself unable to suppor,
your misery without me, | will come tc
you at once, upon the receipt of tele
gram. Yours pityingly.
''SAREPTA SLIM"
Poor Joscelind This was sorry end
ing of her bright dream of married happi
ness. She sat with the old maids lette,
in her lap, her cheeks pale and tear
stained, her lip quiyering, as she tried tc
realize the fact that Harry was false tc
her-that Harry exulted in her absence
1 onI 1aaf No ts..o -