Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-12-06

her way along the passage WITH q
hand on the wall Entering the
room she sought, she closed the
door behind her and drew the bolt,
fastening herself in. After light
ing the gas she went to her bus
bands secretary, aud with the key
in Der possession unlocked one Of
the private drawers. Her hand
shook 50 that the key ratified on
the scuteheon before . way was
found into the wards. The first
object that met Der view as the
drawer came open was . morocco
miniature case. which she seized
upon with a clutch a. eager as that
Of a bird Of prey, and bearing it to
the gas light, Embossed the clasp
and exposed the face Of her rival
Il was q Young and lovely face.
and the eyes looked up into hers
with tender and sweet expression.
Away from the pure forehead the
hair Of golden auburn fell smoothly
back, and lay in curls upon her
neck, that was whittier and purer
than alaba.ter. The lips were full,
soft, and arched as il for fight
Of arrows. Loves witchery was
in the picture countenance.
Still, very still, dill the wife sit
and gaze down upon her rivals
face-that face on which, scarcely
an hour before, she mad seen her
husbands kisses laid. Still, very
still, she sat, the tears creeping ont
Of hereyes, falling slowly over her
cheeks and dropping upon the min
allure. Was she jealous Of that
rivali No. Her heart was too
glad for jealously, too full Of JOY,
700 wild with a new born happi-
ness. 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 unlovely.
Not unlovely in the poorer signifi-
cation of that word, as indicating
changes wrought by the wearing
hand of time, brit unlovely through
indulgence and impatience, and
fretfulness, and in the neglect Of
self-discip!ine-unlovely, also, from
care'essness Of attire and personal
neatness.
With the image Of herself as
she was ten years before, and with
the image of her husband fondly,
passionately kissing that image,
dwelling in her imagination, Mrs.
Rowland went back to her bed.
She had suddenly awakened from
a dream, and the language of her
heart was: Thank God l am
awake"
AS they sat at breakfast on the
next morning, Mrs. Rowland notic-
ed change in the expression Of
her husbands face as he looked
at her across the table, letting
his eyes dwell upon her with
unusual interest. 1t was an al |
most admiring expression. She
was in no doubt as to the cause,
for she had attired herself with
scrupulous care in clean, bright
morning wrapper, and wore cap
fastened at one side with q rul Der
hairpin and ornamented with two
or three small pink boughs and a
sprig of flowers. A plain linen col
lar pinned with a cameo was around
her neck. And, better than all,
she had banished every sign Of dis
content and frctfulness from her
face.
"How sweet mother looks this
morning. said Mr.. Rowland,
glancing 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 rosy mouth to man.
ma for a kiss.
"Me kiss too, mamma so beauti-
ful r. and little Allie scrambled down |
from her clair In newborn admira-
ton IF her mother, and PIT up her
mouth also.
"And me too, exclaimed Mr.. How
land, passing around the table and
laying his lips softly and lingeringly
upon the lips OF bis wife. He saw,
az he looked across the table, re-
summing bis seat, that her eyes were
dim with tears. He knew they
were tears Of pleasure, but he did
MT I'm ag;pf bnxr 1.a,,ir her bac~t