Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-12-15
VOL 81.

A1A1
to be an honorable, true man, one whose
wealth was the least attraction to my Mel
lie"
"You were right. He was, he is, all
you thought him."
"He married you, believing he would
carry to his future home one who would
make it not merely a place to eat and sleep
in, but d home of taste and refined pleas
ure. He made the mere house a gem, as l
know. He brought into it a lady, and
then there was in no circle of society a
more charming drawing-room than Mrs.
George Huntley's nor a more devoted hus-
band than the one whose name that lady
bore. And you tell me all is changed. Mel
lie, is the fault on your husbands side ?
Have you made his home what he hoped it
| would be 2"
, "No," said Nellie, in a low tone.
"When you come to see me again, dear,
tell me you have won your husband back
again Retta Wilbur was the rival of
| your girlhood, but she must not mar your
married happiness. Let your husband see
that the charms that won him can still
hold his heart fast"
Very slowly Helen Huntly wendell her
way homeward through the dusty streets.
AS Helen reviewed the past year by the
light OF her newly aroused conscience, she
marvelled at the many instances OF patient
forbearance she recalled, and owned in her
heart chat the fault-fnding of which she
had complained, was very gentle, and very
often omitted where grave cause existed
for it.
1t was hard to define exactly the day and
the hour when the household arrangements
began to fall entirely into the hands of a
servant, whose perfect neatness and COM
potency were, it must be admitted, ii strong
| temptation to a young mistress.
1t was difficult to say when Helen first
| found it too much trouble to dress for din
ner, unless company were expected when
the drawing room was closed, except for
weekly cleaning when the fine-toned piano
was first doomed to silence and solitude.
AS the young wife entered her own room
| after her long walk, fevered with the heat
of the day and her WI train of thought,
| the little clock upon the mantle warned
her that she had only two hours time be~
fore her husband would be home to dinner.
It required an exercise of all her newly
aroused resolutions to refrain from throw
ing herself upon the bed to rest and sure
ly her long walk was a good and sufficient
excuse for this indulgence.
1Il,n lorrn ,;rr onD1 or1 I,,olyr
| was very inviting, but Helen thrust aside
the temptation.
Hastily divesting herself Of her walking
dress, she put on a loose wrapper and hur-
ried to the drawing-room.
Half an hour there altered materially the
aspect Of affairs, for Helen wanted neither
neatness nor taste when she chose to exert
them.
A visit to the nursery, and two-year-old
George and then, returning to her room,
the little woman proceeded to make her
own toilet, recalling her husbands favor
lie colors, and exerting her W taste.
A crisp, cool, white muslin, rufled and
trimmed as fashion dictated, with knots Of
blue-ribbon at the throat and belt, and con-
fining the luxuriant waving brown hair,
had transformed the pretty face and figure,
and frightened Helen into a most attrac-
tive hostess.
Only ten minutes left for the dining
room.
Jane was sure to ave Il well cooked din
nee and d neatly arranged table, but a lew
touches here and there removed all the stiff
primness of James work, while d tall vase
of June roses made the dining room fra
grant and pleasant.
When George iIuntley opened the hall
door with his usual weary sigh, his foot
had scarcely passed the Threshold, when
a pleasant. sense of rest and relief crept
over him. :
The long closed doors of the drawing
room stood wide open.
The half closed blinds of the open win
dows admitted the cool evening breezes,
softly stirring the lace curtains; vases and
saucers of fresh. fragrant flowers stood
here and there, and upon the piano were
| scattered loose sheets Of music.
In this pleasant room a chubby boy in
white was running to meet papa, while a
smiling wife spoke a few gentle words of
welcome.
No fretful woman, with untidy dress and
rough hair. no boy banished to the nur-
sery tonight.
George was a philosopher.
He made no comment, but Nellie felt
the added tenderness of his kiss, noted the
admiling looks in his eyes, and felt that
her work was appreciated.
Dinner passed off pleasantly.
Encouraged by her success so far, Nellie
chatted ga;ly, and George found himself
lingering over the desert of fresh fruits till
long after his usual time for leaving the
table.
"You are not going out ?" Nellie said,
as she saw George advancing omino1sly
towards the hat rack.
Il was going to Kate's. Will you not
come along?
81 would rather have you here"
"Then | will stay. You have the first
claim.''
Thanks. I was thinking how long it
CANNON"
II hoped you were going to play for me"
with a glance t the piano.
II will. Tonight you must remember
that [ am out Of practice, but afterwards,
I will not claim that indulgence. To-
morrow | will resume daily practice"
81 wish you would" WAS the earnest re-
ply. sit has really grieved me to see such
musical talent and culture as yours being
wasted
Even in that opening prelude, the skill