The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-11-10
4.

husband was absent from home were
dwelt upon. Once week regularly he
went out in the evening, occasionally
twice. The regular absence was for the
purpose Of attention a literary society
at least so he had informed his wife.
Now, .or the fret time, doubt Of his
truth crept in, and this doubt was the
sweeping away Of all the sure founda
tions on which her soul had rested.
For a time Mr.. Rowland remained
sitting at his secretary with his face
buried in his hands. AT length, rising
with slow weary motion, as il of one ex-
hausted by bodily or mental exertion, he
drew out his watch.
"Half-past nInew was calculated In
surprise. And then he looked through
the door over towards the chamber
whittier his wife had gone with the chill
dren, and stood listening for some sound.
All was silent. For phort time he
moved in an uneasy, irresolute way
about the room, and sitting down, tried
TO find interest in the pages Of a book
But in little while the volume closed
in his hand. Thought was too busy in
another direction to dwell even with a
favorite author.
."Ten o'clockp The bell was ringing
its clear notes from a neighboring steep
le. Mr.. Rowland started up, and turn
ing ont the light. went over to the sleep
ing room. His wife was in bed. He
spoke to her. but she did not answer.
"Are you asleep" No motion nor
response of any kind. She lay with her
face nearly hidden und~r the bed-cloth-
ea. lie looked at her in a strange earn
est manner for some moments, and then,
moving about nioselessly. prepared for
rest. The day had been one of mnch
, activity, and Mr.. Rowland was weary
enough for sleep. Soon after his head
touched the pillow he was in the land oi
dreams. His deep breathing had scarce.
ly given evidence of the fact ere light
movement on the part of Mrs. Rowland
showed her to he awake. Presently she
drew the clothes from her face, and rails
ed herself cautiously. The heavy breath
ing of her husband was not disturbed
She sat up in bed; he still slept on; sh.
glided from beneath the covering. and
cropping in the darkness, found her hus
bands vest, from which she took key
"Motherp The slight noise mad
!. opening the chamber door had disturbed
one OF the children. Mrs. Howlan'
stood still holding her breath. The cal
was not repeated, and she went out
cropping her way along the passage will
= a hand on the WALL Entering the roor
/, she sought, she closed the door benin
. . her and drew the bolt, fateniDg hersel
in. After lighting the gas she went
> her husbands secretary, and with tn
key in her possession unlocked one {
the private drawers. Her hand shoe
so that the key ratified on the scutcheo
% before way was found into the ward
v The first object that met her view as ii
;, drawer came open was morocco minis
ture case, which she seized upon with
clutch. as eager as that of bird of pre-
and bearing i. to the gas light, unloose
y her clasp and exposed the face Of her r
~ val.
" 1t was young and lovely face, ar
the eyes looked up into hers with te
v der and sweet expression. Away fro
a. the pure forehead the hair of golden p
- burn fell smoothly back, and lay
"e curls upon her neck, that was whit
-" and purer than alabaster. The Ii
eo were full, soft, and arched as if for
~ fight of arrows. Loves witchery W
~ !, in the picture countenance.
~, Still, very still, did the wife SIT a
90 gaze down upon her rivals face-tt
:, face on which, scarcely an hour befo
:. she had seen her husbands q kisses la
Ia Still, very still, she sat. the tears cree
-, ing ont of her eyes, falling slowly o,
hor her cheeks and dropping upon the m
h.. iature. Was she jealous of that::riv
No! Her heart was too glad for je
-, onsy, too full of joy, too wild witt
IA new born happiness. The bride of
her! y.a'' "so "a e ,''", " '"''
T the heart of her husband was true to
, marriage vowsl II was no fault of
that he conld not love what hal beco
unlovely. Not unlovely in the poo
.ignifcntion of that word, az indicat
changes wrought by the wearing hs
of time. but unlovely through ind
,h gence and impatience, and tretfuln
- and in the neglect Of selfdisciplin
n unlovely, also, from carelessness of
"a tire and personal neatness.
,cre. With the image of herself as she
ming ten years before, and with the imag
lowp her husband fondly, passionately kis
ana that image, dwelling in her imaRina
more Mrs. Rowland went back to her be
fir. She had suddenly awakened fror
him dream, and the language of her h
, the was Thank God ] am awake"
ward As they sat at breakfast on the
How. morning, Mrs. Rowland noticed CHI
IL al. in the expression Of her husbands
;mes as he looked at her across the table,
How. ting his eyes dwell upon her with u
still ual interest. It was an almost ADM
n but expression. She was in no doubt /,
,elled the cause, for she had attired he
mys. with scrupnlous care in a clean; b
d her morning wrapper, and wore cap ia
in a ed at one side with rubber ha
/. and and ornamented with two or three s
creta. pink boughs and sprig of flowers
!. Tn plain linen collar pinned with c.
ure Of was around her neck. And, better
Wand. all, she had banished every sign OF
d mt content and fretfulness from her fat
estinp "How sweet mother looks this 4
etary, ing!" SAID Mr. Howiand, gianclE
ot;on. one Of the children who sat nea,
and smiling one of his old,
=. r.. smiles.