Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-10-05
dignity. It was rather provok-
ing that Ethel should be $50
contented without her, She said

contented without her, she said
more than once, for, following out a
wise and polite plan of his own, he
never attempted TO bias her Judgment,
or to persuade her that she would be
happier in the newer country, although
plainly betraying his own satisfaction
at the change. ~ , {
This was almost unbearable, but
when Ethel's letters bristled all over
with exclamation points. and painted
the happy home Of the Walters family,
"where papa and she sometimes spent
an evening"" she began to ponder, with
rather curious misgivings, on the folly
of her own conduct. She remembered
the pretty ptQ~amt face OF Anne
Walters, and that for a brief
time it was the one face in all the world
to her husband. Not that she really
feared its influence over him now, she
said, when she reasoned with herself,
and vet - and - s-.-,5 ,...f SD.
F Presently the letters assumed new
breadth and color. Papa had taken
suh a lovely house, and furnished it,
chiefly on her account, Ethel said. Pa
pas business was increasing wonder
fully-he had besides bought out some
body's claim, and it had proved very
valuable. Then followed a description
of the house that was as dazzling as
tantalizing to the unhappy wife. 1t
was larger and grander than their own
home. There was a splendid lawn,
and a fine garden,and a,large conserva-
tory; a carriage - drive and
barn and stable, almost as handsome
q @ tho hor,ca AnI fhop tho ,,oI11o&,.
ing! Mrs. Archer looked rather con-
t~emptuously at her plain linen shades,
and Nottingham lace curtains, and small
gilded cornices, and contrasted her
nine foot ceilings with the twelve and
fourteen over which Ethel raved. "It
might be all very splendid" she said,
with a final effort at composure-" but
home is home. | have lived here all my
married life, l can not make any other
place seem IS dear and sweet as this. -
"Has Mr.. Archer 81 housekeeper?''
asked one of her lady friends who came
to call one day, as she threw coquettish-
ly back the folds of her cashmere
shawl.
"No, indeed!" said Mrs. Archer,
with unwonted emphasis. .sa
"Dear me, how does he manage to
get on with so large a house? Mrs.
Walters wrote me all about it, she is an
old friend of mine, you know, and /
suspect her taste was called into requi-
sition whenthe place was furnished. She
don't say so, but then a man must have
the judgment of some feminine mind,
and | know he and Annie used to be ac-
quaintances."
Mrs. Archer felt her cheeks redden
violently, but dared not trust herself to
speak. The very idea that Mrs. Wal
tiers had put forth a finger in the decor
alton of what should by right be her
home, was more than she could bear.
As for her visitor she smiled, in her
sleeve, as the saying is, and wondered
to herself why Mr.. and Mrs. Archer did
not live together.
1t was the last straw that broke the
camel-back of Mrs. Archer's resolution,
and it came in this shape: Ethel wrote
-ah, had her mother seen her writing
that letter, e the arch smiles and
Struggling of the shoulders-that papa
had a housekeeper!! a nice one-ar ela-
tive of Mrs. Walters! and she had al
ready learned to love her very much
and called her aunty. Poor Mrs. Arch
er! The letters came thicker and faster,
and not n but reiterated the praises
of this prodigy of housekeeper, who
knew every thing, and YVES the incarna-
ton of every grace under heaven.
After that Mrs. Archer moved about
with compressed lips and a brow where
on melancholy was stamped, but there
was a look of stern resolve in her eve.
She talked little, saw no company, kept
two sewing-machines going, and two
dressmakers busy. In fact she had be-
gun to look upon herself as a neglected
wife, and the role did not suit her. The
purposes she had formed were put into
action with lightning-like rapidity, the
house was let Just as 1t stood to d wealthy
widow without children. Mrs. Archer
told the few to whom she wished to
communicate concerning her move
ments, that she had changed her mint
and thought of paying a visit to Cali
f~ornia, and at all events spending one
winter there. Poor woman, she could
not even say she had been sent for. l
commend Everett Archer's wisdom to
all husbands. aGof -. ."u
"Youm never see her back again."
said one of the knowing ones-'I rather
think there's a conspiracy going on in
California"
1t was a week after that, when Ethel,
sitting n morning at the breakfast
table, her chair facing the long French
windows, gave one shrek of delight,
threw her napkin into the sugar bowl,
and dashed from the window to the i'm
minent risk of every thing and every
body in her way. Her father who was
opposite her, his back to the windows,
had scarcely time to recover from his
surprise, and the stately woman at the
head of the table to turn pale at the
shock, before Ethel came bounding
back with glad weloomings and laugh
ter.
go papa, she has Gomez mamma is
here! | knew it vas her--I knew Tom
and Dickey though | saw them at the
very end of the lawn. Come in, man.
ma-We1comle to California; 0, now
our home will be perfect!'h 3 4@
OF course, mamma came in and fell
with "a yuoaEy 1ittla brc+oo,1 80 -