The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-08-03
MY OWN STORY.

"Just a twelye-month, John"
He was standing in the doAEway, my
handsome young husband, his dinner
basket on his arm, his honest eyes all
aglow with love and delight.
"Just a twelve. month, aud now I've
got baby as well as wife. Oh, Jennie,
grille, Pm the happiest man alive.
Come here and kiss me before go, and
tell me what you ould like me to give
you on the anniversary OF our wedding
day?"
whats the use, john" 1 said, as
received his kiss; "you know we haven't
an extra shilling to spare"
$50 l do; but Well play at make-be-
like to have, provided you could have it?
Speak out, glrlie!'
/ laughed and ell to thinking.
"Lel me see. There's 50 many things
| want, Joun, tits hard to decide; but l
think 1'll take that pattern OF brown
six, that we rocked at down at Wilson's
the otuer day."
'All right, and what for baby"
"On, christening robe, OF course"
My husbands btOwn eyes danced.
"Poor Jennie," he said, 'rm afraid
you'll not get 'em. unless we keep up
our game OI make-beleVe. By-by, take
good care OF BlossUm." And with an.
other kiss Tor us bOth he was gone.
| got baby TO sleep, anu iell to work,
cleaning my kitchen and baking tarts.
We could not afford keeping u servant,
Juhu's wages being small, and had all
the housework on my hands; but l did
not mind IL at all. l loved my husband,
and ne loved me, and u happier couple
did not live.
In the midst of my busy work, in
comes MISS DOrcas Dent, an old friend
OF lny mo hers. An old maid, too, was
Miss Dorcas, a great scooter at matri-
mOny and at mankind in general.
$50 you're harl at it, Jennie," she
said, sitting down ana throwing back
ner bonnet-sLrings, "a-drudging your
self to death, ana that child ON your
nands, too! Such a trim, handsome lass
as you used to be, and look at ye now!
| A poor, tae ged slattern! What a fool ye
was to marry, Jeanne! Weren't ye,
noW"
mo, indeed, Miss Dorcas; I'd do the
same Uhingh over again tomorrow"
"Pahl Such simpieGons as you lasses
are! Well, you'd open your eyes to the
truth soon enough. A working your
hands 70 the bone and .spoilIng your
good looks, as II any man that ever had
breath was worth 1t. 1 say, why don't
Jonn keep yon hired grill"
'He can't afford it, MISS Dorcas."
| "Can't he? May be not. Has to
squander too much on his own pleasures,
u0es hep
mo, indeed" / answered, indig.
nanny, 80 Uhn never squanders single
penny"
Miss Dorcas shook her ample sides
with sarcastic laughter.
| "NeVer squanderS q pennyW she re-
peated; "and never stays out o'nighta
either, and goes galliVanLing round the
Town with other women, and ye a-sitting
at nome a.darning his stockings? DON'T
tell me about 'em, Jennie-Lnese good
uusDands-I know 'em. | haven't goi
,Wo eyes for nothing. Didn't l see Jonn
only nIgnt alore last, a-walking down
| town, and another women beside him? ?i
"JohnW gasped-"my john? On, YOU
| must be mistaken" 81 never mistake
Twas your JOhn.o
| "Aud who WAS the Womany
"Can't tell. DIDN'T see ner face"
| When John came home to supper
determined TO ask him; bat a feeling o.
shame kept me silent While we were a
tabIe, ana the minute he was done he
arose and took down his hat.
"Mny, John," 1 asked, "are you goinl
out again? And it ls raining, too"
"SolL rs; but must 10 tonight Jen
nie."
"What for, JohnT
His eyes leli, aud he turned from me
IN evident CONFUSION.
"WeII-yOu see--uon't ask me, Jennie
pVe promised to 20, that's all; but
Shan'L have to go again, may be-"
My foolish, jealous neart rose in my
throat, aud | sto0d hurL and silent.
Jonn Kissed me, and kissed baby in
her CRIB. Then he took OF MS coat ant
LnreW ~ on tue CHAR.
III you DON'T feel too tired, little wife,
you might lasten in that sleeve lining
Pll wear my thick coat to-night."
lie was gone, and afler clearing away
our small liable SAT down to think, AM
soon made myself IN. serable enough. Al
last tnouglt Oh Jonn's coat, and picked
1T up 10 mend IL. 1t was his best coat
which he had only taken for common
wear lew days before. Brushing OF
tne dust, nearu the rustic VI paper IL
the breast-pouket.
Is there vile loyal enough, unfem
inIne enough, TO FeMain from p. ying INT,
The secrets Of her husbands pockets
| when she has a enaucef
drew the rustling paper forth. /
was a note-a -daLuGy, thfee-cornered
affair, with a roae-huL .on the seal.
looked at the direction, John Dan
Uon," my own husbands name, written
in fine feminine characters.
A sharp pang pierced my heart, q mis-
dimmed my eyes. What woman was
thls who dared to Write TO my nus band
| must know. mad ia right TO know.
tore open The tiny sheet.
i MY DEAREST JoHN-Do not fail t,
come to-nIgnt, am alone, and l shal
look for you-
l could not read another word. A
blindness like that of death filmed IN
eyes, faint, horrible sickness crep
over me. Miss Dorcas had told me th
truth. John was untrue to me. And
mad loved MIN SO!
Il / crushed the fatal note into m
pocket, and caught up my cloak am
nat.
"Come, baby" sobbed, driven out Q
my senses Tor the minute by my terribl
pain, 1--WE will go. When he comes b.
shall find us gone"
| l gathered up the little one, ant
wrapped her in u heavy shawl; then W
lett our cheerful tireside, ana set tort
through the pelting rain.
"Why, what in the name of wonde
mas brought you out Tonight" cried m.
"A .a1laar. Wnen we epteIel the sitting