The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-10-06

HAu
passed since the VOWS had been ex-
} changed which made them husband and
wife. All her occupations seemed
worthless now. Her beautiful home no
longer satisfied her; her friends found
her restless, though they complimentad
her upon her strength of mind, and
declared her model for her cour-
age in-having her own way. Ethel's
innocent letters were gall and worm
wood 10 her. Papa had found so mdny
old friends and acquaintance, aud
seemed so delighted with this beautiful
country She was positive that il mani
ma could only see the lovely wide ave-
nues, the great spreading shade trees,
If she could taste the luscious fruit, see
the noble architecture of this grand
city, she would never wish 10 90 back
to the old home-neverl
Mrs. Archer read aud reflected and
sighed. She had begun 10 find her
! household duties arduous and perplex-
ing. To order wood and coal, To at
tend to all bills and payments, superin-
tend repairs, was something heretofore
entirely without the bounds of her ex-
perience, and IL is needless to say she
bitterly rued her decision more than
once, and was only waiting some occa-
sion on which she could sink her pride
without doing violence to her
dignity. IL was rather provok-
/ ing that Ethel should be so
contented without her, she said
more than once, for, following out
wise and polite plan of his own, he
never attempted to bias her judgment,
or 10 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 miSglvings, on the folly
OF her on a conduct. She remembered
the pretty pigiiGlH face of Anne
Walters, and that for brief
time it was the one face in all the world
20 her husband. Not that she really
feared its influence over him now, she
said, when she reasoned with herself,
and vet - and -
breadth and color. Tapa had taken
such q lovely house, and furnished il,
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 rs
tantalizing to the unhappy wife. Ii
was larger and grander than their own
home. There was a splendid lawn,
and fine garden, and a large conserva- /
tory; carriage drive and /
barn and stable, almost as handsome
"a the house. And then the upholster-
ing, Mrs. Archer looked rather con-
temptuously 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. alt
might be all very splendid" she said,
with final effort al cOmposure-" but /
home is home. have lived here all nv
married life, l can not make any other
place seem as dear and sweet as this"
% Has Mr.. Archer hOusekeeper ?" |
asked one OF her lady friends who came /
" back the folds Of her cashmere
shawl.
"No. indeed" said Mrs. Archer,
with unwonted emphasis
"Dear me, how does he manage to /
get on with so large house? Mrs. F.
Walters wrote me all about il, she is an
old friend Of mine, you know, and I
suspect her taste was called into requi- I
sition when the place = As furnished. She 4
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 20
speak. The very idea that Mrs. Wal \
ters had put forth finger in the decor
alton IF 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
10 herself why Mr. and Mrs. Archer did
not live together.
IL was the last straw that broke the
camel-back Of Mrs. Archer's resolution,
and il came in this shape: Ethel wrote
All, had her mother seen her writing
that letter, seen the arch smiles and
Struggling OF the houlders-that papa
had housekeepeT a nice one-a rela-
tive Of Mrs. Walters and she had al
ready learned TO love her very much
and called her aunty. Poor Mrs. Arch
err The letters came thicker and faster,
and not one but reiterated the praises
Of this prodigy Of housekeeper, who
knew every thing, and was the incarna-
ton Of every grace under heaven.