Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-28
pressing, and Harry's long face was a
keen reproach.

J :
one to walk instead Of three or four tt
ride, the absence Of all care of the la
Bile, raised Lulu's spirits again, ant
she was quite ready to enjoy the first
day of liberty.
1t was not SO pleasant in the even
ing, when Harry, after glancing al
the newspaper, went out for an houl
or two.
The other lolgers were strangers
and Lula found her room lonesome.
Harry, after his long Mde from busi
ness, had been glad to don slippers
and dressing gown, and draw up an
easy chair, to enjoy a quiet evening
in his cozy sitting. g.room.
Chatting, reading scraps OF his pa
per, planning garden work, had made
time pass quickly, and early rising
Hece0#ltated early retiring.
1t was all different in little while
Harry was only too welcome
amongst his former friends, and his
evening were spent abroad, while Lu-
lu gathered her friends IN her own
room, ana without realizing it, hu3-
band and wife We're drifting apart it,
tie by little.
Aunt Lucy with a sinking heart,
saw that the result she dreaded was
coming with footsteps far more rapid
than her worst fears dictated.
Harry was soured by his wife S
want of.appreclation tor what he val
ued highly, her determination to ac-
compllsh her own desire; even when
she saw how painful the sacrifice was
to him.
1t hardened him.
And Lulu was mortified and an
gered when she found that Harry, IN
stead OF being her escort to evening
pleasures, as she had tondlv antici pa
ted, preferred to seek his own com
panlons and pursuits.
Each evening he stayed little la
ter away from the room thst it WAS
mockery to call home, and gradually
he found himself drawn into friendly
games of cards, that were more inter
estInS if there was small stake,
though it was long time before he
called his amusement by the ugly
name Of gambling.
Worse still, in the tev,red excite
ment Of the g,me, thu glass was too
often lifted to his lips, and LnIu
shudderel at the thick speech and
haggarl eyes that told the story Of
deep drinking. For her own part,
the pleasure she had anticipated
proved far greater i'll imagination
than in fact.
1t was not pleasant, when her
friends came to spend an evening, to
have them comment plrlngIy upon
the fact that they never saw Mr.. Cor
don.
1t became annoying to depend up
on other escorts than her husband
when she wanted to 50 out, and she
was thrown into companionship with
those that We're far from pleasant
Although tn. housekeeping had
been somewhat extravngant, there
we're but three to provide for and af-
ter six months Harry found his bal
Ance at the bank vas smaller than it
had been before since he was married.
Beef~teaks did not cost as much as
cards, and his pretty nick-nacks did
not involve SO great an outlay as l.u-
lus dress was costing, to keep pace
with the others in the house.
A dinner-rarty to a few friends
Was given at less expense than the
treating for one evening in the
billiard rooms, and Lulu could but
acknowledge there was certainly no
saving
Her own neat dress, that was so
suital!e for morning il her little,
quiet home, looking cheap and com
mon beside the elaborate cambrlcs,
frilled pelcalles of the other ladies,
nd her best dresses were soon worn
ont by the constant shopping and
visiting, undertaken to pass the time.
Too late the young wife realized
that her husband was yielding to
rs that had not presented
themselves to him in the first years of
their married life, and regretted the
steps she had taken,
"You are right, aunt she sobbed
one morning, when Mrs. Henderson
was in her room "llarry seldom
comes home perfectly sober, and he
is unkind to me, as he never was be-
fore. When reproach him, he tells
me it is my fault, that he was never
tipsy when he had home to come
to-
"Can you not 6, back o.
No. Father says he cannot afford
to furnish house for me again, and
certainly Harry cannot. Indeed, he
would not, for he is still sore about
the contemplate price the goods
brought at auction. Oh, aunt. what
can | do ?
You must try to coax Harry to
stay more with YOU. And Lulu, you
might soon save money for expensive