Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-09-22
The Young Wife's Lesson

Ihdeeu, Charley, don't think you
ought to expect it of me =
Clara Arden stool coloring, and evi.
IDENTIFY annoyed, in the midst of her pref.
ty little drawing room. while her hus.
band leaned against one of the pulled
damask chairs, pulling unconsciously at
his long beard.
ct won't be much, Clara" said he.
" Fenwick is too sensible fellow to ex.
pect any great performance from SO
young housekeeper as you are"
''That's all nonsense I" said Mrs.
Arden.
eyes; but Clara, darling -
There's no use wasting any further
argument on the question, said Clara,
setting her lips together. "When you
invited him to dinner without consulting
me, You made very great mistake"
"Bnt what an I to do? I've asked
him, and there i; no alternative !"
"Yes, there is. Do as other gcntlc-
men do, and invite him to the restaurant
that is, if you must keep this head
long engagement p
"But never did such thing in my
life before !" said perplexed Charley.
"And hope You never will again I"
retorted Mrs. Arden, with some acerbi-
ty. "That is, SO far as inviting people
without any sort of forcthonght goes!''
The color rose to Charles Arlons
cheek.
"Clara," said he, eff you had asked
dozen people here, my only thought
would be how best to welcome them."
"You are not n housekecper," said
Clara, coldly, "with a sick cook, and
everything in disorder"
"Pshaw! said M. Arden, as he went
ont, closing tho door behind him, with
more emphasis than was absolutely
necessary.
"Men ire so selfish, so inconsiderater
she said to herself. CASH would brave
the criticism Of Oscar Fenwick, who has
dined at Partisan restaurants, and knows
half dozen aristocratic families, where
they keep men cooks, and buffers, and
regular dining-room servants. It's quite
ont OF the question, and so Charles may
rs we'll understand first as last. II Brid-
get hadn't been i'll with the intermittent
fever, L might, perhaps, have tried to
get up dainty little dinner; but rs it
is, no one but man would expect it of
me-"
So Mrs. Arden adjusted her pretty,
shining braids of brown hair in the glass.
and nestled down in the corner of the
sofa, to forget the wears me trials and
vicissitndes of real life in the pages of
the morning papers.
1t was late in the afternoon when n
visitor was announced, with rather start.
ling abruptncss, by the red-arn,ed maid.
oi-all-work, who was trying to supply
the vacant place of the disabled Bridget,
according to the best of her ability.
" Please, mem, it's Mrs. Marley"
Clara started up, half ashamed of being
caught in her morning robe so late in the
day.
" If it was any one but you, Mrs. Mar
ley" said she, laughing and blushing,
I" 1 should apologize for my shortcom-
ings. AS it is, you are just in time to
take off your things and stay to dinner
with me. 1 am alone tonight, and your
society will be real charity" :
"Why, where is your husband ?" :,
asked the visitor, in surprise.
Ginning OUT
"Whero?"
81 don't know. The fact is, he met d,
an old college friend this morning, and in
burst of inconsiderate hospitality-so Z
BIKE man, you know-invited him to
dinner. OF course, refused to ratify
the invitation. What could I do, with :
Bridget ill in bed? So I told him he 1
must take his friend to restaurant, or
some such place. He assented with rather !.
a bad grace, must confess, SO here I :
am, alive"
Mrs. Marley was pretty, fair-com-
plexloned lady, with hair as white as ,,
snow. One of these gentle, helpful, :
sort of persons, who are in
to their friends. She shook
her head as she listened to Mrs. Arden's
story.
"Don't you think I did right, Clara .
lsked, impulsively. "Just consider
low am situated! p
sit would have been some trouble !;
md responsibility" said Mrs. Marley,
'tosuperintend thepreparation of such
neal as you would like to ask your hus- n
'and's guest to sit down to; but 1 think n
should have advised you to try" h
But why ?" a
In the first place. as a compliment {,