The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-12-14
BROTHER PHIL.
A STORY FOR NEGLIGENT HUSBANDS.

Mr.. Forrest smiled in very superior
sort of way-a sort of patronizing, in
dulgent way, as though. it was the
height of absurd womanish folly fol
Edith to have made the remark.
"That is nonsense, Edith. You know
perfectly we'll how ridiculously impos
sible it is for me to be either always al
home, or take you out somewhere. You
must remember that because man il
married he does not expect never to be
anywhere but where his wife is-if she
is the sweetest, prettiest little girl il
the world!'
He bent forward TO kiss her, anC
Edith smiled-a suspiciously tear-favor
ed smilo it was, however.
"But do get so tired of staying SC
much by myself, Harry. am almost
stranger in London, and | am sure
there are only two ladies in the house
whom / know, and don't like to be al
ways running to their rooms. Harry
really did not think you would gel
tired of my society so-so-soon. II
hasn't been three months yet since we
were-married-and"-
And little Mrs. Forests sobs and
tears overcame her entirely, and Har-
ry's face grew vcxed and stern.
"You are romancing, Edith. You
know perfectly well L have never
thought of such ridiculous thing, and
| do not want to see such childishness
on your part"
And, to further enforce his assump.
ton of marital dignity, Mr.. Harry For
rest walked out and shut the door after
him, x-orxr rhofioally
Then, of course, Edith's tears came i'm
good earnest
ats too bad, too bad! Harry is get
ting tired of my society, know he is,
and wish--I wish-I had never mar
ried and left home, where everything
was so gay and pleasant, and there new
er were long, lonely evenings. Oh
dear"
1t wasn't a very good thing for Edith
TO be thinking-this regret for life
which, undeniably pleasant though it
was, had never been so beautified and
glorified until Harry's love came to her.
But it was pitiably true that her hus-
bands neglect of her of late had more
than once made such thoughts, more
than once had brought hot tears of
wounded pain and regret to the blue
eyes that other young men than Harry
Forrest had thought worth their while
to have smile in theirs; and Edith was
certainly very lonely.
The great, fashionable boarding-housc
to which Harry had brought her, and
installed her in one of its most elegant
rooms, was not such home as she had
been accustomed to, where everything
was gay cheer and girlish frolc.
The boarders were, of course, utter
strangers and haughtily exclusive.
Edith was reserved and shrinking.
and with the exception of Mrs. Thistle,
gentle little widow, who was almost
as shy as Edith herself, and Mrs. Worth
ington, who was jolly and gay as she
could be, little Mrs. Forrest had not an
acquaintance in all the city.
"It's too bad" she sobbed bitterly, as
she lay on the little crimson silk lounge
with her face all tear-flushed and her
rosebud mouth quivering. 81 can al
Jennie, and Sill, and the parlor lighted
up, and perhaps Howard singing one OF
his lovely tenor solos to Sues accom-.
paniment, and Frank Morrison will
come in, and they'll have delicious
waltz, and then Phil will speak of me
dear, darling old Phil! lie always
thought more of me than any one else
ever did-even Harry Forrest! wisl
| hadn't ever married him, and them
There was . little expression of dis
content and Indignation coming OH hcl
lips-memories that would not beal
comparison with her present gildet
loneliness called them, and it wasn't {
good sight to see on pretty married
woman's face.
For an hour after Harry had gone
out Edith lay OH the couch, all sorts o
thoughts running riot in her brain, un
til they were dissipated sharply by
rap on her door, and card that sent al
expression out of her face and eyes cx
cept surprise, that quickly changed into
an excitement of delight.
''Tell the gentleman will be dow
in moment" she said to the servant.
Then she flew to the dressing-mirror
and saw that she was in prcsentabl,
condition, and then went down stair,
with smile and three unspoken word
on her lips:
"Dear old Phil"
Three weeks later Mr.. Forrest cam,
in unexpectedly-just in time TO Sc,
Edith standing by the window kissin.
her hand to gentleman driving by il
a carriage-a handsome, distinguishing
fellow, with bold black eyes and droop
ing mustache-just in time to see tn
sparkle in his wife's eyes and the height
ened color on her cheeks.
"Well, who is he?"
lie asked the question so suddenl,
that Edith gave little cry of surprise.
"Oh, Harry, | didn't know you wer
here! How you startled mel"
''Doubtless. But that doesn't explain
why you were kissing your hand to-
whom?"
The blush on her cheeks deepened til
her face was scarlet.
'IIe -friend-acquainta O
mine," she stammered.
lie looked angriy at her-angrily
with faint sense ofpain mingling wit
the anger.
San acquaintance Since when
please? Edith, do You know you ar
doing terribly risky thing in answer
t ing any salutes from bold, fast men who
in driving by, may have been fascinate
by your pretty face? Edith, won
ask any more questions, but l insis
upon your obeying me in keeping ava
from those windows"
And for the first time in their live
they sat down TO their dinner with
cloud between them.
Sand don't care" Edith said to hel
/. self. '1fPhil is kinder to me than IIal
ry is, I'll like him best, that's all. II
wouldn't leave me alone as Harry doe
and this very night we are going I
!. drive in the park, if the moon is bright.
And when Mr.. Forrest came in thu
5 evening, about ten o'clock, he was agai
( fortunately in time just to catch Ii
: black-eyed, black-musiached fellow g
r ing down the front steps TO the chai:
waiting at the door, and just in time [
find Edith folding away her jacket. Bl
I he said nothing.
His whole soul was beginning 10 l
|, on fire with fury and jealousy, and j