The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-09-19
The Young Wife's Lesson,


ought to expect it of mel'
CLARA Arden stood coloring. and evil
IDENTIFY annoyed, in the midst of her pret-
ty little drawing-room, while her hus-
oand leaned against one of the puffed
damask chairs, pulling unconsciously at
his long beard.
" 1t won't be much, Clara" said he
Fenwick is too sensible a fellow TO ex.
pect any great performance from SO
young housekeeper as you are"
THAT'S all nonsense !" said Mrs.
Arden.
Yes; 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 a very great mistake"
"But what am I to do? I've asked
him, and there is no alternative |"
Yes, there is. Do as other gentle
men do, and invite him to the restaurant
that is, if you must keep this head
long engagement ~
"But never did such.a thing in my
life before p said perplexed Charley.
And l hope you never will again I"
retorted Mrs. Arden, with some acerbi-
ty. "That is, SO far as inviting people
without any sort of forethought goes!"
The color rose to Charles Arden's
cheek.
"Clara, said he, eff you had asked a
dozen people here, my only thought
would be how best to welcome them"
"You are not a housekeeper, said
Clara, coldly, with a sick cook, and
everything in disorder"
"Pshaw p said Mr.. Arden, as he went
out, closing the door behind him, with
more emphasis than was absolutely
necessary.
"Men are so selfish, SO inconsiderate!'
she said to herself. cash would brave
the criticism of Oscar Fenwick, who has
dined at Partisan restaurants, and knows
half a dozen aristocratic families, where
they keep men-cooks, and buffers, and
regular dining-room servants. It's quite
out of the question, and so Charles may
as well understand first as last. If Brid-
get hadn't been i'll with the intermittent
fever, I might, perhaps, have tried to
get up a dainty little dinner; but as 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 ome trials and
vicissitudes of real life in the pages of
the morning papers.
1t was late in the afternoon when
visitor was announced, with rather start
ling abruptness, by the red-armed maid
Of-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.
" II it was any one butyou, Mrs. Mar
ley" said she, laughing and blushing,
e" I 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 a real charity"
"Why, where is your husband ?"
asked the visitor, in surprise.
Ginning ont"
"Where ?"
81 don't know. The fact Is, he met
an old college friend this morning, and in
a burst of inconsiderate hospitality-so
like a man, you know-invited him to
dinner. Of course, / refused to ratify
the invitation. What could do, with
Bridget ill in bed So ! told him he
must take his friend to a restaurant, or
some such place. He assented with rather
a bad grace, l must confess, SO here I
am, alive"
Mrs. Marley was a pretty, fair-com-
plexioned lady, with hair as white as
snow. One OF these gentle, helpful,
sort OF persons, who are in
valuable to their friends. She shook
her head as she listened to Mrs. Arden's
story.
"Dont you think did right, Clara
asked, inpulsively. "Just consider