Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-04-13


she did not answer.
"Are you asleep 7" No motion nor response
Of any kind. She lay with her face nearly
hidden under the bed clothes. He looked at
her In strange earnest manner for some
moments, aud then, moving about noiselessly,
prepared for rest. The day had been one Of
much nctivity, and Mr.. HowlaDd was weary
enough for sleep. Soon after his head touched
the pillow he was In land Of dreams. His
deep breathing had scarcely given evidence
Of the fact ere light movement on the part
Of Mrs. Rowland showed her 10 be awake.
Presently she drew the clothes from her face,
and raised herself cautiously. The heavy
breathing Of her husband was not disturbed.
She sat up in bed he still slept on she
glided from beneath the covering, and Crop
ing 10 the darkness, found her husbands vest,
from which she took key.
"Mother y The slight noise made opening
The chamber door had disturbed one Of the
children. Mrs Howlaad stood still holding
her breath. Tho call was not repeated, and
Uho went out, cropping her way along the pas
sage with hand on the wall. Entering the
room she sought, she closed the door behind
her and drew the bolt, fastening herself 10.
After lighting the gas she went TO her hus-
bands secretary, with the key in her posses
sion and unlocked one Of the private drawers
Her hand shook so that the key ratified on
the scutcheon before a way was found into
the wards. The first object that met her
view as the drawer came open was morocco
miniature case which she seized upon with q
clutch as eager as that Of bird Of prey, and
bearing il 10 the gas light, unlooscd her clasp
and exposed the face Of her rival.
II was young and lovely face, and the
eyes looked up into hers with tender and
sweet expression. Away from the pure FORE
head the hair Of golden auburn fell smooth.
Ivy back, and lay in curls about her mock
that was white and purer than alabaster.
The lips were full, soft and arched as II for
q fight of arrows. Loves witchery was in
the picture countenanoe.
Still, very still, did tho wife sit and gaze
down upon her rivals face--that face on
which, scarcely az hour before, she had seen
her husbands kisses laid. Still, very still
she sat, the tears creeping out Of her eyes,
falling slowly over her cheeks and dropping
upon the miniature. Was she jealous Of that
rival2 No! Her heart was too glad for jeal.
ousy, too full of Joy, too wild with new.
born happiness The bride Of ten years age
was the rival Of to-day, aud thu heart Of her
husband was true to his marriage VOWS II
was no fault of his that he could not love
what had become unlovely. Not unlovely
10 the poorer Specification Of that word, as
Indicating changes wrought by the wearing
hand Of time, but unovely through indulgence
and Impotence, and fretfulness, and in the
neglect of selfdiscipline-unlovoly, also,
from carelessness Of attire aud personal neat
ness.
! With the image Of herself as she was
ten years before, and with the ina 70 Of her
husband fondly, passionatey kissing this
image dwelling in her imagination, Mrs
Rowland went back TO her bed. She haC
suddenly awakened from q dream, and the
language Of her heart was Thank God an
awake 90
As they sat at breakfast on the next morn
ing, Mrs. Rowland noticed change in til,
expression Of her husbands face as he looked
al her across the table, letting his eyes dwell
upon her with unusual interest. 1t was at
almost admiring expression. She was 10 no
doubt as to the cause, for she had attircd
herself with scrupulous care in a clean, brigh
uorning wrapper, and wore cap fastened
at one side with a rubber hairpiu aud orua
u,euted with two or three small pink bow
Add sprig Of flowers. A plain linen collar
J plnned with cameo was around her neck
And. better than all, she had banished every
sign Of discomfort and fretfulness from he
face.
"How sweet mother looks this morning !!
said Mr.. Rowland, glancing at enc Of tn
: children who sat near her, and smiling on
Of his old, bright smiles.
Don't she !" answered the little one lift
ing her rosy mouth TO mamma for kiss.
"Me kiss too, mamma so beautiful !" an,
little Allie scrambled down from her chat
in newborn admiration Of her mother, an,
put up her mouth also.
"And me too" exclaimed Mr.. Howlant
passing around the table aud laying bis lip
softly and lingeringly upon the lips of hi
wife. He saw, as be looked across the table
resuming bis seat, that her eyes wero din
with tears He knew they were tears O
9 pleasure, but he did not imagine how deep
3 her heart was stirred nor how full ofpreciou
; memories and golden hopes the moment wa
. crowned
Ten years after marriage. Loves lam
e was burning low. the oil nearly exhauste
} the wife grown so unattractive that the hus
b bands heart was turniag back in worship O
the bride. But the lamp was blazing u
. again; there is supply of oil. A beaut
beyond any bridal beauty invests the wifi
| II Il. 81. NJ
5 chanting, as the days succeed each other an
years progress, until the soul puts on he
IS garments Of eternal youth.