The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-23

ner of his life; but how she seemed set
ting into a mere nursery maid, hum
drum housekeeper, a good seamstress,
with no other thought than to provide
for the physical we'll being of her house
hold. What could he do about it? He
would buy the new magazine and read
aloud to her, and see if they couldn't
have a taste of the old, sweet wine of
their early companionsAip.
So, as she took up new embroidered
sack that she was making for the baby,
he opened to story, and asked her if
she would not like to hear it. Why, yes,
she would be very glad to; she got so
little time to read now, there was so
much sewing to do, and so many things
to see to, and so many interruptions,
that she never had time to open a book
hardly.
Frank was soon in the midst Of the
story, but when he read a gorgeous de-
sCription of the boudoir of the heroine,
Mary interrupted him:
THAT makes me think, Frank, that
we must have a new carpet for our best
chamber; that's been on the floor ever
since we were married, and it's all faded;
it will do very well for one of the other
bedrooms, but l think we must have n
new carpet for that room, and curtains
to match; you know that carpets are
cheap now. l saw an elegant ingram at
Sloan's last week, just the thing, and it
wouldn't cost over fifty dollars; this room
isn't very large"
/" You shall have it," said Frank, as he
went ON with his reading. Presently he
looked up inquiringly to Mary, and said:
Doesn't this spirited fellow remind you
of Tom Bowling, my old college chum-
your cousin Tom, you know" seeing that
Mary looked little doubtful
"Why, yes, l guess he does" said
Mary, who had been thinking, not of the
story, but how she would arrange the
new curtains, and embroider toilet set
to match the carpet.
1t was easy enough to see that the
reading would be failure, and when the
story was completed Frank reclined on
the lounge and read to himself Its
no use, he thought; 81 can't get her in
terested in anything but trifles, and III
go back to my club"
So, on the plea of business, Frank alb
sented himself more and more from
home, until he rarely spent an evening
with Mary, unless visitors were present
And she, absorbed in her domestic cares,
careful for his physical comfort, uncon-
scious that they were so rapidly growing
apart, gave herself more and more to her
household duties and the constant over
sight of her children.
Handsome children they were, and
Mrs. Mervin must see that in dress and
manners they were in no whit behind
their neighbors'. Though she had
sewing machine, her needle was con-
stantly in use while her husband was at
home, embroidering or finishing the gar
ment she had prepared in his absence.
If there was nothing else the crochet or
tatting needle filled up the intervals.
Accountable crochet-horrid tat
ting" Frank would say to himself, until
all the paraphernalia of tides and lamp
mats, wall baskets and sofa pillows, be-
came inexpressibly odious to him. elf
Mary would only knit up the raveled
sleeve Of care which | bring home daily
with kind, personal attention-if she
would give me herself, and let me res:
my weary head on her heart. No doubt
she loves me, but that love doesn't satisfy
me. | want her to go with me above
these low hung skies of care and petty
ambition into the clear light of those
early, happy days when we read and
talked so much together"