Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-27
The Young Wife'S Lesson.

| 'AAN - AANooOhs
Indeed, Charley, I don'tt think you ought
to expect it of me!
Clara Arden stood coloring, and evident
ly annoyed, in the midst of her nice little
drawing room, while her husband leaned
against one Of the puffed tamask chairs,
pulling unconsciousy at his long beard.
1t won be much, Clara, said he. Fen
wick is too sensible fellow to expect any
great performance from so young II house
keeper us you are.
That's all nOnsense said Mrs. Arden.
Yes; but, Clara, darling
There's no use wasting any further ar
gument on the question, said Clara, setting
her lips together. When you invited him
here to dinner without consulting me YOU
made II very great mistake.
But what am TO do? I've asked him,
and there is no alternative.
Yes, there is. Do rs other gentlemen
do and invite him into the restaurant
that is, you must keep this hcadlong en-
gagement.
But | never did such thing in my life
before, said perpleXed Charley.
And | hope you never will again, repli-
ed Mrs. Arden with some acerbitv-that
is, SO far us inviting people without any
forethought goes
The color rose in Charley Arden's cheeks,
Clara, said he, if you had asked dozen
people here, my only thought would be
how TO best welcome Them
You are not II housekeeper, said Clara,
coldly, with sick cook, and everything
in disorder.
Pshaw! said Mr.. Arden, us he went out,
closing the door behind him with more
emphasis than was necessary.
Men are so selfish, so inconsiderate! she
said to herself. AS if | would brave the
criticism of Oscar Fenwick, who has dincd
at Partisan saloons and knows half Il dozen
aristocratic families where they keep men
cooks and regular dining room servants.
It's quite out of the question, and so Char
ley might rs well understand first rs last.
If Lucy hadn t been ill with an intermit-
tent fever, | might, perhaps, have tried to
got mp nice dinner; but rs it is no man
could expect it of me.
So Mrs Arden adjusted her pretty, shin
ING braids of brown hair in the glass, and
nestled down in one corner Of the sofa, to
forget the wearisome trials and vicssi-
tudes of real life in the pages of the morn
ing papers.
1t was late in the afternoon when Wis.
itor was announced, with rather unusual
abrupness, by the red armed maiden OF
all work, who was trying to supply the
place of the disabled Lucy according to the
best of her ability.
Please. ma am, 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. Marley
said she, laughing and bushing, should
apologize for my shortcomings. AS it is
you are just in time to take off your thing
and stay to dinner with me. I'm alone to
night aud your society will be II real char
) ily.
Why, where is your husband? asked the
visitor in surprise
Dining out.
Where?
don't know. The fact is, he met an
old college friend this morning, and in
burst of inconsiderate hospitality-so like
II man, YOU know-invited him 10 dinner
of course refused to ratify the invitation
What could | do with Lucy sick in bed
So told him he must take his friend to u
restaurant or some such place. lie assent
d, ed with rather u bad grace, must confess
so here am alive.
. Mrs. Marley was II pretty, fair complex
ioned lady, with hair ns white as snow
One of those gentle, hopeful. motherly sor
of persons who are Invaluable to thei
friends. She shock her head us he listened
to Mrs. Arden's story.
Don't you think did right? Clara askeC
impulsively. just consider how am sit
uated!
1t would have been some trouble ant
responsibility, said Mrs Marley, to super
intend the preparation of such meal a
,, you would like to ask vour husbands
guest to sit down to; but think shoul
have advised you to try.
: But " by?
In the first place, as II compliment t.
your husband,
; We are old married people now, sai,
:, she. Only think, it is surely three year
since our wedding day, and all this billn;
and cooling is worn out.
=. Real sentiment between husband an
y wife should never wear out, said Mrs
Marley, mildly. Depend upon it, my love
your husband will appreciate any delicat
e little attention now quite rs much as i
l your engaged life. But this is not all
Let me tell you little experience Of m
n own. | had II brother once-a very dea
s brother; he died of dclirium tremens.
) Oh, Mrs. Marley! Clara Arden place. ;
. sympathetic hand i'll that of her friend, 70
: she saw that the pretty old lady had grow
' pale and tremblcd.
G Yes, my dear, went on Mrs. Marley
/ He had II gay, pretty young wife, who dis
, liked the cares of housekeeping
i, was understood between them that an
! gentlemen guests whom it fell to Clement
: lot to entertain should be taken to som
hotel or restaurant. Well, my dear, yor
$ know how ii was; the wine flowed freely
n there was no feminine presence to reslra
the false idea of fellowship; Clement nc
. qured the fatal habit of indiscriminat
|, drinking, and the upshot of it all was tina
e he filled drunkard's grave. Perhaps
: was uncharitable but l have Away
!, thought that had his wife made her hom
| agreeable 10 nef nuSDanu ana MS guest
!, things might have ended differently.
V But, Mrs. Marley, cried Clara, muc
Y shocked, this is quite different thing.
n l do not say that it is not, Clara; onl
e want to warn you against the rock o
/ which my poor sister-in-law's life wa
4 wrecked. OF what use is all our sad an
: hardly won experience, if not to cautio
a others Il little?
| Clara was silent for minute or two
Y and when she spoke again it was on quit
' different topic. Mrs. Marley stayed an
dined with her off the cold joint and sim