Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-06-19
THE OTHER SIDE.

able traces OF tears upon her very pref
ty face. Beside her, in the daintiest of
cradles, slept rosy baby, and around
her were signs Of comfort, and many
tasteful articles that spoke of lease In
expenditure of money. She wore a
dress of soft, fine merino, fashlOnably
made and trimmed, and very becoming
to her dark eyes and hair, and rich,
clear complexion, and clasping the fine
lace collar at her throat, was q hand
some pin, whose match in earrings de-
pended from the small ears. Upon a
table beside her were the Journals and
magazines, a basket containing embrold-
erv tor the baby in the cradle, and a
fancy box, evidently new, containing
choice confectionery. Though room,
mother and child formed a picture OF
comfort, yet Bella Osmond was crying.
While the tear drops fell upon that lit
tie hand clasped idly in her lap, her
thought ran in this wise:
at gets worse and worse. | don't be-
lieve Harry has been at home one even
ing in month. He brings me books,
papers, and candy, as if | was baby,
and then he has an engagement, and L
do not see him until midnight, after he
has been away all day. Only two years
married, and I scarcely ever see my
husband! What can [ do? Mother says,
Make your home attractive SO l
keep my music, and always dress Tor
dinner, and try my best to be just the
same Bella Twas before was married,
when he thought no evening SO pleasant
as those he spent with me. Jennie says
[ ought to be thankful Harry don't
drink. So l am thankful; but should
like to have him remember that he has
a home, and not mere eating estab-
lishment. Twelve o'clock-and l
hear the latch-key."
"Why little woman! sitting up for
me?' .#.
1t would have been hard for even an
il-tempered woman to resist the CHEEKY
voice and bright smile ofthe handsome
young man who bent over Bella as he
spoke with a loving kiss. Bella not
having one spark of bad temper in her
composition, smiled back again.
"Why!" cried Harry, as the light fell
upon her face, ''you've heen crying!
Are you sick, darling?'
"No. am not sick. But am lonely
when you are not here, Harry"
Lonely! Why, you have baby, and
your books and papers, and the piano,
[ thought women always had sewing
and knitting, and all sorts OF work to
fill up the time"
"But Harry, I have all day for work,
In the EVENING" want YOU"
"Now see here Bell" said Harry,
No ono
cannot stay at home all the time. [ am
sure [ give you everything you want,
don't I?'
eyes"
"Shawls and bonnet and dresses, and
you Only have to ask for money to have
it. I have to work hard at the store all
day, and when evening comes | want
a little recreation. You know always
where [ am, [ never insultyou by COM
ING home drunk. You have everything
YOU ask for, and really don't see what
any reasonable woman can find to
complain about. Don't let me find you
crying again, that's dear little woman.
I'll take YOU to the opera tomorrow
evening and cheer you up"
So Bell went to bed comforted little.
and really believing she had been lit
tie too eXactlng.
For a week or two, Harry came home
oftener, and took his wife out several
times. Then he drifted back again in
TO the old habit of promising to meet
Jones here, Brown there, and Robinson
IN another place, a little influenced, it
must be confessed, by the unanimous
opinion of his friends of bachelor days
that "Osmond was not spoiled by mat
rimony a bit. Just the same good old
fellow he always was"
Bella made no complaint. She made
d tempting dressing gown, worked beau
tiful slippers, smoking cap; had the
qualification of seeing them adorn her
lord and master on Sunday mornings,
but otherwise neglected. She made her
sitting room very bower of beauty and
arranged little table with the most
tempting cigar holders, match safe, and
ash-receiver. She learned new music,
and made herself the prettiest object in
the house, always excepting the wonder
full baby; but yet evening after even
ing she had the modification of seeing
Harry turn his back on her carefully
prepared destinations, pleading an en-
gagement and leaving her alone.
Then she tried gathering few mu-
tual friends around her, hoping-to keep
Harry at home that way; but she soon
abandoned that, finding it mortify-
ing to play hostess in her pretty home
alone.
When she found all her gentle de-
vices useless, she tried to make the
time pass pleasantly by reading. sew
ing, and practicing, giving often a
thought to her old home in another
city, and that cheerful family group
collected there. 81
The winter was nearly over, wnen one
evening, after light fall of snow:
Harry failed to appear at the dinner
time. He was usually puncCual then.
and Bella looked upon dinner as the
happiest hour of the day: Her hus-
band was cordially appreciative of her
really good housekeeping, ready to
praise her culinary triumph, and full of
cheerful conversation. Indeed, Bella