The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-10-19
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ou think Oeorge has ceased to love
you, Nellie ?"
Il don't exactly mean that, Aunt Mary
But certainly George has changed. There
was a time when he never left home in the
evening; now he never stays at home an
hour after dinner"
"It's a grave charge for young wife
to make"
II wish it was only the foolish fancy
you seem to imagine, Aunt Mary"
Il do not think it altogether fancy,
Nellie. But l want to get at the whole
truth of the matter, and see if we cannot
find out the cause Of this change. Surely
George is not unkind to you?"
"He is always finding fault, Aunt
Mary"
with what, Nellie ?"
''oh, all sorts of things-the house, the
baby, my dress"
"With no cause for complaint ?''
The little woman blushed deeply and
made no answer.
Mrs Carr, her soft eyes bent lovingly
upon her niece, said in gentle tone:
"Where does George go in the evenings,
Nellie?
"He is at his sister Kates great deal
and-and-Kate says he is very fond of
hearing Mrs Gordon sing
"Mrs. Gordon. Do l know her p
"She was Rettie Wilbur, and is now a
widow. Her brother is Kate's husband
"Yes, yes. But, Nellie, you play and
sing far better than Retta Wilbur" +"
Not now, Aunt Mary; l never practice
now.
'SBut George is very fond of music.
am sure you can not neglect yours, if you
try to make home the most attractive place
in the world for your husband
Il don't think the piano has been open
ed for year, Aunt Mary"
"Nellie p
$50 few married ladies keep up their
music"
"But many are obliged to give up ac-
complishments to attend to the details of
household duty. This is not your excuse,
Nellie Your husbands means allow you
a good, competent girl, and Maggie is 4
jewel of a nurse. Do you really find your
whole time taken up"
"No, l could practice, but-but-well,
l hardly know how l got out of the
habit.
''Three years.
"And you think in that short time you
have lost your husbands affection, at least,
in manner. | do not think so, but
will tell you where 1 think the trouble lies.
George, as you we'll know, was brought up
and educated in home where refined and
elegant ladies presided over every detail.
| think, dear, when he met you he saw
the same re6nements, the same taste and
gentle manners, that make his sisters so
much beloved in society, and such charm
ing inmates of the home circle p
Thanks to you who filed mothers place
to me.
II was very glad when George told me
his love for you darling. l believed him
TO be an honorable, true man, one whose
wealth was the least attraction to my
Nellie"
"You were right He was, he is, all you
thought him.
"He married you, believing he would
carry TO his future home one who would
make it not merely place to eat and sleep
in but home of taste and refined pleas
ure. He made the mere house a gem, as
/ know. He brought into it lady, and
then there was in no circle of society a
more charming drawing-room than Mrs.
t.as1rF Ilnn7l..rsiu i
husband than the one whose name that
lady bore And you tell me all is chang
ed. Nellie is the fault on your husband s
side Have you made his home what
he hoped it would be ?"
"No," said Nellie in low tone.
"When you come to see me again, dear,
tell me you have won your husband back
again. Retta Wilbur was the rival of
your childhood, but she must not mar
your married happiness Let yorr hus-
band see that the charms that won him
can still hold his heart fast
Very slowly Helen Huntley weuded
her way homeward through the dusty
streets.
As Helen reviewed the past year by the
light of her newly reused conscience, she
marvelled at the many instances of patient
forbearancc she recalled and owned in her
heart that the fault finding of which she
had complained, was very gentle, and very
often omitted where grave cause existed
for it.
1t was hard to define exactly the day
and the hour when the household arrange
ments began to fall entirely into the hands
of a servant, whose perfect neatness and
competency were, it must be admitted, a
strong temptation to a young mistress.
1t was difficult to say when Helen first
found it too much trouble to dress for
dinner, unless company was expected;
when the drawing-room was closed except
for weekly y cleaning; when the fne-toned
piano was first doomed to silence and So
licitude.
Asthe young wife entered her own room
after her long walk, fevered with the heat
of the day and her own train of thought,
the little clock upon the mantle warned
her that she had only two hours before
her husband would be home to dinner.
1t required an exercise of all her newly
reused resolutions to refrain from throw
ing herself upon the bed to rest; and sure
ly her long walk was good and sufficient
excuse for this indulgence.
The large, airy room, cooled and dusky,