The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-04-02

we'll enough" retorted jerome. Il do
not approve of your plans, Amy. Let
Aunt Penelope accept the position, if
she pleascs. I aE able to furnish a
home for nv own wife"
"A home. Yes" cried out I, indig-
nently, "in fiat, without as much
back yard US one could bleach a table,
cloth in !"
"You have contrived to :xist in it
for two years" said jerome, with what
seemed to me the most hear,lcss indif-
ference.
began to cry. Aunt Penelope rose
up with a great rustling of black silk
and lilac satin cap ribbons.
Il shall certainly accept my friend
Mrs. Outerbridgc's kind offer" said she,
with dignity. "Of course. Amy, you
will do as you please. And am going
up stairs now to pack up. Mrs. Outer
bridge is anxious for me to como as soon
as possible. And, of course, Amy, you
will remember that I shall always be
glad to receive you and your family as
my guests at Outerbridge Cottage"
/ looked imploringly at Jerome.
"May We 60, dear? | am so heart
hungry for apple blossoms, and green
grass, aud buttercups," pleaded |.
"Of course, if you wish it,"
But Jerome shook lis head.
"My evenings for the present must'be
spent in town." said he. II have some
extra work to do for uncle Joseph which
won't bear postponing. Ifyou 60, Amy,
you must 90 alone"
Aunt Pen was loud in her denuncia-
ton of husbands in general, and OF Je-
rome in particular, when | came up to
room.
4 could have told yon how it would
be before you were ever married to him"
said aunt Pen, shaking her head,
"but-"
"You shall not talk So, Aunt Pen ~
flashed |. 81 dare say Jerome is right,
only-only-"
And then vindicatcd my casse right
royalty by bursting into a new flood OF
tears.
Aunt Penelope went away the next
day, AMI lonesome enough it seemed.
1t was blowy April morning, with
blue sky, dapplcd with clouds, and faint
sweet scents Of growing things in the
air. Oh, how sick | was of the fiat, of
pavements and brick walls, and all the
items which 90 to make up city. Ba-
by was more fretlul than usual, and |
ensily persuaded myself that she was
pining.
"Oh. jerome I" cried I, passionately,
vh"r at last my husband came home,
with tired look, anG roIl Of papers
under his arm; "have. VIC always got to
live sn ?"
Live how, my darlins?"
"Cooped up like rats in a trap, away
from all the beautiful sights and sounds
of the world Shut up in mere lodS-
ing house. Cant We live in house
that has at least a little flower border
and a grapevine in its rear :"
81 hope We can afford to some time,
nv DEAR" said Jerome gravely.
And then he drew out his inkstand,
opened his roll Of figures, and went to
work.
The April days bcamed on, all bright
skies, soft winds, and Kaleidoscope
elimpses of snnshowers; aud | became
almost heart sick for the country.
"If Jerome cared for me as lie used
TO care" | told myself, with fevcrish
impatience, she would at least make
some effort to find home where | could
be happier than in this human hive,
where a few pot plants in the window
are all have to remind me Of the green
world outside" .
Stung by these reflections, and still
further melted by letter from Aunt
Penelope, full Of descriptions Of laubs,
daises and little strcamlcts, | one day
packed up my valse.
Hello" said Jerome, when he came
home, "wherc are you going Z"
ITO Aunt Penelope, for a week S
visit; | need it and SO does BERTHE"
"And leave me ?"
| looked keen!y at Jerome. lie, too,
was palcr and thinner than his usual
wont. Nights Of work and days Of
counting-housc toll were beginning to
tell upon him.
mo, no " | cried throwing my arms
around HIM: II won't leave you, dear
est. Not if | never see the country
again"
That's my own brave little girl "
said Jerome, stroking back my hair
with loving touch. "Wait a week,
dear and Ill take you myself for lit
tie trip.
So | waited
The day-week came, to my infinite
delight. dressed baby in a long white
frock, with blue ribbon sash and shoul'
dcr-knots, and put on my own dainty
little spring hat, trimmed with prlm-
roses, and away VIC rolled in a comiort
able open carriage-Jerome, BERTHE and
Until we came to the prcttieHt bird
nest of Il cottage in the world, Just
little distance out of the town, where
vines garlandcd the porch, and Il lltll'
lawn extended down to a clear, crySta