Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-02

the curt reply. "For mercy's sake
don't turn any more Of the house upside
down.
At breakfast a tiny tear In Louie's
apron caught her fathers eye, and by
his own angry statement, "She never
had decent stitch of clothes, and did
wish somebody would see 10 her."
Two days later a formidable dry
goods bill was presented at the store,
and Lima explained il in this wise.
"You said, Herbert, that Louie hadn't
a decent stitch, and you wished some
body would see TO her, so bought her
a complete outfit. 1 could not see any
fault myself, but of course l got more
expensive articles, as you did not like
those already provided. / am glad you
called my attention to the poor, neglect
ed child.n
"Poor, neglected childl" echoed as
tonished Herbert, "Why, Lima, Essie
fairly slaves herself out over those chill
dren. am sure / never saw any better
dressed or neater."
Lima merely shrugged her shoulders.
A month passed. Essie gained strength
in the genial atmosphere surrounding
Louie and her mother, while Lima ruled
Herbert's home with a rod of iron.
Herbert began to experience a sick long
ing for Essie's gentle presence. Lima
took him so very literally in all he said,
and yet he could not rebuke her for what
he openly wished.
A chair with tiny spot of dirt being
declared absolutely filthy, was uphol-
stored and vanished at cost Of eight
dollars. A dozen new shirts, Essie's
last labor of love, being said to 'set like
meaDbags," were bestowed upon a
gardener, and new set sent from a
furnishing store. Harry's blocks were
burned at the kitchen fire when Her.
bert, stepping upon one, said he "would
not have such rubbish in the house. -
Every window was opened after a pet
tish declaration that the ''room was as
hot as an oven," and an hour later the
stove was fired up to smothering heat,
because he declared it "cold enough 10
freeze polar bear"
In short, with apparently an energetic
attempt to correct all shortcomings and
put the housekeeping upon a perfect
basis, Lima, in one month, nearly
doubled her brothers expenses, and
drove him to the verge of distraction,
keeping actual account of every thing.
But Essie, well and strong again, was
coming home. On the day of her ex-
pected arrival, Lima, with a solemn face,
invited her brother into the sitting-room
for a few inmates private converse
ton.
"Herbert," she said, very gravely,
''I have proposition to make to you
You are my only brother, and 1 need moi
tell you love you very dearly. 1t has
really grieved me to the heart to see
how much there is to find fault with in
your beautiful home"
Herbert twisted himself uneasily in
his chair, but Lima continued:
"You know that mother is very de.
pendent upon me, Louie having the
house and children TO care for, but
think she would sacrifice her own com.
fort for yours. So, if you wish, Herbert,
will come here permanently to keep
things in order for you"
Here Lima was obliged to pause and
strangle a laugh at Herbert's expression
of utter horror and dismay.
I" You are very kind" he faltered,
the instincts of a gentleman battling
with the strong desire to tell Lima she
would certainly drive him to the lunatiC
asylum by six months more Of heI
model housekeeping.
d" Not at all. A man who has made
an unfortunate marriage certainly needs
the aid and sympathy his family can
give him."
The last straw was laid upon the
camel's back. Herbert spoke hotly:
" You are entirely mistaken, Lima! ]
have not made an unfortunate marriage.
If ever a man was blessed in wife, ]
am that man."
" You amaze me, HERBERT" Lima
cried, in well-feigned astonishment.
81 do not see why you should be sur
prised. Essie is gentle, loving, orderly,
model hOusekeeper, and perfect
home angel-God bless heri"
Herbert, is that trueP"
4" Certainly it is true"
"I can not believe it," was the low
response.
"Can not believe It'll WhyP"
"Because and Lima dwelt impres,
sively upon every word" during the
nine years of your married life, though
visiting here frequently, | never heard
you speak one word of encouragement
or praise to Essie. never saw one looh
of appreciation or appreciation of any
effort she made for your comfort upoT
your face. Continual fault-finding
constant blame, have changed her from
a happy, winsome girl to a pale, care
| TgaV. hav. Iou il1nnuu rrfat
but the unbroken despair of hear
crushed under load of daily censurC
and constant striving for the approba
ton never given. And you tell mi
now she has never failed in her duty Il
you. There is grave error some
where.n
The sadly earnest tone, the face o
thoughtful gravity, sent every wore
home to Herbert Worthington's heart
He spoke no word of seh-defense ~
Lima slowly left the room. In the pro
found silence that followed, conscience
reviewed the past, and he knew that hi
sister had only spoken the truth. Tht
habit of fault-fnding, meeting no re
sistance in Essie's gentleness, had gained
in force, till all its monstrosity stooC
plainly revealed in the experience of tht
past month.
In the days when Essie lay danger
ously i'll, there had been no self-reproacl
like this in her husbands sorrow. HI
had given his wife fair home, an am
pie income, frequent social pleasure
many costly gifts, and loved her faith
fully while poisoning her whole life.
"God help me-" he whispered, ct
conquer this fault. Essie shall hear n
more fault-inding, and if 1 see he
dropping, win send her to mother an
have Lima back again" "
Never had wife and mother warme
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