The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-04-23

plimented, but as he had his share of
good sense, he saw that to assume cold
and offended manner would no no good
eff your fortune is made, so is mine, %
he replied on one occasion, quite coolly
and indifferently. Next morning he
made his appearance at the breakfast
table with beard of twenty-four hours
growth.
'sYou haven't shaved this morning,
| dear" said Cora, to whose eyes the dirty
lacking face of her husband was particu-
larly unpleasant.
NO." he replied, carelessly '.It is a
serious trouble to shave every day
ssBut you look much better with a
cleanly shaved face y
'tLooks are nothing-ease and comfort
everything" said Douglass.
''But common decency, Edward"
81 see nothing indecent in long
beard, replied the husband.
Still Cora argued, but in vain. Her
husband went off to his business with his
unshaved face.
ST don't know whether to shave or
not, said Douglass next morning, run
ming over his rough face, upon which
was beard of forty eight hours
His wife had hastily thrown on wrap
per, and with slip-shod feet and head
like mop, was lounging in rocking
chair awaiting the breakfast bell.
"For mercys sake, Edward, don't go
any longer with that shockingly dirty
face" spoke up Cora. eff you knew
how dreadfully you lookedi'
'sLooks are nothing" replied Edward,
stroking his beard.
"Why, what has come over you all at
once?"
Nothing, only it's such trouble to.
shave every day"
ssBut you didn't shave yesterday
''I know I am just as well off to-day as
if had. So much saved at any rate.''
But Cora urged the matter, and hel
husband finally yielded, and moved
down the luxuriant growth of beard.
s'How much better you do look y said
the young wife. ''Now, don't go another
day without shaving
''But why should I take so much
trouble about my mere looks? I'm just
as good with long beard as with short
one. It's deal of trouble to shave
every day. You can love me just as
well, and what need I care what others
say or think ?"
On the following morning Douglass
appeared, not only with long beard,
but with shirt front and collar that
were both soiled and crumpled.
"Why, Edward, how you do look p
said Cora. s'You have neither shaved
nor put on clean shirt
Edward stroked his face. and ran his
| fingers along the edge of his collar, re-
marking indifferently, as he did so:
ssIt is no matter. / look well enough.
This being SO very particular in dress is
waste of time, and I am getting tired of
it,
And in this trim Douglass went off to
his wife, who could not bear to see her
| husband look so slovenly.
Gradually the declension from neat
| ness went on, until Edward was quite a
match for his wife, and yet, strange to
say, Cora had not taken the hint, broad
| as it was. In her own person she was as
untidy as ever.
About six months after their wedding
| we invited a few friends to spend social
evening with us, Cora and her husband
among the number. Cora came alone
quite early, and said that her husband
was very much engaged, and could not
come until after tea.
Ny young friend had not taken much
pains with her attire. Indeed, her ap-
pearance mortified me, as it contrasted
SO decidedly with that of the other la
dies who were present, and I could not
help suggesting to her that she was
wrong in being so Indifferent about her
dress. But she laughlngly replied to me:
'You know my fortunes made now,
Mrs. Smith. I can afford to be negli-
gent in these matters. 1t is great
waste of time to dress SO much
I tried to argue against this, but
could make no impression upon her.
About an hour after tea, and while
we were all engaged in pleasant con-
| versation, the door of the parlor opened
and in walked Mr.. Douglass. At the
first glance I thought was mistaken.
But no, it was Edward himself. But
what a figure he did cut. His un-
combed hair was standing up in stiff
spikes in hundred different directions.
His face could not have felt the touch
of razor for two or three days, and
he was guiltless of clean linen for at
least the same length of time. His vest
was soiled, his boots unblacked, and
there was an unmistakable hole in one
of his elbows.
sWhy, Edwardr' exclaimed his wife,
with look of modification and distress,
as her husband came across the room
| with face in which no consciousness of
| tllG uS uIC Cub COu1l OC uCUCOuCo.
"Why, my dear fellow, what is the
matter?' said my husband, frankly; for
he perceived that the ladies were begin
| ming to litter, and the gentlemen were
| looking at each other and trying to re-
press their risible tendencies, and there
fore deemed it best to try to throw off all
reserve upon the subject.
''The matter? Nothing's the matter,
| believe. Why do you ask?"
Douglass looked grave.
| ''Well may he ask what is the matter, .
broke in Cora, energetically. "How
could you come here in such plight?"
I'm such a plight? and Edward look
ed down at himself, felt his beard and
ran his fingers through his hair. '.What
is the matter? Is anything wrong ?"
You look as if you just walked up
from nap of week with your clothes
on, and came off without washing your
face OF combing your hair" said my
| husband.
"Oh!' and Edwards countenance
Frightened little. Then he said, with
much gravity of manner, II have been
extremely hurried of late. and only left
business few minutes ago. hardly
i thought it worth while to go home to
dress; I knew we were all friends here.