Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-01-07

little malron., tired to death, as sh'
said, reaohe her pretty home
Her first shock was catching
glimpse Of Ernesl's MAIDEN aunt, Mis-
Cordelia Lowry, her especial aversion
and dread, seated upon tho drawing
sofa.
"Oh, horror T. she multered. ~
wish she was at homo. want Il
make 1t up with Ernest l don't like
tho dress halfas much as ! did ycster
day."
| The second shock met her upor
opening the door Of her bedroom.
Open boxes, closets, drawers, an ali
of general confusion everywhere, ant
the small trnnk Ernest always tool
upon hls short business trips missed
altogether.
Clearly her husband had packed
up aud gone, leaving Cordcla, rs
usual TO keep Myra company.
Upon the dressing table wasa note
directed to herself, and Mrs. MartheI
tore It open.
No loving address to herselfi mere
ly this;
have waited for your return as
long as possible, and write this TO ex'
PLAN my absence. | told you six
months ago of Mr.. Agnew's offer to
me il / would accept the position OF
traveller to the house--double my
present salary, aud a liberal commits
sion. declined 1t then because you
said the money would never compen-
safe you tor the constant separation,
To-day the offer is renewed. After
our conversation this morning | think
your old objections will have hardly
any weight so l have accepted aud
leave in an hour. will write you
every month enclosing remittance. !
leave the accompanying bauk.note for
the dress you desire. / have sent for
Aunt Cordelta, as usual to stay with
YOU. ERNEST MATHER.
Not a loving word, not regret tor
the long separation.
Myra realized then how consderate
and loving her husband had been
under the wearing vexations of hel
whims and caprices.
Great tears rolled down her cheeks
as she bitterly reproached herself.
81 have made him believe don't
care for anything but money" she
thought. "He leaves me this to con-
sole me for bis absense. Oh, Ernest
come home again and III wear calico
and a suu-bonnet to church before
III tease you for finery again.
1t was not an easy task to 90 to
dinner and meet Aunt Cordelia, but II
must be done.
1t was no new thing for that wor'
thy spinster to see Myrain tears when
Ernest was away on business so sho
only expressed a desire to see any
"man alive that che would cry tor
and said no more about the little
wite's red eyes.
The days passed very wearly.
Aunt Cordelia preached only SER
mons to Myra about extravaganza and
various other feminine weaknesses, till
the poor little woman wished she was
as homely and ill.clad as the tormentor
herself
"You never see me with such a
dress in the house as that the spin
ster would say, with a complacent
glance at her dyed skirts.
~ buy my clothes to wear" Myra
retorted. "IfI had Us much money
as you Aunt Cordelia, I'd be ashamed
to 90 about the house In such dress. "
And the spinster would shake her
head and groan, audibly plying "poor
Ernest"
"You never see me-" was ever her
opening address.
And Myra grew to hate the words,
in the long months Of her enforced
companionship.
For Ernest did not return.
Spring, summer, autumn passed
away, and December was opening,
yet still he did not come.
Every month formal letter reach.
ed Myra enclosing a check for her ex-
pences OF such liberal value as to prove
Ernest was making money; but each
one informed her that her husband
was just leaving the place from which
he wrote, and made no mention of his
next destination.
Heart-sick, peuitent, and oh, so
lonely, the little wife spent only what
was necessary for the house. and fair
ly loathed the sight Of the money
that was accumulating in her hands.
Letter after letter she wrote and des.
troyed not knowing where to direct