The Russellville Democrat., 1880-05-06

her thoughts about matters of personal appearance?
 The habits of MT. Douglass, on the contrary, did not change. He was as or derly as before, and dressed with the same regard to neatness. He never ap- peared at the breakfast table in the morning without being shaved, nor did he lounge about in the evening in his shirt sleeves. The slovenly habits into which Cora had fallen annoyed him seriously, and still more so when her carelessness about her appearance began to manifest itself abroad as well as at home. When he hinted anything on the subject she did not hesitate to re- ply, in testing manner, that her for tune was made;" she did not trouble herself any longer about how she looked. Douglass did not feel very much con- plimented, but as he had his share of good sense, he saw to assume cold and offended manner would do no good.
 eff your fortune is made, so is mine," he replied on one occasion, quite coolly and indifferently Next morning he ap- peared at the breakfast table with a beard of twenty-four hours growth. "You haven't shaved this morning, dear," said Cora, to whose eyes the dirty-looking face of her husband was particularly unpleasant.
 "No," he replied, carelessly. "It is a serious trouble to shave every day"
 But you look much better with a cleanly shaven face"
 Looks are nothing--ease and com fort everything" said Douglass.
 But common decency, Edward"
 l see nothing indecent in a long beard" replied the husband.
 Still Cora argued, but in vain. Her husband went off to his business with his unshaved face.
 l don't know whether to shave or not" said Douglass, next morning, run ming over his rouch face, upon which was beard of forty eight hours growth.
 His wife had hastily thrown on wrapper, and with slipshod feet and head like mop, was lounging in rocking chair awaiting the breakfast bell.
 "For mercy's sake, Edward, don't go any longer with that shockingly dirty face," spoke up Cora. If you knew how dreadfully you lookedp
 "Looks are nothing" replied Edward, stroking his beard
 once p
 
 shave every day"
 But you didn't shave yesterday"
 know; I'm just as we'll off to-day rate"
 But Cora urged the matter, and her husband finally yielded, and moved down the luxuriant growth of beard.
 How much better you do look ]" said the young wife. Now don't go anoth- CT day without shaving"
 But why should I take so much trouble about my mere looks? Pm just as good with long beard as with short one. It's great deal of trouble to shave every day. You can love me just as well; and why need care what others say or think ?"
 On the following morning Douglass appeared, not only with a long beard, but with shirt front and collar that were both soiled and crumpled.
 Why, Edward, how you do look Y said Cora 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 indi fierently, as he did SO:
 '' It is no matter. look well enough. IulS DcluS bO fSly pai iuVuiaI III uiSso ID waste of time, and am getting tired of it.S
 And in this trim Douglas went off to his business, much to the annoyance of 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 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 marriage we invited few friends to spend a so- -cial evening with us, Cora and her hus- band among the number. Cora came alone quite early, and said that her hus- band was very much engaged and could not come until after tea.
 My young friend had not taken much pains with her attire. Indeed, her ap pearance mortified me, as it entrusted so decidedly with that of the other ladies who were present, and l could not help suggesting to her that she was wrong in being so indifferent about her dress. But she laughingly replied to me:
 You know my fortunes made now, Mrs. Smith. I can afford to be negli- gent in these matters. It is great waste of time to dress so much."
 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 conversa- ton, the door of the parlor opened and in walked Mir. Douglass. At the first glance 1 thought 1 must be mistaken. But no, it was Edward himself. But what figure he did cut. His uncombed hair was standing up in stuff spikes in a hundred different directions; his face could not have felt the touch of razor for two or three days, and he was guilt less of clean linen for at least the same length of time. Ills vest was soiled, his boots unblacked, and there was an un- mistakable hole in one of his elbows.
 'Why, Edwardp exclaimed his wife, with look of modification and distress, as her husband came across the room with face in which no consciousness of the figure he cut could be detected.
 -'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, l believe. Why do you ask?"
 Douglass looked grave.
 Well may he ask what is the natter" Al