West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-03-27

"hSn aoiOau, sne urtSScu with exquisite
taste, and was lovely to look upon; but a:
home she was careless and slovenly. and
made 1t almost impossible for those who
saw her to believe that she was the brilliant
beauty they had met in company but "A
short time before.
But even this did not last long. no.
uced after few months, that the habits Of
nome Were not only confirming themselves,
but Becoming apparent abroad. "IIer for
tune was made, - and why should she not
waste time or employ her thoughts about
matters of personal appearance?
The habits sf Mr. Douglass on the cor
trary did not change. He was as orderly
AS before, and dressed with the same re-
gard To neatness. He never appeared at
The breakfast table in the morning without
being shaved, nor did he lounge about in
the evening in his shirt sleeves. The slo
venly habits into which Cora had fallen. an
noyed him scnously, and still more SO when
her carelessness about her appearance began
TO manifest itself abroad as wellas at home.
When he limited anything On the subject.
she did not hesitate to reply. in a testing
manner, that "hcr fortune was made" she
need not trouble herself any longer about
| how she looked
Douglass did not feel very much com
pimenied, but as he had his share of good
sense, he saw that to assume cold and
offended manner would do no good
'lf your fortune is made, 30 is mine. ."
he replied on one occasion, quite coOlly and
indifferently. Next morning he made his
appearance at the breakfast table with a
beard OF twenty-four hours growth.
You haven't shaved this morning.
dear, sail Cora, To whose eyes the dirty
looking face Of her husband was particu
larly unpleasant"
NO he replied carelessly. ut is a
serious trouble To shave every day."
''But you look much better with a clean
ly shaved face"
Looks are nothing-easo aud comfort
everything said Douglass
''But common decency, Edward"
II SEQ nothing indecent I'm u long beard,
replied the husband
Still Cora argued, but in VAN. Her huss
band went Off % his business with his un-
shaved face.
81 don't know whether To shave or not. 4"
said Douglass, running over his rough face,
upon which was Il beard of forty-eight
hours growth.
His wife had hastily thrown on a wrap-
per, and with slipshod feet and head like
mop, was lounging In rocking chair,
awaiting the breakfast bell.
''For. mercy's sake, Edward. don't 90
any longer with that shockingy dirty face"
spoke up Cora. IF you knew how dread.
fully you lookcd."
Looks are nothing" replied Edward,
strOking his beard.
why, what's come over you all at
once?"
Nothing; only it's such trouble TO
shave every day"
''But you didn't shave yesterday"
81 know am just as well Oft to-day as
II had. So much saved at any rate"
But Cora urged tho matter, and her
husband finally yielded, and moved down
the luXuriant growth Of beard.
How much better you do look I" said
the younE wife. Now, don't go another
day without shaving"
"But why should take 80 much trouble
about my mere looks? I'm Just az good
with long beard rs with a short one. It's
a great deal of trouble to shave every day.
You can love me just as well; and why
need care what others say OF think 2"
On the following morning Douglass
appeared, not only with long beard,
but with shirt front and collar that were
both soied and crumpled
why, Edward, how you do look ?"
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, remark
ing indilferently, as he did 80
1T is no matter; look well enough
This being 30 very particular in dress is
waste of time, and am getting tired Of it.
Aud in this trim Douglass went off 10
his business, much TO the ANNOYANCE of his
wife, who could not bear to sec her husband
looking 80 slovenly.
Gradually the declension from ncatncss
went on, until Edward was quite a match
for his wife, and yet, strange 10 say, Cora
had not taken the hint, broad ~ Il was
In her owB person she was as untidy a.
ever.
About six months after their marriage
we invited few friends 10 spend n s,cial
evening with us, Cora and her husband
among the number. Cora came alone.
quite early, and said that her husband vas
very much engaged, and could not come
until after tea.
My young friend bad not taken much
pains with her attire. Indeed, her appear
ance mortified me, as IL contrasted 30 de-
Clucdly WIN mat OF tho other ladies who
were present, and | could not help sug-
gesting to her that she was wrong in being
50 indifferent about her dress But she
laughingly replied TO me:
you know my fortunes made now.
Mrs. Smith. ! can afford TO be negligent
in these matters. II is great waste Of
time 70 dress 30 much"
tried tn argue against this, but could
make no impression upon her
About an hour after tea, while we we're
all engaged IN pleasant conversation, the
door Of the parlOr opened and in walked
Mr.. Douglass. At the first glance thought
] must be mistaken. But no. Il was Edward
himself. But what figure he did cut.
His uncOmbed hair was standing up In stiff
spikes in a hundred different directions
his face could not have felt the touch Of
razor for two or three days, and he was
gultless Of clean linen for the same length
OF time. His vest was sOiled,. his boots
unblacked, and there was an unmisakable
hole In one ~ his elbows.
"Why, Edward Z" exclaimed his wife.
with a look Of modification and distress.
as her husband came across the room with
face in which no Consciousness of the
I hWlrC ho cut could bc dafogfod