Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-09-27

young wife, lifting her head at last, as |
the excitement died away. "Ah, Mary, |
if l should lose my husbands love it
would kill me-
"Then, Bella" answered her friend,
"see to it that you neglect none of the
means required for keeping it. If you
would continue to be loved, you must
not grow unlovely. The charms that
won your husband must not be folded
up and kept for holiday occasions and
then put on for other eyes than his.
You must keep them ever displayed be-
fore him /; nay, put on new attractions.
Is not the husband even dearer than the
lover, and his heart better worth the
holding? Look back, my dear friend,
over the brief moons that have waxed
and waned since you were bride. Put
yourself on trial, take impartial testimo-
ny. How has it been Has your temper
been as sweet as when you sat lean
ing together in the summer twilight,
talking of the love crowned future ?
Have you been as studious to please as
then 4? as careful of his feelings? as re-
gardful of his tastes /? Do you adorn
yourself for him now as when you dress
ed for his coming then ? AS wife you
are as lovable as when you were maid
en- /? Love is not chameleon to feed on
air and change in every hue of condi-
ton; it must have substantial food.
Deprived of this and it languishes and
dies. And now, dear have warned
you. Meet your husband when he re-
turns home this evening. looking as
lovely as when he came to you in your
fathers house, attracted as the bee Is to
the flower, and note the manner in which
his face will brighten up. Did he kiss
you when he came home yesterday p
Husbands soon lose their inclination
for kissing" she answered.
"If the wife remains as attractive as
the maiden, never"
"oh, you don't know anything about
it," said Bella. "Wait until you are
married"
After the friends said good afternoon
the young wife went to her room and
cried for good quarter of an hour.
Then she commenced doing as the friend
had suggested. Refreshed by bath,
she attired herself in spotless white
wrapper with a delicate blue belt bind
ing her waist. A small lace collar,
scarcely whittier than her pure neck,
edged and tied with narrow azure rib
bon. was turned away from her swan
like throat, and just below, at the swell
of the blossom, was an exquisitely cut
oval pin. Her hair, a rich golden
brown, had been made glossy as the
wing of bird, and was folded just
enough away from the temples to show
their delicate cutting. Two open rose
buds-red and white-nestled above
and in front of one of her pearl tinted
ears. She did look lovely and lovable
as her mirror told her.
Harry was left an hour later than
usual in coming home. Bella was sit
ting in the parlor when he came in,
waiting for his return with a new feel
ing in her heart-a feeling of blending
fear and hope fear lest he was actually
becoming estranged from her and a
trembling hope to win him back again.
His step was not very light. She no
ticed that, for her ear had become new
ly sensitive. He had caught glimpse
of her through the window and know
ing, therefore, that she was in the par
lor, came to the door and stood there.
"Bless me y he exclaimed. after a
moment show charming you look !'
And he came forward, with pleased
smile on his face, and taking her hand
bent down and kissed her.
Blooming as rose!" he added
holding her away from him, and gazing
at her admiringly. How her heart did
beat with new delight
dressed for company ?"
There was just little shade of cold
ness in Harry's voice, as he suggested
the probable reason for her singularly
improved appearance.
"Yes," replied Bella.
"Who?"
sMy husband ~ There was tender
heart-futter in her voice.
Harry was a little puzzled, but great
ly pleased. 1t was true that he hat
been riding out that afternoon with
J lady-a handsome. attractive woman
who was throwing around his weak, al
most boyish spirit a syren's facinatior
! She put on every charm in her power t
! summon; while the foolish wife wa
| hiding hers away, and taking no pain
to hold dominion in the heart she ha
won, and was now in danger Of losing
Five minutes before the companion c
his ride appeared to his fancy SO charm
t ing in comparison with his wife, ths
' he felt no pleasure at the thought {
meeting one who, since their marriage
had seemed to grow every day less an