Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-05-12
GRACE EGERTON'S LIFE LESSON.

GRACE EGERTON'S LIFE LESSON.
Bye. W.
1t was Grace Egerton's wedding day, and
she stood fully dressed before her mirror,
taking one last look, with little pardon
able vanity, at the pretty figure reflected
there.
In another hour she should be Mrs.
Ernest Redgrave. How hard it was to real
ize!
She was vain and rather frivolous girl;
but deep down in the depths of little
worldly heart was a well of true love for
Ernest. If she had had to give up all this
outside show, she would have been quite
content to have gone off all alone with him,
and proved how true a wife she could be-,
but there was no occasion for this, and per-
haps even Grace herself knew not how
wholly she loved him. She was spoiled,
petted child, and that any solemn duties
were entailed in the estate upon which she
was just entering, she did not pause to
think.
For four weeks she and Ernest travelled;
then they came home to their own beauti-
full hone-her fathers wedding gift to her.
Here round of festivities awaited them,
so that the young couple for three months
had no single evening to themselves.
81 am tired, Grace. Let us stay at home
tonight, darling" said Ernest one evening
after dinner, as Grace was about to leave
him to make her toilet for some party.
absurd, Ernest! You are not growing
old already, surely! Besides, I promised
Mrs. Blessington we would come, and 1
cannot disappoint her."
81 do not like Mrs. Blessington. I wish
you were not so intimate with her; and real
ly my headaches to night. Stay at home
like good little girl"
For moment Grace wavered. She
looked within the library which seemed so
warm and inviting. She could fancy En-
nest stretched on the sofa, while she sat be-
side him, bathing his forhead with some
fragrant cologne, and thought what sweet
cozy evening they might have. Then she
remembered something Mrs. Blessington
had said about spoiling men, and how easy
it was to begin, and how selfish they grew.
1t was well enough for Ernest to spoil
her. That was to be expected; but as to
spelling him no indeed. So she ran up
stairs, calling back over her shoulders as
she went.
Come, Ernest, We have got 10 time to
lose. And as to that horrid prejudice of
of yours, do try and get over it,
There came temptation to the mana
temptation to carry out his own manly will
but a softer, tenderer feeling swept over him
as mental vision of the pretty laughing
face passed before him; and half an hour
later he stood in full dress waiting the ad-
vent of the beautiful girl, who, all uncon-
sciously to them both was steering her fr,il
vessel on the quicksands of married mis-
cry.
A year passed and MIR. and Mrs. Red
grave were still in the vortex of fashionable
life; but to the MANS spirit it had grown
unutterabiy wearisome.
Il married for home, Grace" he said
one day, in a gentle expostulatien; ''but
what do see of my home?"
'Quiet enough to satisfy reasonable
man. Why, 1 shouldn't want to be alone
with you all the time, Ernest. Think how
awfully tired we should get of each other. u
The thoughtless words stabbed like a
knife, but he made them no reply. Only
that evening, for the first time. Mrs. Red
Her husband had refused to accompany
her.
Il am tired, he said; "but do not let me
detain you Mrs. Blessington is seen con-
stantly without her husband"
Because he is BEAR" answered Grace,
pouting.
Nevertheless she went, and after that it
was no uncommon thing for Ernest to
spend his evenings with his books and
thoughts, while his beautiful young wife
went out alone.
Grace, I wish you to give Mrs. Bless.
ington up, he said to her one evening, as
they sat at dinner.
Nonsense, Ernest. 1 cannot do it if I
wished it ever so much"
"But you must do it. will not have you
60 to that woman's house again"
But Ernest, have already accepted ar
invitation to dinner party there for Thurs.
day evening.
"Then write and decline. I do not ash
you this without cause, little girl, but things
have recently come to my hearing regard.
ing this lady, and do not wish my wife's
name coupled with hers
Grace made no reply, but in her owl
heart her decision was unaltered. Begin tc
yield to mans whims, and where would
she end? OF course she should go. She
had been married more than a year now
and, so far, had always had her own sweet
will and way.
This time the latter was Unexpectedly
made easy to her; for as Ernest kissed hel
good-by on Thursday morning, he said tt
her:
81 shan't be home to dinner o-night
Grace. You had better dine at mothers
BY the way, this was Mrs. Blessington's
night. You have declined that inyitation2 p
The first fear that she had ever felt oi
Ernest crept into her heart at a new stern
l. l. -, s,,1 \ ha,
first falsehood to him from her lips.
"Yes," she answered.
He stopped and kissed her more tender
"Tll make it up to you, darling. Be-
Geve me, did not ask it without good
cause"
She stood quite still after he had left her.
She was half tempted yet to obey him; but
-pshaw! what nonsense it wasi
So, at o'clock, the carriage stood at hel
door, and, in bewitching dinner dress
she was driven to the house her husband
had forbidden her to enter.
But the dinner dragged-not but that
Mrs. Blessington's chef had done himself
infinite credit, or that Of her guests failed
in their part. The trouble lay only with Mrs.
Redgrave's self. In vain she strove to raj
ly: complaints pallec on her; the lights
tired her. One thought weighed on her
heart and brain:
Suppose Ernest should be seriously
displeasedp Well, what if he were. Mrs.
Blessington had told her how she had
managed her husbands first displeasure.
'Ne~er yieldw she advised. Never
show taat you're sorry, and you'll soon
learn not to feel sorry"
So when, at 10 o'clock, she bade her hos
tess goodnight, she determined not to
show any regret.
A light in the library told her that her
husband was home. She hesitated an in
slant at the door, then went boldly in.
Ernest stood with his back to the fire, his