Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-06-16

| fully over her beautiful silver-grey
hair. She was standing before the little
glass over the chimney piece, and Lot
tie could watch her without being seen,
being engaged meanwhile in putting
away the neglected tea.
And Lottie was feeling ashamed.
She wore no pretty ribbons; they were
lying tumbled and forgotten in her
drawer. In the days before her mar
riage-so long ago. it seemed, and she
sighed as she remembered the time, in
those happy days, when Philips eyes
had been forever upon her-she had
always worn bright bow or tie. But
lately she had given up the plan, think
ing half bitterly that her husband never
looked at her now, when the truth was,
he was quicker to see than ever, and
more pleased when she paid him the
compliment Of dressing to satisfy his
eyes than ever he had been used to be.
And what was Philips mother doing
now? She had taken seat and was
busily knitting away at warm COM
forter-Lottie could easily guess for,
whom. Philip was an only son, and
his mother was a widow, and wrapped
up in him.
And next-pondering sadly still
Lottie swept up the untidy CRATE, and
picked up the shreds of her work that
had Uttered the carpet. Then she put
the chairs more exactly in their places,
and one or two other little things she
| did, to make the room neat: but g, care
less mood had been upon Lottie for the
last few weeks, and she had left off
being SO particular. Perhaps that had
been another misfortune, for Philips
own home, she knew, was always a
pattern of neatness.
And she remembered now, how more
than once, Philip had vexed her by go
ing, and-as she afterwards found out
sitting for half an hour or more with
his mother, and leaving her (his wife,
alone And she wondered what secret
charm the old lady possessed, that had
SO much more power over the young
man than any that his newly made
wife had yet discovered.
"Where is Philip" inquired his
mother presently.
"Gone out" uttered Lottie in tone
that was almost harsh III its pain and
humiliation, and then she burst into
tears.
The old lady put down her work in a
moment and tenderly caressed ner
daughter-in-law.
What is the matter, my dear? Some
little misunderstanding? Oh, well,
don't let it hurt you SO much" And
the old lady paused. "These things
will occur" she presently continued
1--WE all have our lessons to Learn.
Tell me all about it if you can, and
let me at least try to help you. |
was young wife once, you know, and
found it was not all sunshine and |
must not depend alone on earthly hap
piness, or should be terribly disap-
pointed. But there is one thing, child,
that | may as we'll say while | think
Of it, and that is my son, Philip, is rath
er inclined to be sulky, and, when of
Tended, he is sometimes a long time in
coming round. And you must have
patience with him, dear, and treat him
gently and kindly, and you will be well
in the end for he loves you dearly"
ooh, motherw interrupted Lottie,
sobbing still, but more quietly, ''he is
very good 1t is | who have been to
blame, am sure. Oh, do advise me
and help me. | did so mean to make
q good wife and l have driven him
away already"
"Do not cry so, my child. Come,
wipe away your tears and tell me
what you and Philip have been doing"
And Lottie soon was freely pouring
out her griefs.
Their long talk was over, and though
Philip had no. yet returned, and
though his mother had at length de-
parted leaving Lottie to wait up alone,
yet the young wife's heart felt wonder
fully lightened n q
"How did you use to contrive to
keep Philip with you so much hour
after hour and evening after evening""
was the gist Of all the questions she
| had put to her. mother,in-law. And
| the sum of the old lady's reply was
| this
Il loved him, not myself, and ] did
not keep him at all, my dear. He stay
ed to please himself
| And so Lottie learned what seemed
to her a most strange lesson, namely,
that there is no seltishness tike the sell
| fshness of love--not real love, of
couse vet that which goes for real love
with half the world She discovered
that she had been loving herself, IA
stead of Phillip and that must certainly
be the reason she had not pleased
! him. .-.-..---.----.- ...--.s.r .s4-,4.
Instinct warned her now that he
would not care to see her when he re-
| tlirnel, and therefore she went to bed