The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-07
Al INCIDENT IN MARRIED. LIFE

mother, Efnished brushing. the chlld.s
1shair, and tying her clean apron. There
was mopentary surprise on Mrs
Thornton's face but she answered care.
lessly, ooh, no one cares how I look"
Don't Paslove 10 see you look pret.
u yfa persisted. the child. ..s 49, y
The mother did not reply, but invol.
unfairly she glanced at her slovenly
attire, the faded and worn calico dress
and dingy apron, both bearing wit.
ness 10 an intimate acquaintance with
the dish pan Z and. stoye-the. slipshod
sshoes, and soiled stockings-and abe
sconld not help remembering howshe had
that morning appeared with uncombed
hair. and prepared her husband 3 break
fast before he left home for the neighbor-
ing market-town. "Sure enough II mus
1 ed she, how do look r. And then mem.
ory pointed back a few years toa neatly
and tastefullyi dressed maiden, sometimes
busy in her fathers house, sgain ming
ling with her young. companions. but
never untidy in her appearance, always
fresh and blooming; and this she knew,
full well, was q picture. Of herself when
Charles; Thornton first won her young
heart. Such was the bride he had taken
I to his pleasant home.5 -. -; -,
She was still comely in features, grace
full in form, but few would call her q
handsome or an accomplished woman ;
for; alas! all other characteristics were
] oyershaaowed by this repulsiye trait.
Yet she loved to see others neat, and her
house and children did not SEEM to be-
/ lcpgsto her, 80 we'll kept and tidy did
I: they look. AS q honsekeeper. she excel
led, and her husband was long in &C..
knowledging to himself the nnwelcome
fact,that he had married "a inc6rrigi6le
sloyen.
when, like too many other young
wives, she began to grow negligent in
regard to her dress, he readily excused
her in. his own mind, and thought
Z sttshe Is: notwell, or:she has 50 much to
do;nand perceiving no abatement in
his kind attentions, sbe naturally con-
claded he was perfectly satisfied. AS
her family cares increased, and she went
less into company; she became still more
careless other personal appearance, and
scontented herself with seeing that moth
{ ing,was lacking which could contribute
to the comfort of her husband and chill
; dren, never supposing that 30 trivial a
matter as her own apparel could possibly
effect their happiness. All this chain OF
circumstances hitherto unthought OF
passed before her, az tho little prattler
at;her side repeated the query, Don't
Pa love to sea yon look pretty 2"
Yes, my child, ,"she answered. and her
resolve was taken. She would try an
.experiment, and prove whether Mr.
Thornton were really indifferent on the
subject or not. Giving Nellie picture
book with which to amuse herself, she
went to her own room, mentally exclaim-
ING, s.at any rate, I'll never put on this
riie again-not even washing day."
She proceeded to her clothes press and
removed one dress after another. Some
were ragged, others faded, all out of
style, and some uufit to wear. At length
she found one which, had long ago been
laid aside, as ''too light to wear about
the house, It was nice French print,
rose colored, and white, and she remem-
hered it had once been favorite with
her husband. The old adage, fashions
come round in seven years" seemed true
in this case; for the dress was made in
thethen prevailing style.
sYhis is Just the thing" she thought,
ard she hastened to perform her toilet,
saying5to herself, 81 must alter my, dark
ginghams to wear mornings, and get it
all ready before Charles comes home"
Then she released her long, dark hair
from its imprisonment in most ungrace.
full twist, and carefully brushing its still
: pIossy waves, she plated it in the broad
braids which Charles used 80 much to
admire in the days of her girlhood. ).
The unwonted task brought back
MANY "reminiscences of those long van
ished years. and tears glistened in her
eyes as she thought of the many changes
time had wrought in those she loved, but
she murmured, "What hath sadness like
the change in ourselves we find Z"
In that hour she realized how the ap-
parently trivial fault had gained the mas
tery over her, and imperceptibly had
placed a barrier between her and the
one she loved on earth. True, he neYe!
chided her-never apparently noticed
her altered appearance-but she wei
knew he no longer urged her going into
society, nor did be seem to care aoou'
receiying his friends at his own house,
although he was social man and had
once felt proud to introduce his young
wife to his large circle of acquaintance.
Now, they seldom went out together
(, .xao,,,;no +o church and even dressing
for that was generally too much of an
effort for Mrs. Thornton. She would
stay at home "to keep house," after pre-
pairing her little ones to accompany their
father; aud the neighbors soon ceased
expecting to meet her at public worship
or in social gathering; and 80, one BY
one. they neglected to call on her until
but very few of the number continued to
exchange friendly civilities with her.
: SheIhad wondered at this, had felt
NAMED and mortified heretofore. Now
she clearly saw it was her own fault
The veil was removed from her eyes, and
the mistake of her life was revealed IN
it's true enormity. Sincerely did she
repent Of her past error, calmly and serl'
ously resolve on future and immediate
amendment.
Meanwhile her bands were not idle,
aud at length the metamorphosls was
complete. The bright pink drapery
hung gracefully about her form. impart'
ing an unusual brilliancy to her com
plexioh. Her best wrought collar was
fastened with costly brooch. her hus'
bands wedding gift, which had not seen
the light for many day. Glancine
once more at her mirror, to be certain
her toilet needed no more finishing
touches, she took her sewing and return
ed to the sitting room.
Little Nellie had wearied of her pic
ture book, and was now playing with the
kitten. AS Mrs. Thornton entered, shs
clspped her hands in childish delight