The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-05-26

iuaD ~ hssSs ohOs'A sseA~%SSNA -
ably wearisome.
81 married for q home, Grace" F"
he said one day, in gentle expostu-
lation; "but what do ! see in my
homep"
"Quite enough to satisfy q reason
able man. Why, ! shouldn't want
to be alone with you all the time,
Ernest. Think how awfully tired
We should get OF each other"
The thoughtless words stabbed
like knife, but he made no reply.
Only that evening, for the first time,
Mrs. Redgrave went to some gay
assemblage alone. Her husband
had refused to accompany her.
II am tired" he said; but do not
let me detain you. Mrs. Blessing
ton is seen constantly without her
husband"
because he is q 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 ant alone.
'Grace, I wish you to give Mrs.
Blessington up" he said to her one
evening, as they sat at dinner.
"Nonsense, Ernest, 1 cannot do
it if I wished ever so much"
"But you mus.-do it. l will not
have you go to that woman's house
again"
"But Ernest, l have already ac-
cepted an invitation to dinner
party there for Thursday evening"
"Then write and decline. l do
not ask you this without cause.
little girl, but things have recently
came to my hearing regarding this
lady, andj 1 do not wish my wife's
name coupled with hers"
Grace made no reply, but in her
own heart her decision was unaltor-
ed. Begin to yield to mans whims,
and where would she end? OF
course she should 60. She had been
married more than year now, and,
so far had her own sweet will and
way.
This time the latter was unex-
pectedly made easy to her; for as
Ernest kissed her goodbye on
Thursday morning, he said to her:
IL shan't be home for supper, to-
night, Grace. You had better dine
at mothers. By the way, this was
was Mrs. Blessington's night. You
have declined that invitation?"
The first fear that she had ever
felt of Ernest crept into her heart at
new stern look she saw in his
eyes, and it drew her first falsehood
to him from her lips.
eyes," she answered.
He stopped and kissed her more
tenderly.
"I'll make it up to you, darling.
Believe me. ! did not ask it with
out good cause"
She stood quite still after he had
left her. She was half-tempted yet
to obey him; but-pshaw! what
nonsense it was!
So, at Z o'clock, the carriage stood
at her door, and in a 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 chief had
done himself infinite credit, or that
her guests had failed in their part.
The trouble lay only with Mrs.
Redgrave's self. In vain she strove
to rally; compliments palled on her;
the lights tired her. One thought
weighed on her heart and brain:
Suppose Ernest should beserious
ly displeased? Well, what if he
were, Mrs. Blessington had told her
how she had managed her hus-
bands first displeasure.
Never yieldr' she advised.
Never show that you're sorry, and
you'll soon learn not to feel sorry"
So when at 10 o'clock, she bade
her hostess good night, she deter
mined not to show that she felt any
regret.
A light in the library told her
that her husband was at home.
She hesitated an instant at the door
and went boldly in.
Ernest stood with his back to
the fire, his eyes fixed upon her, but
not her Ernest. The sternness had
gone from his eyes, but no smile
was on his lips. Over all has face
was an expression of withering con-
tempt.
"You have enjoyed your evening,
madam" he said. "You had it for
the relish of your falschood this
morning"
Oh, how wrong she had been !!
She was tempted to go to him, and
creep into his arms, and beg him to
forgive her, but she remembered
Mrs Blessington's ADVICE.
"Yes," she said, II had a charm
ing evening; but am quite sleepy
now. Good night. / am going to
bed"
She tnrned to leave the room; but
in one stride he was beside her, and
held her arm in a grip of steel.
Coward, you hurt mew she said
in sudden anger.
He dropped her arm then as
th ough she had stung him.
"You meant that word-you
have ceased to love me! Why did
you disobey me, Grace?"
Because / do not choose to be a
slave to your caprice-because l
have had my own way all my life,
and 1 intend to have it."
"And I say You shall not have it.
Choose between Mrs. Blessington
and me-between your unworthy
friend and your husband-between
your own will and our future hap
piness-on this instant, choosew
81 have made my choice, / abide
by it. When your are more reason-
ohlo will l;cfon frrthor Now