Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-04-05
THE OTHER SIDE.

Breakfast was just over at the parson.
age, the table was cleared away, the
/ chairs set back, and Mrs. Ashton In 9
neat morning dress, with pretty little
cap on her pretty little head, was stand
iOg with her arm over her tall husbands 4
shoulder looking at the morning papers
And as fine looking pair they were as
you are likely to see on q summer day.
The Reverend Clement Ashton was in.
deed regarded as the handsomest man in
that part of the world, and that with
good reason. Whether he ever had an
idea of his own on the subject, was en-
tirely his own affair.
Mrs. Ashton, as she was styled by the
| parish Christiana as her godfather and
godmother named her-Chrissy as her
brothers and her husband called her
wassnot usually regarded as remarkably
handsome. Her features was not very
regular, and she was not very fair, but
her eyes were SO bright and 80 clear, her
| figure SO elastic and trim; her abundant
hair, above all, her frank, easy, manner,
and the expression of sunny good tenn
per and perfect openness lighting up
her face made most people consider her
q very attractive woman. Every one In
the parish liked her, from the two old
people who sat near the stove in church,
and always came round to get their din.
ner at the parsonage on Sunday. to Mrs.
DR.. Rush, who was by far the grandest
lady In the parish.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ashton had been mar.
ried but six months, after an engage
| ment of almost three years, during
which time they had corresponded
vigorously, but had seen very little of
each other, for Mr.. Ashton was an assis.
| tant in an overgrown parish In one Of
our large cities, and could seldom be
spared and Chrissy was teacher In
another great city, where she supported
herself and helped by her labors to edu-
cate one of her brothers for the ministry.
| 1t was not till this brother had finished
bis studies, and was on an independent
footing, that she had consented to be
married.
George cannot support himself en-
| tirely," shs said, in answer to the re-
monstrance of her lover; "he Is not
strong enough to labor as many of the
young men do, and he needs my help.
know that he has talents that will
make him eminently useful in the call
ing he has chosen 1 know, too, that II
he attempts any more than he Is doing
his health will fail and he will become
| discouraged. You must content your
self to board awhile longer with your
good friend Mrs. Bickler, CIement.n
| And to this resolution she steadfastly
adhered, despite Clements persussions
and those of George, who was much dis.
tressed at the thought that his sisters
marriage should be put off on his &C.
count. Under these circumstances the
lovers did not see each other often, and
they were fiDdlly married without
Chrissy ever having suspected her hus-
band of any infirmity Of temper. She
had suffered much on discovering that
such was the case, and felt inclined
sometimes to wish she had never been
disenchanted but she was very wise
woman; che knew her husbands in.
trinsic excellence. and his strength a
well as his weakness, and altering an old
maxim to suit her purpose, she resolved
both to endure and cure.
what do you set about to- day ?' said
she, "a Mr.. Ashton arose from the corn.
er OF the sofa, having exhausted the pa
per.
Visiting" replied his reverence. 81
must go up to old Mrs. Balcombs and
see the Joneses and try to prevail or
Phil Taggart to let his children come te
Sunday school once more. Then have
tosee Maggie Carpenter, who is much
worse again, and II have time shall
get into the omnibus and ride out to ths
mills to see that girl Miss Flower men
toned to me yesterday"
What round |" exclaimed Chrissy
you will never get home to dinner q
O'Clock. ! think l will put it OF til
SIX and run the risk of being though
'sanck up like poor cousin Lily.n
What do you mean ?u
Why, you know they always dine q