Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-06-30
CHE Sturp Teller.
AN INCIDENT IN MARRIED LIFE.

lLLle Nellie 1 1HOTHloii, aS Hei H'oIhet ''oiS''e'
brushing the chld's hair, and tying her cleal
apron. There was momentary surprise OF
Mrs. Thornton's face but she answered care
lessly, "Oh, no one cares how | look
Don't Pa love to see you look pretty ?
persisted the child.
The mother did not reply, but involunta
rily she glanced at her slovenly attire, the ia
ded and worn calico dress and dingy apron
both bearing witness to an intimate acqualn
tance with the dish pan and stove-the slip
shod shoes, and soiled stockings-and shs
could not help remembering how she hae
that morning appeared with uncombed hair
and prepared her husbands breakfast before
he left home for the neighboring market
town. "Sure enough" unused she, "how
do look !'' And then memory pointed back
few years to neatly and tastefully dressed
maiden, sometimes busy in her fathers house
again mingling with her young companions
but never untidy in her appearance, always
fresh and blooming and this she knew, full
we'll, was a picture of herself when Charles
Thornton first won her young heart. Such
was the bride he had taken to his pleasant
home.
She was still comely in features, graceful
in form, but few would call her handsome
or an accomplished woman for, alas! all
other characteristics were overshadowed by
this repulsive trait. Yet she loved to see
others neat, and her house and children did
not seem to belong to her, so we'll kept and
tidy did they look. As a housekeeper she
exceled, and her husband was long in &C.
knowledging to himself the unwelcome fact
that he had married an incorrigible sloven.
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 "she is not we'll" or "she has so
much to do y and perceiving no abatement
in his kind attentions, she naturally conclu-
ded he was perfectly satisfied. As her family
cares increased, and she went less into compa-
ny, she became still more careless of her per-
sonal appearance, and contented herself with
seeing that nothing was lacking which could
contribute to the comfort Of her husband and
children, never supposing that so trivial a
matter as her own apparel could possibly at
feet their happiness All this chain of cir
cumstances hitherto unthought of passed be-
fore her, as the little pratter at her side re-
peated the query, Don't Pa Love to see you
look pretty p
"Yes, my child," she answered. and her re.
solve was taken. She would try an expert
ment, and prove whether Mr. Thornton we're
really Indifferent on the subject or not. Civ
ing Nellie a picture book with which to
amuse herself, she went to her own room.
mentally exclaiming, "at any rate, I'll never
put on this rig again-not even washing day"
She proceeded to her clothes press and re-
moved one dress after another. Some were
ragged, others faded, all out of style, and
some unfit to wear. At length, she found
one which had long ago been laid aside, as
"too light to wear about the house." 1t was
a nice French print rose colored and white,
and she remembered it had once been ia
vorite with her husband The old adage,
fashions come round in seven years" seemed
true in this case; for the dress was made in
the then prevailing style.
"rhs is just the thing" she thought, and
she fastened to perform her toilet, saying to
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 a
most ungraceful twist, and carefully brushing
its still glossy waves, she plated it in the
broad braids which Charles used so much to
admire in the days of her girhood.
The unwonted task brought back many rem.
iniscences of those long vanished 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 End Z
In that hour she realized how the apparent
ly trivial fault had gained the mastery over
her, and imperceptbly had placed barrier
between her and the one she loved on earth.
True, he never chided her-never apparently
noticed her altered appearance-bu she we'll
knew he no longer urged her going into So
ciety, nor did he seem to care about receiving
his friends at his own house, although he was
a social man and had once felt proud to in.
troduce his young wife to his large circle Of
acquaintance.
Now, they seldom went out together, ex-
cepting to 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 preparing her little ones to ac-
company their father; and the neighbors soon
ceased expecting to meet her at public wor-
ship or in their social gatherings and 50, one
by one, they neglected to call On her until
but very few of the number continued to ex-
change friendly civilities with her. She had
wondered at this, had felt panied and merit.
fed heretofore. Now she clearly saw it was
her own fault The veil was removed from
her eyes, and the mistake of her life was re-
vealed in its true enormity. Sincerely did
she repent Of her past error, calmly and serl-
ously resolve on future and immediate amend
ment.
Meanwhile her hands were not idle, and
at length the metamorphosis was complete
The bright pink drapery hung gracefully
about her form, imparting an unusual bril-
liancy to her complexion. Her best wrought
collar was fastened with costly brooch, her
husbands wedding gift, which had not seen the
light for many day. Glancing once more
at her mirror, to be certain her toilet needed
no more finishing touches, she took her sew
ing and returned to the sitting room.
Little Nellie had wearied of her picture
book, and was now playing with the kitten
As Mrs. Thornton entered, she clapped hel
hands in childish delight, exclaiming "Oh
Ma, how pretty-pretty !" and running to he,
kissed her again and again. Then drew hel
little chair close to her side and eagerly
watched her as she piled her needle, repair
ing her gingham dress.
Just before it was completed, Nellie's broth
ers came from school, and pausing at the
half opened door, Willie whispered to Char
lie, Il guess we've got company, for mother
all dressed up" 1t was with mingled emo
tions of pleasure and pain that Mrs. Thorn