The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-07
AN IllCIDENT in aiARRlED LIFE.

hair, and tying her clean apron. Their,
was mowentary surpfiRe na Mira
Thornton's face; but she answered care
le0aly, "Oh, no one cares how look"
"Don't Pa love 10 see you look pget.
typ peFsisted the child.
The mother did not reply, but invol
UNFAIRLY she glanced at her slovenly
attire, the faded and worn calico dree.
and dingy apron, both bearing Wit.
ness - an intimate acquaintance with
the dish, pan and stove-the slipshod
shoes, aud soiled stockings-and sht
conld not help remembering how she had
that morning appeared With uncombed
hair, and prepared her husband's break.
fast before he left home for the neighbor.
ing market.town. ''E.rc enough 20 mus.
ed she, chow do look |" And thon mem.
ory pointed back few years to neatly
and fastefully dressed maiden, sometimes
busy in her fathers honse, again ming.
ling with her young companions, but
never untidy in her appearance, always
fresh and blooming; and this che knew,
full we'll, was picture Of herself when
Charles Thornton first won her young
heart. Sdch was the bride he had taken
to his pleasant home.
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
oyershndowed by this repulsive trait.
Yet che loved to see others neat, and her
house and children did not seem to be.
long TO her, SO we'll kept and tidy did
they look. AS q housekeeper she excel
led, and her husband was long in ac.
knowledging to himself the unwelcome
fact that he had married an incorrieible
sioven.
When, like too mary ether young
wives, she began to grow negligent in
n,gard to her dress, he readily excused
ler In his own mind, and thought
"ehe Is not we'll, or che has so much to
do;" and perceiving no abatement in
his kind attentions, she naturally con.
cluded be was perfectly satisfied. AS
her family cares increased, and che went
less into company, she became still more
careless Of her personal appearance, and
contented herself with seeing that moth
ing was lacking which could contribute
to the comfort of her husband and CHI
dren, never supposing that 30 trivial q
matter as her own apparel could pnssibly
affect their happiness. All this chain OF
circumstances hitherto unthought OF
passed before her, as the little prattler
at her aide repeated the query, "Don't
Pa love to sea you look pretty 2"
ayes, my child" che 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 q picture
buok with whic,. to amuse herself, she
went to her own room, mentally exclaim-
ing, "at any rate; I'll never nut on this
rig 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, aud some unfit to wear. At length
che found one which had long ago been
laid aside, as "too light to wear about
the house." It was o nice French print,
rose coloreds dsand whi.,, and she remem-
bered 1t had once been a favorite with
her husband, The old adage, fashions
Gene .cnad i. se--ea years" seemed true
in this case for the dress Tas made in
the then prevailing style.
t..Fhis Is just the thing" she thought,
and she hastened TO perform her toilet,
saying to hereelf, ~ must alter my dark
ginghamg to wear mornings, and get it
all ready before Charles comes home"
Then she released her long, dark hair
from it's imprisonment in most ungrace-
ftl twist, and carefully brushing its still
glossy waves, she plated 1t in the broad
braids which Charles used go much to
admire in the days of her girlhood.
The unwonted task brought back
many "reminiscences of those long van
ished years, aud tears glistened In her
owes as she thought of the many chanrea
time had wrought in those she loved, bat
Bhe murmurei, "What hath sadness like
the change ~ ourselves we fnS?"
In that hour che realized how the ap-
parently trivial fault had gained the mas.
placed q barrier between her and the
one she loved on earth. True, he never
chided her---never apparently noticed
knew he no longer arged her going into
recaivirg his friends at his own house,
once felt proud to introduce his young
wife to his large circle Of acquain,ances.
Now, they eelAom went out together,
eexcep,ingto church, and even dressing
for that was generally too much Of an
effort for Mrs, Thornton. She wonld
stay at home "io keep house," after pre-.
pairing her little ones to accompany theii
father; aud the neighbors coon ceased
expecting to meet her at public worship
oF1in social gathering; aud 60, ono by
one, they neglected to call on her until
but very few of the number continued to
exchange friendly .civiIities with her.
She, had wondered at this, had felt
pained 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
lie true enormity. Sincerely did she
repent OF her past error, calmly aud seri.
oualy resolye on future and Immediate
amendment. 81
Meanwhile her hands were not Idle,
aud at length tho metamorphosiS waz
complete. The bright pink dSapery
hung gracefully about her form, impaft.
ing az unusual brilliancy to her COIN.
v,loxiuII. Her best wrought collar was
fastened wish costly brooch, her hus.
bapd's wedding gilt, which had not seen
che ligat for many q day, Giansinp
once moro as her n,iFf0s, TO he certain
her toilet needed no more finishing
touches, she took her sewing cnd return
ed to the sitting room, ssf
Little Nellie had weafied IF her pic
tuFe book, ard was now 1'asng with the
kitten. AS MrR. Thornt.a Nntered, eht
eIapped her hands in chiluIsh delight
exclRiming, "0h ! tsa, how pretty r
and rnnning to her kisBed her again and
again. Ih0n drew her little chair clost
20 her side and eagerly watched ihergai
nhe piled her needle repairiDg her Ging
hatll dress.
,Ef1ak hafnra iS yznR cnnnlafad Nallia,l