The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-06-11
A SEVERE LESSON.

Sne was vain ana rather frivolous glrl.
But deep down in the depths Of that little
worldly heart was well of true love for
Ernest. If she had to give up all this out
side show, she would have been quite con-
| tent to have gone off all alone with him and
prove how true a wife she could be but
there was no occasion for this, and perhaps
she loved him. She was spoiled pet child
and that any solemn duties were entailed
in the estate upon which she was just en-.
terng, she did not pause to think.
| For four weeks she and Ernest travelled I;
then they came home to their own beauti-
ful home-her fathers wedding gift to her.
Here a round of festivities awaited them, so
that the young couple for three months had
no single evening to themselves.
al am tired, Grace. Let us stay at home
tonight, darling" said Ernest one evening
after dinner as Grace was about to leave him
to make her toilet for some party.
"Absurd, Ernest You're not growing
old, surely Besides, promised Mrs. Bless
ington we would come, aud l cannot disap-
point her."
al don't like Mrs. Blessington. / wish
you were not 50 intimate with her; and
really my head aches tonight. Stay at
home, like good little girl"
For moment Grace wavercd. She look
ed within at library, which seemed SO
warm and inviting. She could fancy Er-
nest stretched on the sofa, while she sat be-
side him, bathing his forehead with some
fragrant cologne, and thought what sweet
coy evening they might have. Then she
remembered something Mrs. Blessington had
said about spelling men, and how easy it
was to begin, and how selfish they grew.
1t was well enough for Ernest to spoil her.
That was to be expected but as to spelling
him-no, indeed? SO she ran up the stairs,
calling back over her shoulders as she went
"Come, Ernest; we've no time to lose.
And as to that horrid prejudice OF yours, do
try and get over it,"
There came q temptation TO the mana
temptation to carry out his own manly will;
but asofter, tenderer feeling swept over him
as a mental vision of the pretty laughing
face passed before him and half an hour
laterhe stood in full dress waiting the adj
yentof the beautiful girl, who, all uncon-
scioqsly to them both, was steering her frail
vessil ON to the quicksands of married mis-
cry. ..
A year passed, and Mr.. and Mrs. Red
grave were still in the gay vortex of fash
ionable life; but to the mans spirit it had
grown unutterably wearisome.
Il married for home, Grace" he said
one day, in gentle expostulation "but what
90 see of my home?'
"Quite enough to satisfy reasonable man.
Why, | shouldn't want to be alone with
N you all the time, Ernest. Think how aw-
fully tired we should get of each other"
The thoughtless words stabbed like a
knife but he made them no reply. Only
that evening, for the first time, Mrs. Red
2 grave went to some gay assemblage alone
Her husband had refused to accompany her
J "I am tired" he said "but do not let me
detain you. Mrs. Biessington is seen con.
stanty without her husband"
"Because he is a bear" answered Grace
I pouting.
H Nevertheless she went, and after that il
was no uncommon thing for Ernest to speuC
4 his evenings with his books and thoughts
while his beautiful young wife went ou
alone.
"Gruce, wish you to give Mrs. Blessing
ton up" he said to her one evening as the,
! sat at dinner
! "Nonsense, Ernest. ! cannot do it if
wished it ever so much"
III "But you must do it. will not have yol
! go to that woman's house again"
N "But, Ernest, have accepted an invita-
tion to dinner party there for Thursda.
evening"
"Then write and decline. do not asI
you this without good caus', little girl bu
things have recently come TO my hearin
regarding this lady, and do not wish m
wife's name coupled with hers"
! Grace made no reply, but in her ow
heart her decision was unaltered. Begin {
! yield to a mans whims, and where shout
she end? OF course she should 60. sh
had been married more than a year nov
and, so far, had always had her own swe'
=, will and way.
Ill This time the latter was unexpected
j made easy to her; for, Ernest kissed he
IN good-by on Thursday morning, he said
, her -
A., "I shant be home to dinner to-nigh
ri Grace. You had better dine at mother
is By the way, this wss Mrs. Blessington
n night. You had declined that invitation
The first fear that she had ever felt of Z
ID nest crept into her heart at a new stern loo
OF she saw in his eyes, and it drew her fir
E falseho0d to him from her lips.
eyes" she answered.
NIL He stopped and kissed her more tenderl
an mske it up to you, darling. Belie'
ut me, ] do GOT ask it without good cause"
erl She stood quite STILL after he had left he
" She was half tempted yet to obey him Lu
in -pshaw what nonsense it was
-el So, at seven o'clock, the carriage stood
III her door, and, in a bewitehing dinner DIRE,
AL she was driven to the house her husban
md had forbidden her TO enter.
an But the dinner dragged-hot but thu
dli Mrs. Bcssngton's chief had done himse
ba infinite credit, or that her guests failed
gf their part. The trouble lay only with MI
re Redgrave's self In vain she strove to rall.
thi compliments palled on Leri the lights tire
la her. One thought weighed on heart an
brain;-
eli Suppose Ernest should be seriously di
let pleased Well, what if he were. Mrs. Bles
ind ington had told her how she had manage
her husbands first displeasure.
Never yield p she advised. "Never sho
that you're sorry and you'll soon learn n
ls TO feel sorry"
- Go tvhan Oh IA, nscIocl, eba badk har bo