Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-13
GRACE EGERTON,S LIFE LESSON

1t was Grace Egerton's wedding day,
and she stood fully dressed before her
mirror, taking one last look, with a
little pardonable vanity, at the pretty
figure reflected there.
In another hour she would be Mrs.
Ernest Redgrave. How hard it was TO
realize!
She was vain and rather frivolous
girl; but deep down in the depths of
the little worldly heart was we'll of
true love for Ernest. If she !had to
give up all this outside show, she would
nave been quite content to have gone
off all alone with him, and proved how
true wife she would be, but there was
no occasion for this, and perhaps even
Grace herself knew not how she loved
him. She was spoiled, petted child,
and that any solemn duties were en-
tailed in the estate upon which she
was Just entering, she did not pause to
think.
For four weeks she and Ernest tray
eled then they came home TO their
own beautiful home-her fathers wed
ding gift to her. Here round of fes-
tivities awaited them, so that the young
couple for three months had no single
evening to themselves.
81 am tired, Grace. Let us stay Mt
home tonight, darling" said Ernest
one evening after dinner, rs Grace was
absut to leave him to make her toilet
for some party.
absurd, Ernest You are not
growing old already, surely! Besides,
M, pIooo,,ntnv, NV, xro,,ll
come, and 1 cannot disappoint her"
Il do not like Mrs. Blessington. l
wish you were not SO intimate with
her: and really my head aches tonight.
Stay at home like good little girl"
Fer moment Grace wavered. She
looked within the library which seemed
so warm and inviting. She could fancy
Ernest stretched on the sofa, while she
sat beside him, bathing his head with
some fragrant cologne, and thought
what sweet, coy evening they might
have. Then she remembered some
thing Mrs. Blessington had said about
spelling men, and how easy it was to
begin, and how selfish they grew.
1t was we'll enough for Ernest to spoil
her. That was to be expected; but rs
to spelling him-no, indeed So she
ran up stairs, calling back over her
shoulder as she went.
"Come, Ernest, we have got no time
to lose. And as to that horrid preJu-
dice of yours, do try and get over it"
There came temptation to the man
"a temptation to carry out his own
manly will; but softer, terderer feel
k.,1 VIC
of the pretty laughing face swept be-
fore him, and half an hour later he
stood in full dress waiting the advent ct
the beautiful girl, who, all unconscious
ly to them both, was steering her frail
vessel on the quicksands of married
misery:
A year passed and Mr.. and Mrs.
Redgrave were still in the vortex of
fashionable life; but to the mans spirit
it had grown unutterably wearisome.
II married for a home, Grace" he
said one day, in gentle expostulation;
but what do see Of my homer"
Quite enough to satisfy reason
able man. Why, | shouldn't want to
be alone with you all the time, Ernest.
Think how awfuliy 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. Redgrave went to some gay assem-
hlage alone. Her husband had refused
10 accompany her.
II am tired" he said; "but do not
let me detain you. Mrs. Blessington is
seen constantly without her husband. y
Because he is BEAR" answered
Grace, pouting.
Nevertheless she went, and after that
II was no uncommon thing for Ernest
to spend his evenings with his books
and thoughts, while his beautiful young
wife went out alone.
''Grace, l wish you to give Mrs. Bles-
ing, as they sat at dinner.
Nonsense, Ernest. / cannot do it if
| wished it ever so much"
''But you must do it. l will not
have you 90 to that woman's house
again"
But Ernest, / have already accepted
an invitation to a dinner party there
for Thursday evening"
Then write and decline. | do not
ask you this without cause, little girl
but things have recently come to my
hearing regarding this lady, and | dc
not wish my wife's name coupled with
hers."
Grace made no reply, but in her OWL
neart her decision was unaltered. Be.
gin to yield to a mans whims, Ind
where would she end? OF course she
should go. She had been married
more than year now, and, so far, had
always had her own sweet will and
way.
This time the latter was unexpectedly
made easy to her; for as Ernest kissed
her goodbye on Thursday morning, he
said to her:
Il shan't be home to dinner to- might
Grace. You had better dine al moth
er's. By the way, this was Mrs. Bles-
sington's night You have declined
that invitation?'
The first fear that she had ever felt
Of Ernest crept into her heart at new