The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-09-22

~Os~-
Borne on tho autumn blast:
My brightest morning sun, at noon
With clouds ia overcast
The streets are full Of flirting girls
Such horlid, sickeDing sights
can't endure; I'll take the stump,
Aud go for "women's rights"
THE FIRST QUARREL.
Then; Ralph, You think as I do, that ",
must never. never have first quarrel?'
"Never, Rose, there is nothing easie
than to live without it.
yet they do say that married people ar,
always sure to quarrel some time"
"Yes, and they do say, my darling, tina
engaged pc ople are sure to quarrel q grea
| deal. But haven't We proved it false in Oh
| case?"
"Oh, Ralph, it is because we have love.
| each other too truly to even think of such
thing"
OF course it is. little one, ;" drawing tn
| is just why we shall never quarrel. How
other, dearest?"
There was no audible answer, but a sub
! dued sound, as of tender caressing, fillet
up the interval.
Ralph Maynard ana Rose Clark were t,
| be united for better or for worse on til,
morrow. As We have seen, they fondl.
believed that no cloud could ever overcas
their wedding sky.
Three months after marriage, and tn
| sun was setting upon as charming |ittl,
scene as could we'll be imagined. A prett,
white cottage with low windows and roman
tic polticos overlooking a velvety gree,
lawn; the windows of the dining room
stand open, and the fragrant breath of Jun,
roses from without was rivaled by the taste
full boquets which stood in crystal vase
! upon the table; the snow-white damask
cut.glass and shining silver caught tn,
last rays of the sun, as they now flittet
over the dainty tea table. now sparkling il
the crimson heart of jelly. now lingering
in the golden meshes of Rose Maynard'es
hair, as she poured out a cup Of fragrant tes
for her young husband.
Three months, and all was perfect hap
piness. Rose was thinking this as sht
poured out the tea, with a little smile upo1
her lips.
"Rose!'
She looked up quickly; surely there wa.
a sl'ght-just the ightest-shade of con
straint or GOODNESS in the tone.
"Rose, repeated her husband, evidently &
little embarrassed, "as rode down to the
office this morning, heard some comments
upon your friend, Mrs. Elton. which didnt
please me very we'll. WISH" in a lowe,
tone, that you would drop her acquaint-
ance, my love-"
why, Ralph, what can you mean?" with
deep flush rising to her cheek, II would
do anything for you, Ralph" she added,
but how terribly unjustit would be to drop
my best friecd because some people don I
choose to like her."
i am afraid they have good reasons for
it, dear; in fact, never liked her myself,
though did not like to tell You so. She is
too much of tiirt for me to wish to see
her the intimate friend of nv wife,"
She is splendid, don't care what peo-
pie say, and 1 am ashamed of you, Ralph,
for helping to abuse woman's character-
and that woman NY best friend, tool"
And down dropped Roses knife and
fork, and up went the dainty handkerchief
to the bright blue eyes, which had suddenly
filled with tears. This was too much for
Ralph. He came to her side and kissed
away the first tears he had ever seen IN his
wife's pretty eyes.
Come, come, darling! remember, we
are never to quarrel. But I do hope, Rose,
that you will think seriously over what
have said"
Rose said nothing, but chung to her hus-
band as though they had just been snatch
ed from precipice and she could hardly
realize their safety. To think that he.
Ralph, had actually disapproved of her!
The evening passed lovingly, as usual,
but poor Rose felt thoughtful almost sad.
That she must either hurt the feelings of
her dearest friend, without any good cause,
as she believed, or displease her own ilar-
ling husband, she saw was unavoidable;
and to her loyal, loving nature to do either
seemed impossible. She would do all she
could, however, to please her husband
without offending her friend.
All! little wife, what difficult position
to sustain!
But for week she managed it. When
the charming little woman dropped in to
coll, which she did nnceremoniouslv ut all
times, Rose always cont ived to be so busy
that she could not possibly go ont. Wheth-
or it was handkerchief for Ralph. a pin
cushion for dear mamma" or a new piece
to practice, it was always sure to be too i'm
portant to be neglected.
"Why, what has come over YOU. Rose?"
cried Mrs. Elton one day, rather suspicious
ly; you have not been out with me for
week: Are you goingto keep this up for
ever?"
II don't know I'm sure" replied Rose,
laughing, and inwardly wondering how she
could excuse herself much longer; but I
really find so much to do. If your husband
were at home. Maude, you would not have
SO much leisure yourself"
Then I'm heartily glad he isn't said
stay in as you do, little num-"
But when Ralph came home again that
eveninins he again referred to the run,ors
concerning Mrs. Elton; she was carving on
serious fiirtion with q we'll known society
man whose reputation was anything but
pure.
people are simply mistaken" said
Rose, with dignity; ''she no more tiirts with
him than she does with you. have seen
them together"
"Well, shouldn't like you to amuse
Yourself in my absence as she does in the
absence of her husband"
Haven't You any confidence in your
wife, Ra'ph?"
certainly; but who can tell what an in
haence she may acquire over you? At I'LL
events, darling" very gently, "you must
find some way of disseminating her &C.
quaintance at once"
"Ralph! must?"
Eyes. my dear: mustv' This time with
quite matrimonial air of iirmness.
The bright blue eyes of bis wife flashed
in surprise and aager. That little word
from Ralph's lips caused as much COM
motion in Roses mind as the big, big
D." from the captain of the Pinafore
raised among his crew.
That evening was passed almost in 81.
lence, and there was no good night kiss.
In the morning Rose was already to for
give, but Ralph was cold and distant, and
did not seem to wish it. Immediately after
breakfast he went down town, after leaving
the faintest possible kiss upon lis wife's
troubled brow.
He saw the trouble but pride was at work:
80 he went away. leaving his perplexed
bride in just the right state of mind to fall
an easy victim 10 the tempter. She was
angry with her husband for daring to dis.
like her friend, and angry with that friend
for being the cause of GOODNESS between her
and her husband.
But when that pretty, charming friend
came rushing in early in tho afternoon; oil