Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-08-25

rolled out and fell in large drops over her
cheeks.
Never before, since Edward had looked
upon that detr young face, had he seen Its
brightness so yelled. Never before, had a
word of his ,een answered by anything but
smiles and love responses.
"I'm sorry, Edward" How the sad, trem-
ulous voice Of Ida rebuked the young hus.
bands unkindness cit shall not be so again. y
And she kept her word. Suddenly he had
awakened her from bright, dreamy illusion
She had been in kind of fairy land. The
hard, everyday working world, with its COM
mon working day wants, by an uni ooked-tor
shifting of machinery, had struck with an un-
lovely aspect upon her startled vision the
Jagged edges of the real wounding painfully
her soft ideal. But once awakened, she new
er slept again. 1t was the first shadow that
fell dimly and coldly upon her married heart;
the first, and to the Inexperienced, we need
not say the last
Burnt toast and bad tea ! To think that
common things like these should have power
to shadow young heart basking in the sum
light of love! Ida had thought of her hus'
band as almost Indifferent to the vulgar wants
his words made manifest. She saw clearer
now. He was but flesh and blood like the
rest.
Very-very tenderly spoken were all the
words of Edward to his young wife, during
the shadowed evening that followed this first
dimming of their home light. And Ida who
felt the kindness of his heart, tried, to smile
and to seem as of old. But, somehow, she
could not force into existence the smiles she
wished to send out as tokens of forgiveness.
Thoughts of the bad tea and burnt toast, the
"usual"-ah there lay the smart !-evenlng
entertainment she had provided; :; or, rather,
suffered to be provided by unskillful hands
we're her own any more skillful D.? for her re-
turning husband haunted her all the while.
ut shall not be so again !" Not idly Ut
tered we're these words. All the evening she
kept repeating them to herself, with a steadi-
ly increasing purpose and clearer vision.
"Edward shat. never have another occasion
for rebuke."
Several times during the evening, the
young husband was tempted to refer to the
conversation held with his mother, in expla-
nation of his own conduct, but he wisely
kept his own counsel Of all things he
dreaded an arrangement between his wife
and mother.
On the next morning, Edward noticed that
his young wife left their chamber earlier than
usual, and went down stairs. Not, however,
to fill their home with music, as she had Of
ten done. Her matinee was the singing tea.
kettle, not the stringed piano. She had
heightened color, when she took her place at
the breakfast table, and poured for her hus'
band the fragrant coffee, made by her own
hands, because she had discovered that her
Indifferent cook was ignorant of her art.
How did she know the art? 1t was almost
accidental; the recollection of some good
housewife 5 talk had served her in the right
time The warm praise bestowed by Edward
on the coffee was ample reward.
Ida bought a cook book during the day.
That sounds romantic. But it was even so;
and she studied it for hours. During the
afternoon her mother.in.law came in and
Ida urged her to stay to tea. The old lady
accepted the invitation -; not, We are sorry to
say, in the very best spirit. She had opened
the war on Edwards "butterAy" young wife
and she meant to follow it up. When Ed
ward came home and found that his mother
was there his spirits fell. He saw, by the
corners Of her mouth, that she had not forgot.
ten their interview of the preceding day, and
that her state of mind was not whit more
charitable. Ida's face was little shadow
ed but she was cheerful, and very attentive
to his mother-and, happily, ignorant Of her
true feelings. She came and went from the
breakfast room to the parlor, frequently, evil
oholI hor
Tea was at length announced. Edwards
heart trembled. His mother arose, and with
rather cold air, accompanied her children
to the room where the evening meal awaited
them. The table had an attractive look,
now to the eyes of both Edward and his
mother 1t was plain that another hand be.
sides the servants had been there. Ida
poured the tea, and Edward served the hot
biscuit and cream toast. The eyes of the
latter were on his mother, as she lifted, with
an air which he understood to say, "Poor
stuff!' the cup of tea to her lips She tasted
the fragrant beverage-set the cup down
lifted and tasted again. The infusion was
faultless! Yes, even to her critical taste.
Next the biscuit, and next the toast were
tried. Mrs. Gocdfellow herself could not
have surpassed them.
"Have you changed your cook ?" The
old lady looked across the table, curiously at
Ida.
NO. mother" answered the young wife,
smiling. "Only the cook has found mis-
tress."
"Is all this your work, Ida p The old
lady spoke in half incredulous tone.
Eyes, it is all my work. Don't you think,
if try hard, I'll make housekeer in time ?"
This was go unexpected, that the husbands
mother was delighted. Ida had gone right
home to her matter. of:fact, everyday heart.
"Why, yes, you precious little darling!
she answered, with an enthusiasm almost
foreign to her character. II couldn't have
done better myself"
The shadow passed from the heart of Ida,
as her eyes rested on the pleased countenance
of her husband 1t was the first shadow that
had fallen since their happy wedding day,
and moved on quickly; but its memory was
left behind 1t was like the drawing of a
veil, which partly conceals, yet beauties
countenance, revealing the enchanted ex-
preston.
Ids's husband was a man, like the rest,
WIN mau anu WCohhSSS, oha
her married world one in which hands must
take hold of common duties. But she soon
learned that, in the real world, were real de-
lights, substantial and abiding.
Bravely she did walk in the new path that
Law at her feet. She had her reward. Tea
and toast but expressed her household duties,
none of which were rightly performed during
that delicious honeymoon. But she failed
in nothing afterward; and soon learned that
tba oronnd in which true happiness takes