Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-11-01

| That although the leave. are gone,
Stiir the tee may bloom forever
| In the rifs that 10 to come. -
5iIAE WIFE'S LESSON. s4
Myraswss ipoutlng. a
| Thei eiunrnistakable expression OF Ill
temper dlsfieured her pretty face, and
Ernest sighed as he remembered how
often It had been there during their
brief married dexperience Ia
Upon the break fast table were stand !
j Ing the dishes, Of substantial meal, Id
the disorder that followed their-use zE
Breakfast was over, but Ernest still
| kept his seat, toying absently scwithta y
teaspoon, while Myra l0uked at him
with the cross look of . thwartetf child.
"Then you won'tgive me the dress?"
II cannot, Myra. Ireally could not
do it without running into debt"
"That2 is just an excuse Papa al
ways gave me the money for my
clothes, even if he was cross about some
other things" e{ H
"YourI father was rich man, Myra,
when he was married"
II wish he was rich now would
ask him for the money. Inever thought
you would be stingy, Ernest"
This last thrust was too muchifo the
long-endurine:temper
| Ernest Mather's voice was very stern
az he aDsvefed:.
| II am otstingy, Myra You knew
that was q poor man when you MARI.
ed me, and that could not give you
the luxuries of your home; but I.have
granted you every Indulgence in my
power withot getting into debt. That
will not do, for your sake as well as
mine"
/ Healeft her then, lingering in the hall
as ne eput,on his OvercOat. hoping she
would come for kiss and word Of re-
cOnciliation.
/ But tshe.sat tapping her foot,upof, the
floor until the hall door closed an d then
ran up to her room crying. "a
She was spoiled child, the only
daughter of q man who had been very
wealthy, but who had hazarded his
money in an unfortunate speculation,
lend d-loet- s-----s-----ss z S-sss s
A position abroad was offered him,
which he accepted.
His house and furniture, which he
had given his daughter for q wedding
gift, were settled upon herself, and was
not effected by his change of fortune.
4 He knew Ernest Mather to be an
honorable man, who had good busi-
ness capacity and high place In the
and he felt no anxiety about Myra'f
future.
So the little wife, as she made hel
pretty blue eyes all red with tears OF
temper, had no sensible mother to tell
her how wrongly she was acting, no
sister to osymrathize with her, no one to
scold or humor her.
Under these circumstances the tears
were soon dried, and Mrs. Mather went
out for q walk.
"It's no harm to look at the 'dresf
again, even II I can't buy it, she said,
as she tied on coquettish little bonnet
and otherwise beautified herself Tor ihei
expedition.
The day was bright, soft warm
morning In early spring, and the shops
were filed with tempting finery.
i In Myra's dainty portmonnaie there
was money enough to purchase . nnm-
\ Der of nice little parcels. even though
the price Of the expensive dress shs
wanted was denied her.
! So the morning slipped away, and
luncheon time found her chatting with
/, Julia, MAXWELL, and quite Wiling to ac
4; company that friend upon second toul
II in the afternoon.
4 TT was after five O'Clock when the;lit
tie matron, tired to death, as she said
J reached her pretty home. -
| Her ffnt shock was catching glimps,
\ of Ernest's maiden aunt, Miss Corde1is
Lowry, her especial aversion and dread
seated apon the drawing room sofa.
'sOld horror ~ she muttered. II Wisl
! she was at home. wanted to make
up with Ernest. I don't like the dfeA
half as much as did yesterday"
The second shock was upon opening
the door of her bedroom.
Open boxes, closets, drawers, anair Q
general confusion everywhere, and til
small trunk Earnest always took upoI
his short business trips missing alto
gether.
Clearly her husband had packed Vi
and gone, leaving Aunt Cordelia, q
usual, to keep MyrR company>
But where was he?
Upon the dressing table was not
directed torherself and Mrs. Mather tor
it 0pen.s 4x@sys<
No loving address to herself; :. merel
this:
"I have waited for your return as Ion
as pos. .ible, and write this to explai
my absence. told you six months ag
of Mr.. .Agnew's offer to me, If woui
accept the position of traveller to tn
house-double my present salary and
liberal commission / declined then, be
cause you said the money would neve
compensate you for the present separs
ton. To. day the offer is renewed. Al
ter our conver sation this morning, !
y IL NIL huPf31
have any weight; SO / have accepted
and leave in an hour. Twill write t
YOU every month, Enclosing remitfancel
! I leave the accompanying bank. note fc
/ the dress you desire. have sent fc
/ Aunt CordeliA, as usual, to stay wit
/ lyou. ERNEST MATHE ER:
4 Not loving word, not . regret fe
the long separation.
Il Myrs realized then how cousfderat
and loving her husband had been undt
the wearing vexAtion of her whims an
1 Great tears rolled down her cheeks I
Ishe bitterly reproached herself.
II have made him believe i don
: Lcarea for. anything but money! sh
lIthouQht. ssHe leaves me this to conso
/ me for his absence. Oh, Ernest, com
home again and Til wear calico'and
sun bonnet to church before I'll teas
you for finery again ~
It was not an easy task to- go to dill
liner. and meet Aunt Cordelia, but
4 must be done.
It was no new thing for that worth
Itspinster to see sMyra in tears when E
ifnejt Wns awsy On businene s0s'e
only expressed : desire to see Amy ~