Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-06-13

amiable response, as she snatched ou
youngest from the floor, where he wa
in danger of being stumbled over in my
absent.min and studious walk
There's many slip,' you know, be
tween the cup and the lip
X
Passing over the intervening months
our first picture shall be photographed
from the deck of the Cunard steamer
R in the month of May, 1880. W.
were grouped about in various attitudes
my wife and Mrs. Julia engaged in close
conversation about some piece of femi-
nine handiwork. when my friend ap-
peared on deck for the first time. He
had persistently kept his berth, more, ]
thought, from dependency than from
the effect of NAL de mer. We were
three days out. Mrs. Julia knew that
he was on board, for my wife had told
her in a casual, Indifferent way, while
naming over the company, concealing,
as women know how, any intent, under
the innocent words:
Rev. John Hardwood was college
chum of my husband. He makes one
of our party. You must meet him.
But had not dared as yet to reveal
my treachery to him. He had not seen
her.
he was sauntering along in his med
itative way past the groups of people,
when, stopping to say good morning.
to my wife In one OF his rounds, his
eyes fell upon her companion, who arose
with some timidity to greet him.
1T was hard ordeal, but he displayed
remarkable self-possession. Ifelt proud
of him.
Had she not been quite pre-occupied
with thought of his imagined dispieas-
ure she'could not have failed to see that
it was no common interest that he felt
for her; but hers was one of those
charmingly unselfish natures that never
supposes the elements of attractiveness
to be inherent in themselves.
After a short conversation he disap-
peared. found him in few moments
below, whittier had followed him.
''How could you do this, John!'
''Do what?'
Bring us together again after I had
almost fought it out of my heart? The
battle all has to be begun again 1 have
found that my first thought was positive
delight for two weeks of unavoidable |
companionship, but how is life to be
made endurable after that?'
I told him how it all happened how
she had turned out to be an old friend, |
and had been invited to join the COM
pany.
'Then that accounts for speaking to
me at all i" he groaned.
II had observed before I left home,
Of late, that she had tried to avoid me,
and here am forced on her against my
will and against hers certainly This
be said bitterly, turning q little way
from me.
''See here, Judas I said. taking him
oy the shoulderland turning;him fairly
about, begging your ministerial pardon,
you are not fit to live. Why can you
not be like other people-?'
Horror struck, he turned upon me.
He would not have been 80 scandalized
mad he waited to hear the end of my
sentence.
do you forget my duty and her own
% her husband?' he asked angriIy.
Ibid you ever see her husband? II
Isked. meekly.
mo; but what difference does that
make. Should I be less true to my
brother whom have seen than to him
whom have not seen?'
Whoever told you that she possessed
hat appendage called a husband?'
He looked into my eyes and his own
began to dilate.
''They said
'Who said?' The idea had never
entered the monks cowl to question the
ruth OF They said.'
L had the pleasure of telling him
hen her history, from beginning to
md, and of watching the changes Of
his expressive face, and when I ended
ny story by the words:
And, Julius, it is my opinion,
rom various observations, that you are
he one man of the world whom she
'egards with esteem and-and perhaps
ove.'
What did the dear boy do but fall on
lis knees then and there, dragging me
Ilong with him, and thank the Lord
never felt quite 30 near heaven in all
ny life before.
''Now see here. old fellow said,
With tears in my eyes, as we arose, for
you know I always liked to tease him,
you are all wrong. You have thanked
he wrong party. You ought to thank
ne.'
\
There was q wedding in Liverpool, q
delightful summer of travel, a winter of
pleasant interchanges of visits, and
low, Dick, I invite you, on my good
vife's motion, to dine with US to.mor-
'OW and meet our old friend of college
lays-a transformed man,
How TO MAKE HoMEs.-Make your
homes pleasant. Have your houses
warm and comfortable for the winter.
Do not build story and-a half house.
The half story is simply an oven in
which, during the summer, you will
bake every night, and feel in the morn
ing as though only the rind of yourself
was left. Decorate your rooms, even If
you do so with cheap engravings. The
are far better than none. Have
books, have papers, and read them.-l
You have more leisure than the dwellers
in the city. Beautify your grounds with
plants and flowers and vines. Have
good gardens. Remember that every |
thing of beauty tends to the elevation of
man, Every little morning glory. whose