Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-24

for her own better judgment told her the
advice was good.
Howard faithfully kept his promise
that afternoon, and when he returned
home at night had apparently forgotten
what had happened at noon, and was in
an unusually happy state of mind
"About ten O'clock said he, as he
started for the Office next morning,
''you may expect me to come for you
and auntie."
And promptly at ten O'Clock he
appeared, left his horse at the door,
and came running in, expecting to find
Mary and his aunt all dressed to 90.
''Why, thought should find you all
ready he exclaimed in a tone of
disappointment, as he found Mary in
the kitchen with her morning calico ON,
busy with her cares.
''But what was l to do with the
dinner you sent home last night?' she
inquired, appealing to him.
6 You don't mean to let that keep
you home, do you?" he asked, a little
impatiently.
''What else cal do?" she respond
ed, still appealing to him.
'sWhy, let it go until we return.
Here's Aunt Hepsey all ready to go.
Now, don't spoil all the pleasure for her
and me too.'
The tone in which this was uttered
sounded harsher than anything Mary
had ever heard her husband say before,
and it required all the resolution she
possessed to answer without betraying
her real feelings; but she repressed the
tears that came into her eyes, and
answered firmly:
"No, Howard, 1 can not go this
morning; you know how my plans were
must attend to the cooking. But auntie
will 60 with you, and you will have
good time.''
Her decision surprised Howard at
first, and his pride was a good deal
piqued at the implied censure of his own
neglect. He would have argued the
case, but something in Mary's tone and
manner told him it would be useless;
so, in no very happy mood. he gave her
a silent kiss, helped his aunt into the
carriage, and drove away; nor did he
know the bitter tears his brave little
wife shed during the first half hour after
they were gone.
For some time the two rode on with
out speaking, Aunt Hepsey thinking it
best to let Howard break the silence if
he would; and he, on his part, evident
ly thinking very intently, though his re-
Elections did not appear to afford him
much pleasure. At length he asked, as
though desiring information:
"Aunt Hepsey, why do you suppose
Mary declined to go with US this morn
ing?"
"What does thee think about it?
Come, thee is good reasoner; what is
thy opinion?"
Howard understood his aunt well
enough to be sure she had an object in
thus throwing him back upon himself,
so he only answered, negatively, at first:
&c She didn't stay at home just for that
dinner, [ know"
81 dare say thee's right" replied his
aunt; and then there was long silence
again, in which it was evident that
Howard continued his thinking. By and
by he ventured a step further, but with
all of the professional caution to which
he was trained.
"Well, if I didn't know that it was
1 should think Mary was
sick of me, or offended at something"
81 don't think she is offended" pur-
sued his aunt, s'but does thee think
thee has given her any occasion to feel
troubled?''
Howard was polite again, and con-
sidered some minutes before he replied
by asking:
"Why, does my forgetting the dinner
now and then really disturb Mary so
muchp''
1.-THE has hit the case exactly. How
ard,'' said his aunt; and then she went
On to show him, in her mild but con-
vincing way, how much his negligence
had troubled Mary, and how it was
destroying her peace of mind and max
NC her miserable.
Howard listened in silent attention,
;or he was keen enough to grasp the
whole bearings of the case at once, and
1t heart he loved his wife very fondlv,
md would not for the world have
caused her pain. When she had finished
ne simply said: "We'll turn round
1ow," and drove rapidly home without
another word.
When they reached the house. he
he carriage, but ran in to find Mary;
lnu Aunt HepSy very pruuently kept
,ut of sight until she was called to
Inner. Howard and Mary both looked
7ery happy when they rejoined their
,uest at the table; and though the
subject of this sketch was never al
uded to, and years have passed since
he trouble occurred, Aunt Hepsey's
,lan was effectual.- Wona1x's Journal.
Just an Average Sample.