Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-04-17

picture hung at her throat. Her
head was dropped and her eyes on
the floor, when / entered but she
raised herself quickly, and with a
kind of start. / saw momentary
eager flash in her face dying out
quickly, and leaving it inexpressibly
sad.
II had to stop here, for Maggie
broke out suddenly in wild fit of
sobbing and crying which lasted for
nearly a minute.
"sWhat ails you, dear?' I asked
as she began to be little composed.
:" %, you have frightened me SO.
If John should
sShe cut short the sentence; but
her frightened face left me in no
doubt as to what was in her thoughts.
"She arose and walked about the
room in an uncertain way for some
moments, and then sat down again,
drawing in her breath heavily.
"sIf young wives, | remarked
believing that in her present state
the truth was the best thing to say
would take half the pains in making
themselves personally attractive to
their husbands, that they did to
charm their lovers, more of them
would find the lover continued in the
husband. Is man, think you, any
less an admirer of womanly grace
and beauty after he becomes hus-
band than he was before?
Hush Hush p she said in a
choked voice. Il see it all | COM
prehend it all And she glanced
down at herself. Il look hateful
and disgusting
''After plain earnest talk with
Maggie l went home. l give her
own words as to what happened af-
forwards.
'''I was wretched all the after
noon. John had acted worse than
usual at dinner time; and what you
told me about poor Helen set my
fears in motion and worried me half
to death. Long before the time he
usually came home, | had dressed
myself with care, selected the very
things | had heard him admire. AS
l looked at myself in the glass, l saw
that | was attractive felt as | had
never felt before, that there was a
power in dress that no woman can
disregard without the loss of infu-
ence, no matter what her position OF
sphere of life.
''Supper time came. had some
thing that / knew John liked, and
waiting for him with nervous ca
gerness it was impossible to repress.
But the hour passed, and his we'll
known tread along the garden walk
did not reach my anxious ears. Five
ten, twenty minutes beyond his houl
for returning, and still / was alone
Oh shiver as | recall the wilt
fears that began to crowd upon me
l was standing at the window, be
hind the curtain waiting and watch
ing. All at once / saw him littl,
distance from the house, but not in
direction from which he usual,
came. He was walking slowly, bu
with his eyes upon the ground. Hi
whole manner was of one depressed
and suffering. | dropped the cur
tain, and went back into our littl
breakfast room to see that suppe
was put quickly on the table. Johl
came in and went up stairs, as h
usually did to change his coat be
fore tea. In few minutes | ram
the dinner bell, then seated mysel
at the table to wait for him. He wa
longer than usual in making himsel
ready, and then | heard him comm
down slowly and heavily, as if ther
was no spirit in him.
My heart beat strongly. But
tried to look bright and smiling
There was, oh so dreary a look o
Johns face as | first saw it in th
door. He stood still just a momer
with his eyes fixed on me; then th
dreary look faded out flash pass
ed over it as he stepped forwar
quickly, and coming to where 1 sal
stopped down and kissed me. Neve
) before was his kiss so sweet to m
lips.
81 have found my little wife ono
more, he said, softly and tenderly
and with quiver in his voice.
Il laid my head back upon h
bosom and looking up into his fac'
answered: And you shall never los
her again. "
And | think he will not. I'll
sweetness of that hour, and the LEI
son it taught, can never be forgotte
:. by my friend Maggie.
. The FIRST OCEAN STEAMSHIP
q is just sixty-three years since tt
Savannah, a vessel of $50 ton