Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-04-27

swered. Something's wrong at tn
shop, l suppose. He's had troubl
with one Of the men. He's foreman
you know.
Are you sure its only that ? | asket
looking serious.
That or something elss about hi
work. There's nothing else to worr!
him..
Twas silent, debating with mys"l
whether good or harm would come o
little plain talk with Johns wife
She was rather qui,k tempered,
knew, and quick to take ofenss A
last Iventured to remark: 'M~yb'
things are not just to his liking a
home.
AT home!' Maggie turned on nj
with fash Of surprise in her fecs
What do you mean ?
Men like beauty and taste ant
ne.tness in their wives as well as it
their sweeth.arts, ! said.
The crimson mounted to her hair
At the same moment saw her glanc,
at looking glass that hung opposite
her on this wall. Sae Sat very still
vet with startled look in her ewes
until the A rh faded and her face be-
ame almost rale.
Maggie said I, raising and draw
ing my arm around her. come ~
s.airs. have some,bi.g very serious
to say to you
We walked from the little dining
room up to her room in silence. ther
said, Maggie, want to tell >or
about friend of mins who male 4
Of happiness and life. Il
is n sad story; but am sure 1t will IN
terest you deeply. She was my c,nsl'
and her name was-
Maggie bent forward, listening at
tentiv-ly. 'Wha.9' sha asked, AS
hesitated on the name.
Helen.
Not Helen While, who married
John Harding, and was after"ard de
serted by her husband ?
Yes; my poor, dear cousin Helen
Itis of her | sln going to tell you.
Il never ,snew why her HUSBAND
went of az he did, said Maggie
Some said he was to blame, and som
put all thel )ault on her. How wa
itY
Both, we're to blame; but she tn
most, Dreplied, John Harding wa
like your husband, one Of the neateS
aud most orderl Y OF men. Anything
untidy in his honse or in the perso
of his wife, annoyed and oIlen put hir
ou. of humor; but he did not, as h
should have doue, speak plainly t
his wife, and let ner see exactly ho,
he felt, and in what he would like
change. IF he had done so, Hele
would have tried, AS every good vii
should, to conform herself more to Ei
tastes and wishes. But he was 81
lent, moody sort Of man when thing
did not 60 just to suit him, and in
stead Of speaking out plainly, brood
ing over Helens faults and worrie
himself into fits of i'll humor. An
what was worse than all, grew d
length Indifferent to his home An
wife, and sought pleasanter surround
ings and more attractive compan
abroad.
Every man thus estrapged from h
hons is in danger, and Harding wa
no exception to the rule. Tempts
ton lay about his feet-and the CON
monest temptation Of the elegantI
fitted up billiard and drinking Sd
loon.
They had been married just abol
as long as you and John have bse'
when the catastrophe OF their live
took place. called to spend the da
with Helen, and found her in her u
ual condition Of untidiness and disol
der. When her husband came at dir
ner sime, i noticed. with painful cor
ceri that he had been dflrking-nc
very freely, but just enough to sho'
itself:in a captious i'll humor. HeIe
had mol: dressed. 10, dinner, but pre-
sentea herself at the table withou
even a clean collar, and All old iade,
shawl drawn about her shoulders
She looked anything but attractive.
I saw her husbands glance towar'