The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-05-10

Out, lOr Sne Ol course nau an anxiety &c
see Mr.. Sutherland's wife, and was soon
standing at her side, having been intro
duced by their ''mutual friend,n Mrs.
Stetson. And Belle, now thoroughly
entering into the spirit of the thing, was
smiling down at her, from her few
superior inches of height, and talking in
her most charming way, while She
mentally decided that the widow was
''not bit pretty after all; green eyes
and red hair! Pahi That she should
even be jealous of that ereature' And
the widow, in a secret rage, was won
dering how on earth some women
kept that wonderful bloom on
their cheeks that was so plainly
not rouge, and how they kept the dark
circles from under their eyes.
Belle could have told her, if she had
cared, that it was early hours and a
clear conscience, the tender caresses of
little children, and all the sweet de-
lights of home, that did these things for
her. And Mr.. Sutherland, standing a
little to one side, and looking at the
two, could not help comparing them,
and wondering how he could ever have
thought the widow pretty, when he
had so much fairer type of beauty at
his own tire-side. just then two gem
tlemen entered, one whom he knew, and
one stranger, and paused almost at
his elbow.
"By Jovel'' said the stranger, very
handsome man with the uniform and
epaulettes of an officer of the United
States Army, ''who is that lady by Mrs.
Stetsonp"
"What," said his companion, I" the
little one in white? That is our belle,
Mrs. Ralston.n
''No, NOR said the officer, impatient-
1 ". Mot that little washed-out Great
ure, but the other, that lovely woman
on the right. Come and introduce me
Immediately"
And the next moment Arthur had
the pleasure of hearing the handsome
Colonel Ingerton introduced to his wife,
and offer his arm for promenade.
Why was it, although he joined the
widow soon after, and played the de-
voted, as usual, all the evening, that
the Irritation had lost its zestP Surely
Mr.. Sutherland was not very far gone,
for that one evening was almost his
cure. But when it went on this way for
two weeks, and every evening he saw
the handsome Colonel bending over his
wife or clasping her in waltz, it is no
wonder that when one evening Belle
entered the room, she found him in her
old position before the fire, his head
sunk moodily on his breast.
''Why are you not ready, Arthur
she said lightly, pausing before him
''The carriage is waiting"
II am not going" he said, without
lifting his head to look at her.
''But why?" she said, buttoning hel
glove, and trying to speak in q careless
steady voice, though her heart was OF
her lips and the quick tears in her eyes
as she saw his desponding attitude.
'WhyP' he said, at last, raising hi
stormy blue eyes to meet her. ''Do yol
suppose it is any pleasure to me, madam
to 90 to these parties and see you, even
ing after evening, all devotion to anoth
er man beside your husband and giving
him not word or glanceg"
1t had been her cue, then, to answe
him lightly and scornfully, as he had 81
often done her, but her woman's hear
failed her, and much to the disgust 0
hdttlts sic tuICW nSloCit 0O MS ASNS NA'
. sobbed OUT
40, Arthur can't stand it an.
longer. It's all joke, made up be
tween us to break you from flirting
, Colonel Ingerton belongs to Katie
, They have been engaged for years an
she told him how to act, and, o dear,
am so sorry if you are really angry wit
me!'
Then, of course, he raised her and fol
gave her, and Katie, from her hidin
, place behind the curtain, shook he
dimpled fist at them. He was not pun
ished half enough she thought. But tn
: lesson sufficed for his perfect cure, an
a that was all Belle wanted.
AFTER this, we will stay at home tc
gether, darling" he said that night,
mo. no!' cried Belle, who had ais
! learned lesson. 81 have been sill
and selfish. We will divide the tim'
Three nights out of the week l will 6
{ with you, and three you shall stay wit
= me and the children.
And that was the way it ended.--BG
! Iou's Monthly.