The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-04-11
THE TWO WIVES.
(which shall it bep''

Nv nlcn bQdll IL Oc
The speaker was scarce more than
thirty years old, full of health and vigor.
the junior and working partner in an
old established business house in sruah
city. '.-Fssi lq7-e9
It was Sabbath evening. His wife
had been playing the piano, and he had
been singing the Sunday school hymns
with their children of seven and tiye
years old. They were pretty, affection
ate, bright children, and the parents
hearts had been knit closer to them
these last few weeks, since the toddling
wee one had been laid. in fiower-hlled
casket, beneath the cold white snow.
Sunday was not day Of sacred rest,
but an off-day from business and care,
and Mr. Brooks lay back in his Ioung-
ing-chair. put aside the magazine he had
been reading, while his wife put the
children to bed, and resumed the sub
ject on which they had been talking the
mostof the day. lrr
1.-The Baldwin house, !" she answered,
with a smile-just the smile woman OF
tact wears when she wishes her hus-
band s affection to bias his Judgment.
Mr.. Brooks whistled q minute. 81
.sIf we take the Elmore cottages i can
pay down for it. Our furniture viii be
enough for it, and we can live nicely
and plainly without going into debt one
dollar, and five years hence can buy
any place in town." g-i-'s.y..
People Ike Mr.. Baldwin do net die
every five years, and places like his are
not thrown into the market once In
twenty-five years.
al can build o house" -,
i.But my dear husband, not at half
cost. And it would take n lifetime to
grow such trees. 1t is a most beautiful
place, and in most perfect repair.
al know all that. It IS much better
worth its price than the Elmore cottage
is worth its price. But / do hate debt
and mortgage. But perhaps; as you
say, the reduced price ought to decide
at am sure it ought. and we. will
make the old furniture do for time.
s'The rooms are much larger, and our
carpets are not India-rubberr' r7'
81 have thought of that. I can make
the best of the carpets into mats, and, :"
with a playful smile, s.imagine them
Turkish rugs"
"You are such shrewd manager.
can paw for the house soon," he said.
autl luc uOuSC WIS OOd2iAbs OhO-eAAhho ~
paid down, and two-thirds on a mort
gage. Wise business men congratulated
Mr.. Brooks, as the place was sold below
its value, for the heirs were not near of
kin, and did not wish it, or the care Of
it
And now Mrs. Brooks was happy.
Her early home had been one OF
. large wealth, and she loved style, and
was used to and fitted for gay society.
But her father speculated in stocks and
went down. He moved to his native
town and hired a cottage just out Of the
city But the disappointed mans brain
gave way, and the two lone women. in
the new circumstances and surround
ings, were SO brave, and watched over
the paralytic so unmurmuringly, that
all hearts sympathized9 with them. and
Brooks, then only a trusted clerk, dared
offer aud was thanked for. many q
thoughtful and delicate kindness. And
when death relieved the watehed-oveI
and the watchers he had won the love
he had craved. = ,.-r-.--.
In that cottage they sat tonight
Eight years they had been happy in it
Three lives had come to it. The grand
mother and the little one had gone out
from it. Thus they had known joy and
sorrow, but they had been content. a:
one is content who feels that every TO
morrow will be brighter than to-day.
The looked for tomorrow had nov
come. And the early days came bacl
to Mrs. Brooks with q force she had
thought all spent. go .sse
One parlor was closed. A new ricl
carpet was bought for the other. and the
paintings, books, statuettes, and bric-a
brac which the refined taste of Mr.. King
had selected when rich, aud which pow
erty could not take from him, but which
in the small rooms of the cottage haC
needs been scattered, were brought to
gether in it, and gave the elegant room
a tone and air of refinement which mer'
wealth had never given it.
The first evening that they sat in /
Mr.. Brooks. with a keen enjoyment o
life's luxuries such as he had never be
fore known, said:
81 am glad bought this place. dit
not know we had so many elegant thing
until your artistic taste brought then
together. This is the finest room in tn,
city,"
Il have no doubt it is. have trieC
to arrange it as my father had his library
i wish he could see it, - ,.'af;-
perhaps he does. That cottage wa!
nice to me-, but how meagre it must hav,
been to you, and yet you never com
planned" .--f II 7. fs
And new appreciation Of and new
love for her sprang up in his heart, ant
they talked on and on in their great con
tent and happiness. .1r 60.
Society swung open its doors, ant
calls and invitations came upon them
More dress was needed, taxes and insur
ance were high, interest to be paid, anC
business everywhere depressed, and fol
two years the debt lay unchanged.
There had been no loss rs men coun
loss. and yet there had been great loss
that debt, which at first lay so heavy Oh
Mr.. Brooks, and which he intended Il
lift as soon as possible. he had grown useo
to. ana uld not longer feel to be burden
And the debt to society troubled Mrs
Brooks, and the other parlors must b
furnished, and royalty, to match the Ii
brary. and then a grand reception wa
| given.
For these money had 10 be hired.
Benevolent balls and Iquasi-literary SO
cieties, fashions cdprice mingled witt
the dancing parties, and Mrs. Brooks wa
worn and weary with the manifold
duties of her position, and must be re
lieved of some household duties, ant
another servant was Indispensable.
Mr.. Brooks confinement to his bust
ness wore upon him. and he must hav'
recreation, which means fine hors'
and buggy. But it was so selfish for hin