The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-18

DuC L read, tO0," said Zoe, with
wide open blue eyes.
"Solid literature, mean," corrected
her husband. ""The English classics
all that sort of thing"
Zoe dropped her head.
"I-suppose So" said she, slowly.
"Of course, L know that you arc a
dear little housekeeper," went on Rufus
but my aunt reminds me that we
ought not to confine our sympathies
within the narrow range of our own
daily existence"
II dom 1nderstand," said Zoe,
family.
"Aunt Antonia will explain" said
Nufus. 'There are always clubs to
join, mutual Improvement societies to
organize, charitable associations to
form. And when you have once tasted
the pleasures OF these improving occu-
pations--"
ooh, yes, 1 Iknowl" said Zoe. "And
Will try my best to do us you wish,
Rufus"
But there was the shadow Of new
gravity on that infantine face, a pom
sive intonation Of the voice, which
Rufus Wayland had never heard before.
Aunt AntOnia went to the book store,
and ordered home huge editions of the
classics. She began a daily course of
reading with her nephew's wife; she
initiated her into the mysteries of
clubs, societies, symposiums, until the
day became all too short for her engage
mentS.
"Your wife is improving." she said ,
to Rufus, really think SHE is awaken
ing to sense of the responsibility Of a
woman in the nineteenth century at
last"
And Rufus kissed the peach-like,
dlmpled cheek, and congratulated Zoe
on her mental advance.
| But somehow the home was not so
sweet and cozy An impalpable some
thing was misSing-the influence which
had followed Zoe's light footsteps all
through the rooms, the glass OF flowers
here, the loOped curtains there. the
sheets of music on the piano, the bird.
cage hung in the sunshine, the delicate
dish prepared by Zoe's own fingers, the
whipped cream, the lucent Jelly, the
carefully cut-up fruits-all the pretty,
quaint devices which had descended to
this young hOusekeeper through Il long
line of Maryland ancestors.
They had been very pleasant. Rufus
Wayland had enjoyed them as we enjoy
the sweet air and sunshine, without
pausing to think whence they came:
and he missed them now.
but, all of sudden, the delicate
little flower dropped, as Il blue-bell
droops after a sharp September frost. -
II am not SICK" said. Zoe; cob, mol
But-1 feel as If there wasn't any more
strength left in me. l think won't
get up to-day; I'll lie in bed and rest.
No, no; don't send for doctorl L don't
need medicine-I only need rest"
Aunt AntOnla stared. Herself strong
as an iron machine, it had never occur
red TO her that all natures were not cast
III the same enduring mould. But the
old family doctor looked grave, and
| shook his gray head.
"She has 0verdone herself" he said:
"the results may be serious. Put away
| her books; don't so much as speak to
| her about classics or Societies.''
And Aunt Antonia had never, in
the course OF her whole life, felt such
pang as when the doctor whispered his
impression that little Zoe must, proba-
bly,, drift away from them into the
great unknown world, as the autumn
crept Oh.
but there is nothing the matter
with herP' pleaded she, with mist
gathering over the oval of her glasses.
THAT is precisely the sort of case
that we physicians find most difficult
to deal WITH" said Doctor Dean.
And one day Zoe put her soft, trans
parent little hand out upon that; of her
husband.
81 am not asleep" said she. "Don't
keep SO quiet. But sometimes my
speech and mind seem to float away
from me, and so | had perhaps better
tell you now how sorry / am that I
have been such a disappointment to
you."
"A disappointment Zoe, my treas
urel' cried out Rufus.
81 never could have been nice lady,
like Aunt Antonia," whispered Zoe
cit wasn't in mo. They were killing
me-those dreadful clubs. and the long,
long pages OF blank verse, and the tire.
some plays Of Shakespeare, which /
never understood. Tell her it was very
kind of her to try and remodel me for
your sake, dear; but it never could have
been done. But I loved you, darling
oh, 80 WE'LL If I had been Sir Isaac
| Newton himself, l couldn't have loved
you any better. Always remember
that, won't you; dear ? And now III
try to sleep a little"
Aunt AntOnia looked blankly at her
nephew, as the soft lids dropped over
the big, blue eyes.
'We have made a mistakeln she
whispered.
YES" said Rufus Wayland, hoarse-
ly, 1--WE have made mistake; and if it
has lost me my little Zoo, I shall never
forgive myself''
And Aunt Antonia felt like crimi-
nal.
But Zoe did not die. With tender
nursing and constant care, she re-
covered: and when she was we'll enough
to travel, Rufus Wayland took her to
the bright Azores.
Hang Milton and Shakespeare -
said he. "Confusion seize all these
Mental improvement Associations and
Intellectual Saturnalias | Put 'em all
together, I don't value them half as
much AZ one golden hair of Zoe's dear
little head. You can't make a stately
ibis out Of hummiDg- bird, and love
my dear little wife just as she is, for
what she is 10
"You're quite sure you wouldn't
have me any different ?" said Zoe, art
lessly.
INV dear - said the younD midland