The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-06-21
Roth SIDES OF A sTEp.LADDER.

Mrs. Bronson was crying as if her
heart would break. The cause of her
crying lay in an experience of the day
before, but her temper had, sustained
her so far-till ten o'clock the next
morning-when anguish had taken the
place OF anger, and she had abandoned
herself to grief and regret.
A carriage. drove up to the door
and the bell rang. Mrs. Bronson, dry
ing her eyes as well as she could, ran
down stairs sure of whom she would
find there.
"Oh, Aunt Eunice p she exclaimed,
opening her arms to receive serene
faced and white-haired old lady who
stood smiling on the doorstep. 'I'm
so glad you've come"
The welcome shone in her eyes and
needed no words, Notwithstanding the
flushed nd tear-stained face at which
Aunt Eunice looked wonderingly.
I've been house-cleaning more than
week." Mrs. Bronson explained, as
she led the way into the little sitting
room. II hoped to get to rights before
you came, but you see | couldn't quite
accomplish it.
"And somebody has been painting
and papering, see. This is delight
full
Mrs. Rowland looked about the
room with evident pleasure.
1T is certainly delightful to have a
clean house, but I'd give more just
now for a clean conscience. y
Mrs. Bronson's lip trembled and the
tears began to fall again.
"Tell me all about it, my DEAR and
Mrs Rowland drew the Younger
woman down beside her upon the sofa
with tender invitation of confidence
and mute promise Of unlimited sympa-
thy.
1t was not easy for Mrs. Bronson to
begin the telling. She touched the
plain gold ring on her aunt's finger
wedding ring.
I've had my first quarrel with
Harry, she said at last, in a queer,
broken voice-the result of her effort
10 keep her self-eontrol-"th is,
we've had a dreadful time, but il
Always takes two to make quarrel, as
well as a bargain, doesn'titP''
And there was only one in this
caseg' Mrs. Rowland asked. o1@
~ only one-and l was the one
mat the worst of it. You see, never
worked so hard in my life as / have the
last week. Why, Aunt Eunice, I've ac
tually scrubbed floorsm and she spread
out her plump little hands with {
comical gesture. II hired woman fol
TWO days-I couldn't afford to have he
lohger-and between us we got the car
pets down. But there wasn't a singl,
,!hlng IN place when Harry came HON,
iast night; nothing, mean, except tn,
furniture, All the books and knick
nnacks We're piled into the closet ant
ue pictures were standing around
you see every picture-nail was pulled
oul OF the wall and itwas ANYTHING bu
eSsy W 70 drive them in again, SO far up
meli' asked Harry to wipe the dishe
lur me after tea, so we could get to worl
as soon as possible. OF course. [ sun
/ ,oseu ne, help me and be glad to d
~ ~ b9t what doyou think, Aunt Eunice
u he Just came into the sitting-room
.nrew , himself down on the lounge, an,
s rook newspaper out of his pocket
nuler was SO astonished in my life.
M; Mas 100 astonished to. speak, even, so
iun /. speak. / went for the step-lad
usl' u; dragged il along to the mantle
piece and climbed up on it to poun
u SnaV great nail into the wall. NV ham
@ mer wasn't big enough either, and
nL nurl my hand awfullyE-see.therer'an an
h lne pointed to little bruise on one 9
aes aet myers. Then l got down agail
%ru "ros llited that Madonna, your weddin
present., Aunt Eunice, and managed
- u sure Idon't know how-to get
IN On 70 the nail. Just as was p1llin
sae ladder away, Harry became cor
I,s Iscious OF what | was about. .Oh. let m
ne neip you, he cried, as pleasantly q
ioos ioSssiple, p.; threw down his paper, an
Tooh mold Of the ladder. BY that tim
ro. was Just furious. Think Of his nc
inSouleng and not trying to help me a
ba.stle nss tline. No, I thank YOU / said, 4
iilSiluily as ! possibly could; .'tisn
p you would feel any particular il