Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-01-30

al was probably mistaken, Bella"
replied Mary, Though I had not
doubted the fact for a moment until
! saw you at the window a little while
ago"
odd you notice the lady particu.
larlyl'
ono; but let the matter pass, dear.
No doubt | was mistaken. IL is wor.
rying you more than Icould have i'm.
agined."
Bella looked at her friend for some
moments in a strange way; then Civ.
ing low. suppressed, wailing cry,
bent forward and laid her face upon
her bosom. sobbing and shuddering in
such wild turbulence Of feeling that
her friend became actually alarmed.
"You have frightened me !" said the
young wife. lifting her head at last.
as her excitement died away. "Ah,
Mary, il should lose my husbands
love il would kill me !"
Then, Bella, answered her friend,
"see to it that you neglect none Of the
means required for keeping it. Ifyou
would continue to be loved, you must
not grow unlovely. The charms that
won your husband must not be folded
up and kept for holiday occasions and
then put on tor other eyes than his
You must keep them ever displayed
before him; nay, put on new attrac
tons. l. not the husband even dear
er than the lover. and his heart better
worth the holding? Look back, my
dear friend, over the brief moons that
have waxed and waned since you were
a bride. Put yourself on trial and
take impartial testimony. How has
it beenl Has your temper been sweet
as when you sat leaning together in
the Summer twilights, talkiog of the
love crowned futureY Have you been
as studious to please as then2 as care.
fol of bis fcelings9 as regardful of his
fastest Do you adorn yourself for his
eyes now as when you dressed for his
coming them As wife, are you as
lovablc as when you we're a maiden?
Love j. not chameleon to feed on
air, and change in every hue Of con
dilion; il must have substantial food.
Deprive il Of this and it languishes
aud dies. And now dear, | have
warned you. Meet your. husband,
when he returns home this evening,
looking as lovely as when he came to
you in your fathers house, attracted
ss the bee TO the flower, and note the
manner in which his face will bright.
en- up. Did he kiss YOU when he came
home yesterday"
The face of Bella flushed little.
Husbands soon lose their inclina.
ton for kissing she answered.
"lfthe wife remains as attractive as
the maiden, never!"
"Oh, you don't know anything
about it, said Bella. "Wait until you
are married.
After her friend left, the young wife
went to her room aud had a good cry.
Then she commenced doing as her
friend had suggested. Refreshed by
bath, she attired herself in white
wrapper, with u delicate blue belt
around her waist. Her hair, rich
brown, was as glossy as the wing of a
bird, and combed back from the tenn.
piles just enough to show their delicate
Itting. Two rosebuds nestled above
and in front of one Of her pearl tinted
ears. She did look lovely.
Harry was half hour later than
usual coming home. Bella was sit
ting in the parlor when he came in,
waiting for his return with Il new feel
ing in her heart-a feeling of blended
hope aud fear; fear lest he was actu
ally becoming estranged from her, and
a trembling hope to win him back
again. His step was not very light.
She noticed that; for her ear had be
come newly sensitive He had caught
a glimpse of her though the window,
aud knowing, therefore, that she was
in the parlOr, came to the door aud
stood there.
"Bless mel he exclaimed, after a
moment, show charming you look"
Aud he came forward with pleas
ed smile on his face, and taking her
hand bent down and kissed her ten
derby.
blooming as rose, he added,
holding her away from him, and gaz'
ing at her admiringly.
How her heart did beat with new
delight
0Dressed for companyf"