The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-10-31

] have got my little mustang lassooed,
and now / must tame her. But let's
make a bargain, Leila, dear. What
will you take not to do anything un-
becoming to married lady for
month y
| "Just the same amount you would
take not to speak single cross word
to me during the length of time men.
toned, or scod about anything
"Now, Mrs. Weldon, prefer to be
the Judge of my own conduct. without
any restraint from petticoat rule; and
really, pet, you wouldn't have other
people think that I was henpecked
husband, would you7"
And Mr. Weldon pinched Lelia's
cheek playfully.
"And Louis, my love, you wouldn't
have other people think that | was
downtrodden wife7"
Mr.. Weldon wrinkled his brow
thoughtfuly but said nothing; yet he
kept we'll in his mind set determina-
ton to subdue to proper decorum his
impulsive little wife.
AT the end of the year he fattered
himself as having succeeded admira-
bly,; but somehow he did feel lonely
with his reticent wife whenever he
thought of their old lover days.
He had succeeded in his wishes and
yet was not satisfied.
Then interfering people would talk
when they saw the change creep over
Leila Weldon.
"Ah, she has found him out, one
old maid remarked.
"He's tanning her, that's plain" said
a married friend. ''And when she is
demure enough for an old woman
eighty years old, then he'll tiirt with
all the gay girls, and have the beauti-
full excuse that home has no attractions
for him; his wife uncongenial to his
nature and he must seek an affinity
elsewhere"
'I'ts all nonsense, love is" said au-
other acquaintance. 'Before he was
married he went to see her three times
a week and took her everywhere, and
was so devoted; and now l don't sup.
pose he takes her out once month
His presence at his meals is sufficient
for married woman. suppose that
the awful fact that she might actually
enjoy theatre or lecture never enters
his mind; but such amusements seem
to be necessary to his happiness STILL"
These and many other remarks
not complimentary to Mr. Weldon
were freely indulged in by their talka-
tive friends.
But had they really known under
what suppression Mrs Weldon's high
spirits were kept,they would have been
greatly surprised.
| Mr.. Weldon did not mean to treat
his wife unkindly, but if he had
only taken peep at her end of the
telescope.
Only married year, and yet seemed
a lifetime to Leila.
One evening, when sitting alone,
she heard Mr.. Weldon's step earlier
than usual.
A wave of gladness swept over her
face, then it died away, and hard,
bitter light crept into those glorious
eyes.
She started as if to meet her hus
band, then sat down as she wearily
thought that it was of no use; he would
only trown at her childishness.
But somehow different spirit seem.
ed to actuate Mr.. Weldon.
As he came in he looked half pity
ingly at the quiet woman sitting there,
then said, with assumed lightness:
Cant you kiss fellow, Leila
when he comes home earlier than
usual ?"
Mrs. Weldon was somewhat sur.
prised, but she answered, coldly:
81 hardly think it would be becom
ing to my dignity as a married wo
man.
A sort of frown gathered on Mr.
Weldon's face, but he crossed the room
to where she sat in her pride.
"Lelia," he said, tenderly, "a boy
brought a telegram to my Office to da,
that said that Lilly was dead. "
Leila knit her slender hands convul
sively together, and repeated the words
slowly, as though scarcely compre
hendlnS thetr meaning.
Lily was Lelia's older sister, and Mr.
Weldon remembered the grave, palliC
girl who was introduced to him a
their wedding as "Sister Lily"
And he had wondered how anyone
and especially Lelias sister, coulc
grow SO spritess.
Her husband was grave, reticen
man that Weldon had admired for hi
chan .geless dignity; but he could no
help contrasting the impetuous tiger
lily and the white wilted lily, as h
; called til C Two sisters.
Now Lily was dead.
She had died at her mothers home
where she had been for a month O
two, with mother to care for her.
The first tears that Leila shed fo
her sister L lily was when she saw he
lying in the iushed room, with its so
perfume of fl, 'wers, its white and blac
drapery, and Is awful stiffness.
Not the m; VI who had been calle
her stay and 'upport in life knelt b.
side her flower .embalmed casket, bl
the one who h ad cared for the chill
and guarded the girlhood of the sleeI
er, watched alon by all that was mo
tai of poor, palli' Lily.
While Mr.. We ldon stood silently b
he was shocked at the growing lik
ness between the ace of dead Lilly al
that of his Leila.
There was Arand funeral ne
J day.
Lly's husband VAS there, careful
dressed in the excess of mourning /
: tears did not moisten the marble ia
of the sleeper, yet he grieved inward
Sor the bird that he d flown from hi
forever.
But he was one of, those indivdua
who consider an out side expression
amy emotion as an evidence of wea
mess, so he never betrayed what
REALLY felt.
when the last c'Iods had fell on
tIiat was mortal of poor Lilly, I
mourners dispersed.
The bereaved hu sbaud went methc
| i,-sllU hack to his oil d duties began |