Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-03-06

Afterwards.
ct won't be perfect bliss. You are eXs
pecting too much, Amy. Robert loves
you devotedly, but you are losing all IN
dividHality."
i am. very happy, Esther. / suppose
Robert is not perfect, but he is manly,
and fond of me-"
"But is he more anxious for your hap
piness than for his own? Does he say,
as Wilhelm MeiSter said to Aurelia, NO
woman shall receive an acknowledge
ment of love from my lips to whom can
not consecrate my life " Robert IS ambl-
tiOus. He Graves appreciation and you
give it. He feels the stimulus of your
presence and your love-"
81 don't think Robert is selfish. You
know life is very absorbing to an active
man."
"But love is not self abnegation, Amy.
It is mutual helpfulness. Lean as you
will, only command reverence while you
win love-"
Amy's house was beautiful. Perhaps she
idealized her husband, but she was salts
fed. He had brought purity to his home,
that priceless gift of one immortal being
to another. A new life had come into
the family circle-a baby girl, with her
| fathers face cast by Gods hand in the
daintier mold of WOmanhOod. He was
proud of, and the mother grateful for, the
other self. But there came days of anx-
iety and nights of WEAKNESS.
Robert, won't you get up and care
for the baby? 1 am so tired"
81 must have sleep, Amy, and not be
bothered at night. She'll get over cry
ing" and he soon slept heavily.
The mother, wounded in heart, crept
out of bed and carried the baby. half the
| -. fol
its chubby face. Robert did not mean
to be so unkind, she reasoned to herself
but, then, was not the baby his child as
well as hers?
Lines made themselves on Amy'f
young face, and, day by day, by so much
as a hairs breadth, it might be, husband
and wife grew apart. He read much, she
little. She was devoted to her child, he
to business and his own plans. Did he
love her all the time? He thought so
only he lacked consideration. She
looked carefully after his every comfort
but with something lacking from the ole
IjOy in doing. When other children came
not always welcome to the over-workeC
mother, Robert seemed more and more
boarder in his home.
Canon Farrar says: zone living sou
has a soothing power like the shining o
the sunlight, or the voice of doves a.
evening"" and this to Amy was wanting
Sunlight and evening were becoming
alike to her. Robert walked sometimes
with her and the children, but he usual
ly enjoyed nature alone. By and by
Amy folded her hands in the rest thai
comes once to all.
Did Robert mourn her? Yes, for she
had made his home attractive. Months
after, when he grew lonely and desolate
, he married Esther. Society gossipeC
and marveled, and said she would fol
low in the footsteps of Amy. "Circum
stances make men as they make women
and blind lack of consideration can b.
cured" though the new wife.
"Where are my slippers, Esther ?"
Gust where you left them, my dear,
said a voice full Of love and kindness
, Robert looked fol- moment as a mai
! just awaking from sleep, and then wise
= " waited upon himself,
81 am obliged to 60 away on an erran,
this evening, Robert, and you'll mind tn
! baby, and make the children happy,
know" and she kissed him affectiOnate
ly and closed the door.
f Robert Holmes seemed waking from
3 dream. He had rarely spent his eve
? nings away from home, but never in cal
ing for children-his children. Shy a
p fawns, they came up to talk, and ask 70
! stories, and finally clambered oyer hi
knees He began to wonder after al
that he and Amy had not enjoyed tn
children more together. All Amy Won
dered that