Connecticut western news., 1885-05-20

and her embroidered wrapper falling ir graceful folds around her, seeming about as miserable as woman well could be. She kissed Mrs. Lathrop, and greeted her cordially.
 "Dear me !" she sighed, Chow rosy you are 1 What would I give for suct red cheeks l"
 "1'm sure you used to be fresh enough" said puzzled Emmeline.
 1T never have had any health since went to live in town" said Mrs. Ellis worth signing, and her pale face and sunken eyes fully corroborated hel words. "Ellisworth says it's all whims, and has no patience with me-"
 No patience with her When could Mrs. Lathrop remember the time when honest, beaming, hard-handed George had ever failed to "have patience with her." .s +4-..
 "He must be very cross," she said in voluntarily.
 My dear," said Mrs. Ellsworth, low ering her voice to whisper, "you have not the least idea of it. It's scold, scold, fret, fret, the whole time. Nothing ever pleases or satisfies him. He rcar ried me for my good looks, he says, and since I've lost my red cheeks and bright eyes, he doesn't seem to care for me any more."
 She wiped away with ValeHciennes bordered pocket-handkerchief the tears that were trickling slowly down her face.
 "It's very hard P said Mrs. Lathrop, marvelling within herself at this unex- pected view of tbe reverse of the shield.
 "Yes, it isl" groaned the poor neglected wife. 1T sometimes am al- most tempted to wish that were dead only then he would marry Isabel Sloane. She is in the house now, the bold-faced creature. He made me ask her down here, or he said he never would come near the Grange. am too dull company for him, and she talks, and laughs, and sings Italian music, and contrives to amuse him."
 E "But your children ?"
 "I have none."
 Mrs. Lathrop looked up with proud maternal smile.
 "I have three-the prettiest little rogues you ever saw"
 Mrs. Ellisworth's eyes were filled with an envious wistful look.
 "How happy you must be My baby died when he was only month old. Oh, I wish-I wish had died, tool Nobody would have missed me. |"
 "Don't talk 80, please" urged Mrs. Lathrop, sorely distressed.
 'But it's true, said the forlorn lady of the Grange. "Oh, Emmeline, the girls used to envy me when I married Paul Ellsworth and went to live in Lon don, and I was elated enough. But I would change back cheerfully with the poorest of them all. Tell me, En- incline, does your husband love you ?"
 Glove me p echoed Mrs. Lathrop, proud and indignant in the same second. "He loves me better than he does him. self."
 "Then you are richer far than ]" sighed poor Mrs. Ellsworth. "Are you going now? It is so pleasant to me to have some one to talk to who does not sheer at me.
 "I will come again, said Emmeline, kindly laying her hand in the slender palm extended to her, whose touch seemed to burn with inward fever. "But must go back to get my husbands dinner and see after my little ones."
 How infinitely these home-treasures had risen in her estimation since she passed the great iron gates of Ellsworth Grange .
 Mrs. Ellsworth took out her purse and paid for the berries.
 "Oh, if I could only go out and pick berries as I used to do in the old days l"
 Mrs. Lathrop went home tripping as lightly along as if her coarse leather shoes had been the wings of Mercury. 'T wouldn't change places with Mary Ellsworth" she thought; "no, not to walk on floor of gold and have kings palace over my head"
 George Lathrop, in his picturesque mowers costume, was sitting on the doorstep, with Josie on his lap, and Tom and Nell playing around, as Mrs. La throp lifted the latch of the yard gate.
 "Here comes dear motber P he ex- claimed iubilantly, as he lifted Josie, growing, in his arms, and they all echoed the glad cry: "Here comes mother P
 Emmeline ran forward, dropping her empty basket in the grass, and hugged and kissed every one of them as if she had been away for month.
 "My little woman," cried her hus- band, '1 do believe you are glad to get home"
 "I never was so glad in all my life p cried Emmeline almost hysterically.
 For during the last two hours she had learned lesson.