The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-02-26

'Lelia!'
"Sirr'
care you aware to whom you are
speaking?"
Certainly, Mr.. Weldon; I'm talk
ing to the flower of this family; in
fact, you are the entire plant-vine-
gar plant, to speak accurately"
Mr.. Weldon pulled at his cigar
refectively a few moments, then
said:
81 see plainly that you need tam
ing. 1 have got my little mustang
lassooed, and now l must tame her.
But let's make a bargain, Leila,
dear. What will you take not to do
anything unbecoming to married
lady for a month";"
Just the same amount you would
take not tosspeak.a single,cross word
to me during the length of the time
mentioned, or scold about any
thing"
Now, Mrs. Weldon, 1 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 1 was
a henpecked husband, would your"
And Mr.. Weldon pinched Lelia's
cheek playfully.
"And, Louis, my love, you
wouldn't have other people think
that 1 was a doWntrodden wife?"
Mr.. Weldon wrinkldd his brow
thoughtfully, but said nothing; yet
he kept well in his mind a set de
termination to subdue TO proper de-
corum mis- impulsive little wife.
At the end of the year he Aatter-
ed himself that he had succeeded |
admirably; but somehow he did
feel lonely with his reticent wife
whenever he thought OF their old !
lover days.
He had succeed in his wishes
and yet he was not satisfied.
Then interfering people would
talk when they saw ths change
creep over Leila Weldon.
"Ah, she has found him out" one
old maid replied.
"He's tanning her, that's plain"
said a married friend. ''ARd
when she is demure enough for an
old woman eighty years old, then
he'll fiirt with all the gay girls, and
have the beautiful excuse that home
has no attractions for him; his wife
nncongenial to his mature and he
must seek an affinity elsewhere"
cts all nonsense, love is" said
another acquaintance. Before he
was married he went to see her
three times = week and took her ev-
eryWhers, and was 40 devoted; and
now l don't suppose he takes her
out once a month. His presence at
his meals is sufficient for a married
woman. Isuppose that the awful
fact that she might actually enjoy
theater 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 INDUCED in by their
tAlkative friends.
But had they really known under
what suppression Mrs. Weldon's
high spirits we're 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 q year, and yet it
seemed life time 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 a
hard, bitter light crept into those
glorious eyes.
She started as if to meet her hus-
band, then sat down as she YEARLY
thought that it WAS of no use; he
would only trown at her childish
ness.
But somehow different spirit
seemed to actuate Mr.. Weldon.
As he came in he looked half
pityingly at the quiet woman sit
ting there, then said, with assumed
lightness:
"Can't you kiss 8 fellow, Leila,
when he comes earlier than usual?"
Mrs. Weldon was somewhat sur
prised, but answered coldly:
II hardly think it would be be-
coming to my dignity as a married
woman"
A sort of frown gathered on Mr..
Weldon's face, but he crossed the
room to where she sat in her pride
Leila" he said, tenderly, "a boy
brought telegram to my office to-
day that said that Lilly was dead"
Leila knit her slender hands con-
Vulsively together, and repeated
the words slowly, as though scarce
ly comprehending their meaning.
Lilly was Lelia's older sister, and
Mr.. Weldon remembered the grave,
pallid girl who was introduced to
him. at their wedding as SISTER
Lilly"
And he wondered how any one,
and especially Lelia's sister, could
grow so spiritless.
Her husband was q grave, reticent
man that Weldon had admired for
his changeless dignity; but he
could not help contrasting the i'm
pstuous tiger lilly and the white
wilted lilly, as he called the two
sisters.
Now Lilly was dead.
She had died at her mothers
home, where she had been for
month or two, with a mother to
care for her.
The first tears that Leila shed for
her sister Lilly was when she saw
her lying in the hushed room, with
its soft perfume OF flowers, its
white and black dr&psry and it's aW-
full stiffness.
Not the man who had been called
her stay and support in life knelt
beside her flower embalmed casket.
but the one who had cared for the