The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-21
A DREAMOF DIAMONDS.
BY ELIZABETH P. ALLAN.

"Please, Miss Lucy, put ON dis mere
red gown to night: you jes certny Will
look splendid in it"
"Why should want to look splendldT
answered Mrs. Peyton James, fretfully.
"Give me the old brown wrapper" linen
seeing the look OF disappointment on the
little maids face, her own hard look soft
ened. and she hesitated in her disroblng.
did you want to see me IN the red
gown. Lindy?" she asked. swell, then,
put it on me, child; ought to be glad
that can please somebody"
As the folds of the crimson cashmere
trimmed with pure white swan's'd down,
fell about the lady's tall, handsome fig
ure, nobody could have denied Llndys
triumphant assurance, that her mistress
looked "fitten for queen" But 1t was
a sad detected piece of royalty that sank
into the luxurious rocking chair, while
the DELIGHTED maid unbound the rich coils
of brown hair, and with loving touch
braided them for the night. 1t physical
comforts and artistic surroundings could
satisfy. Mrs. James need not have worn
such an unhappy air, for the room was
beyond criticism in all its garnishing;
the most fastidious aesthetic could not
have failed to have been pleased with
such richness combined everywhere with
II Il L Il
exquisite daintiness OF taste. But that
human beings, with hearts and brains,
cannot live by bread alone, though the
wheaton -four be of the finest, is a truth
which experience teaches, as we'll as Holy
Writ; and the lady in the red gown was
plainly suffering some want which no
gold or silver could supply.
Mrs. James had been married almost
three years, and her husband was consld-
cred lone Of the best fellows in town"
He was not dissipated, though his fond
ness for wine parties might well make
his wife uneasy. He was successful IN
his business, attentive to his work, gen.
eroue. kind, indulgent, good tempered.
What then was the matter?
All, life was a bitter disappointment to
the wife; she loved her husband devoted
" and her ideas of married love and hsppl-
ness were much higher than his. Ii he had
been content to come home to her IN the
evening. as she knew he ought to be, and
sit with her before the bright fire In do
nestle chat, or with book or paper, she
would have been blissfully happy. But
Major Peyton James had no such tastes,
and he wearied his young wife, almost
before the honeymoon was over, to go
with him to balls and plays and routs-
She was keenly disappointed, and not
having learned beforehand that self alb
negation is often wife's one path to
happiness, she was to learn at a costly
price the other side of the lesson, that a
stubborn adherence to her own tastes
though they were right and pure tastes,
would not make her happy.
Meantime, no little "baby fingers, wax
en- touches" came to comfort her heart,
and feeling herself to be that saddest OF
human beings, neglected wife, Mrs.
James grew more and more away from
her husband, and evening after evening
nursed her loneliness in the splendid des-
olation of her richly ornamented cham
Der
She felt to night faint emotion OF
pleasure at having gratitied her affection
ate little maid, and as she lay back In the
softly cushioned chair, Conscience kept
her company, and began to make uncom-
Portable inquiries as to whether she was
given to pleasing people and as to how
much she had tried to please her hus-
band. Presently the voice seemed to be
not Conscience's but another's soft and
clear at her elbow, and turning her eyes
she fonnd that her diamond earrings,
lying on the table where she had careless
Iy thrown them, we're talking to one an
other.
SIT is a thousand pities," said the Left
Ear Drop, "about our mistress; she is
eating her heart away in despair, while if
her husband was only more attentive to
her, she would be the happiest of wo-
men,"
"Most people can be happy if they get
what they want" aaid the Right Drop |
rather severely.
81 blame our master" continued Left
Drop. Think how bright and gay our
mistress used to be when she was girl;
,er face was always wreathed IN smiles,
,er tones we're always merry, and Just