Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-02
A DREAM OF DIAMONDS.

splendid in it. p
'eWhy should want to look splen-
didF' answered Mrs. Peyton James fret
fully. "Givs me the old brown wrap
per" Then seeing the disappointment
on the little maids face, her own hard
look sottened and she hesitatsd in her
disrobing-
Did you want to see me in the red
gown, Indy % she ashed. "Wel then,
put 1t on me, child; I ought to be glad
that 1 can please some one"
As the folds Of a crimson cashmere,
trimmed with pure white swan's-down,
fell about the lady's tall, handsome fig
ure no one could have denied Lindy's
triumphant answer that her mistress
looked "itteD for a queen" But it was
a detected piece Of loyalty that sank IN
10 the luxurious rocking chair, while the
delighted maid unbound the rich coils of
brown hair, and with loving touch braid
cd them for the night. If 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 fashdiOus lesthete could not
have failed to be pleased with such rich
ness, combined everywhere with eXqui-
site dainEness 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 ex-
Perience teaches, as we'll as Holy Writ,
and the lady in the red gown was plainly
suffering some want which no gold nor
silver could supply.
Mrs. James has been married about
three years, and her husband was con
mdered ''one Of the best fellows in town"
He was not dissipated, though hip fond
ness for wine parties might we'll make
his wife uneasy. He was successful in
business, attentive to his work, gener-
Gus, kind, indulgent, gOOd-tempsred.
What, then, was the matter?
All, life was a bitter disappointment to
the wife; she loved her husband devot-
edly, and her ideas OF marriage, love
and happiness were much higher than
his. If he had been content to come
home to her in the evenings, as she knew
he ought to be, and sit with her before
the bright fire in domestic chat, or with
book or paper, she would have been
blissfully happy. Bot Major Peyton
James had no such tastes, and he wearied
his young wife, almost before the honey
moon was over, to go with him to balls,
and plays and rout5. She was keenly
disappointed, and not having learned
beforehand that self-abnegation is often
a wife's one path 90 happiness, she was
TO learn at a costly price the other side
Of the lesson, that a stubborn adherence
10 her own tastes, though they were
right and pure tastes, would not make
her happy.
Meantime, no It'll" baby fingers wazen
touches" came to comfort her heart, and
feeling herself to be the saddest of human
beings, a neglected wife, Mrs. James
grew more and more away from her hus-
band, and evening after evening nursed
her loneliness in the splendid desolatiOn
OF her richly ornamented chamber.
She felt tonight a faint emotion OF
pleasure at having gratihed her affec-
tionate little maid, and as she lay back
in the softly cushioned chair, conscience
kept her company, and began to make
uncomfortable inquiries as TO whether
she was given to pleasing people, and as
10 how much she had tried to please her
husband. Presently the voice seemed
to be not conscience, but anOther's soft
and clear at her elbow, and turning her
ewes she found that her diamond ear
rings, lying on the table, where she had
earelessly thrown them, were talking to
Que another.
at is a thousand pities, said the Left
Ear Drop, s'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" ssAIost people can be happy if
they can get what they want, " said Right
Drop, rather severely.
II blame our master" continued Left
Drop. Think how bright and gay our
mistress used to be when she was a girl;
her face was always wreathed in smiles,
her tones were always merry, and Just
sss her now; dear mel how sad and
gloomy she looks"
Gas for me" answered Right Drop, 81
feel sorry for our master: how was he TO
know, when he married her that she
would be cross and sullIy; he never saw
her as you say, except with her face
vgreathed in smiles, and looking as bright
as the morn. Now she hardly ever smiles
at him, and he hears nothing but signs
from her, or worse still, sharp re-
prOaahes."
'sBut he neglects her" complained
Left Drop; he goes out somewhere every
evening, and doesn't come back till mid
night. No wonder she's lonely, poor
thing"
s.Whose fault is it?" argued Right
Drop, warmly. marrying don't make
a man over, master was always fond OF
company and fun, and as he often met
his sweetheart in gay company, how was
he to know that she would turn out so
sober and stay at home when he got
naarriedl I tell you, chum, it's a great
pity somebody don't warn mistress thar
abs Is throwing away her chances Mas
ter loves her now, but men don't keep
on loving sour Wives; she had bettsr
look out"
"What would you advise, IL shs could
understand our talk" asked Left Drop
in a troubled voice.
''Why, I would beg her" said the
other, ito set herself to please masters 70
try to like Whist he liked so long as It
wnsn't wrong, and always to speak softly
aud swestly to him 1t would be worth
her while to treat him Just as she cd
Whsn he frst admired herr thenit stan IS