The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-24
GRACE EGERT0N's LIFE LESSON.

mirror, taking one last look, with little
pardonable vanity, at the pretty figure
that was reflected there.
In another nour she would be Mrs.
Ernest. Redgrave. How hard it was to
realize.
She was a vain frivolous girl. But
deep down in the depths of the little
worldly heart was q wealth of true love
for Ernest. If she had to give up all this
outside show, she would have been q ute
content to go off all alone with him, and
prove how true wife she could be; but
there was no occasion for this, and per-
haps even Grace herself knew not how
truly she loved him. She was spoiled,
pstted child, and that any solemn duties
were entailed in the estate upon which
she was just entering, she did not pause
te think.
For four weeks she and Ernest travelled; !;
then they came back to their own beauti-
ful home-her fathers wedding gift to
her. Here round of festivities awaited
them, SO that the young couple, for three
months, had no single evening to them
selves.
"I'm tired Grace. Let us stay at home
tonight, darling" said Ernest one eve
ming after dinner, as Grace was about to
leave him to make her toilet for some
party.
"Abscrd, Ernest! You are not growing
old already, surely! Besides l promised
Mrs. Blessirgton we would come, and
cannot disappoint her"
'I do not like Mrs. Blessiugton. l wish
you were not so intimate with her; and
really my head acses tonight Stay at
home like good little girl"
l.
peeped within the library, which looked
so warm and inviting. She could fancy
Ernest stretched on the sofa, while she
sat before him, bathing his forehead
with some fragrant cologne, and thought
what a swee. evening they might have.
Then she remembered something Mrs.
Blessington had said about spelling men,
aud how easy ii was TO begin, and how
selfish they grew.
"Come, Ernest, we have got no time to
lose. And as to that horrid prejudice of
yours, do try to get over it,"
There cam. tenn mptation TO the man
temptation to carry out his own manly
will; but a softer, tenderer feeling swept
over him a. the mental vision of the
pretty, laug hing face pcssed before him,
and half AN hour later he stood in fall
dress, waiting the advent of the beautiful
girl, who, all uncon onsciuusly To them both,
was steering her fra,l vessel en- the quick
sands of married misery.
A year passed, aud Mr.. and Mrs. Red
grave we're still in the vortex of fashion
able life; but TO the mans spirit 1t had
grown unutterably wearisome.
az married for home, Grace" he said
one day in gentle expos,uiation; "bui
what do see of my home"
"Quite enough to satisfy reasonable
man. Why, / shouldn't want to be alone
with you all the time, Ernest. Think how
dreadfully tired we would get of each
other!"
The thoughtless words stabbed like q
knife. but he made no reply. Only that
evening for the frat time, Mrs. Redgrave
went to some gay assembly alone.
Mr.. Redgrave had refused to accompany
her.
II am tired" he said, "but do not let
me detain you. Mrs. Blessington is seen
constantly without her husband"
because he is a bear" answered Grace
pouting.
"NevertheIess, she went, and after that
it was no uncommon thing for Ernest to
spend his evenings with his books and
thoughts. while his beautiful wife went
out alone.
"Grace, / wish you to give up Mrs.
Blessington," he said one evening as they
sat at dinner.
aNonsense, Ernest, | can not do 1t II
wished it ever SO much
a1ut you must do it. i will not have
you go to that woman's house again."
"Bus Ernest, have already accepted
an invitation to dinner there. Thursday
evening.
"Then write and decline. do not ask
You without good cause, little girl, bu,
things have recently come to my hearing
regarding this lady, and do not wish
my wife's name coupled with hers"
Grace made no reply, but in her own
heart her decision was unaltered. Begin
TO WELD to mans whims and where would
she end! OF course she should go. Sh,
had been married more than a year now
and so far, had her own sweet will and
way.
This time the latter was unexpectedly
made easy for her; for as Ernest kissed
her goodbye on Thursday morning, he
said To her
~ sha'n't be home to dinner, to mig ht
Grace. You had better dine Mt mothers
BY the way, this was Mrs. Blessington's
night. You have declined that invita-
tion."
The fret fear that she ever felt OF
Ernest crept into her heart a. a new
stern look she saw in his eyes, and il
drew her first falsehood to him from hel
lips.
"Yes," she answered.
He stopped aud kissed her more ten
DERBY.
an make it up to you, darling. Be
lieye me, did not ask ii without gooe
cause"
She stood quite still, after he had lef
her. She was half tempted yet TO obe!
him; but pshaw! What nonsense i
was!
So, as seven O'Clock, the carriage stooS
at her door, and, in a 5ewitching dinner
dress she was driven to the house he
husband had forbidden her to enter.
But the dinner dragged - not but tha
Mrs. Blessirgton's chef had done hersel
infinite credit, or that her guests faiie'
in their part. The trouble lay only will
Mrs. Redgraye's self. In vain she strov
to rally; compliments ralled on her; tn
bar thauuh hf uetyh n