Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-01
INK Before You Speak.
WILLIAM o. PAr7rS.

They had been married nearly a
year. and this was their frst disagree
ment. She had been poor orphan
girl, but Harry Barnes had met her,
fallen desperately in love with her
pretty face; wooed and won her. He
was an energetic and raoidly rising
young lawyer, in the thriving little
New England village of Fairmont.
Already he had gathered together
enough to purchase pretty little
white cottage on the outskirts of the
village, and here they lived, happy
for while, as most young couples
are. Then came the shadow.
After their first little disagreement
the cottage home did not seem the
same TO Harry as before. In some
way the climbing vines over the door
seemed to have lost their beauty, and
seemed useless and in the way. More
than once he was tempted to tear
them down. The singing of Elias pet
canary, that had once seemed so
sweet, annoyed him now. Everything
seemed to go wrong. Harsh words
sprang to his lips and took the place
of the loving ones he once had used.
His wife fretted him, and seemed in
capable of doing anything right And
she went about her day duties with a
little heart pain that she keot carefully
concealed. Things were as much
changed to her as they were to him.
She could scarcely believe Harry to
be the same person who had wooed
and won her few months ago. More
TIM once she was tempted to 60 to
him and ask him to forgive her if she
had done anything wrong, but pride
prevented She hid her pain, but he
made no attempt to control his selfish
ness, and each day they drifted further
apart.
When he came home from his Office
duties she used to run to meet him,
and he would catch her in his arms
and kiss her. Once he had delighted
to call her pet names; now she was
simply Ella Once, when he had the
time that he could do so, he would
take her out on pleasant walks and
long drives; but now he had no time
to spare.
Time after time she thought this al
over, and cried in secret over it. Hel
face began to have sad look that he
stupidity attributed to morbid condi
ton of her mind. Neither of them
understood the other.
ELLA, where is my light coat? he
said one day. 1T is ferfully hot, anc
| need 1t.
4 don't know where it is she re
piled; j haven't seen it.
Now, what's the use to say yor
have not seen it? hung 1t up only {
day or two ago, right here, behind th'
door, and now it's gone. You mus
have removed it,
She went calmly on with her work
as she replied firmly:
4 tell you, Harry, | have not seer
your coat. If you had hung it ther'
it would be there now. You must b.
mistaken
oh, yesr he exclaimed, angrily; .
am always mistaken. 1t is Away
me; you never make mistake.
know 1 hung my coat behind this
door. and, as it is not here now, yol
must have removed it. / will ge
along without it to-day, but | hop
you will hunt around and find ou
where you have put it, so that ca
have it when I want it next time.
With these words he departed
leaving an aching heart behind. Wbe
lie was gone she searched for the coat
but could not find it. When sh
found that her search was useless, sh
threw herself upon the sofa and in
dulged in good cry.
When Harry came home at nigh
she said;
Il have searched the house from to
to bottom and cannot find trace {
your coat, Harry
oh, you needn't have done that, h
replied, carelessly. I've found it.
you have2 Where?'
AT the Office he replied. 4 too
it down the other day and forgot a
about it,
She could not help giving him
slight shot.
sWhyr she exclaimed, i though
you knew you left it hanging benin
the door!
She had no more than uttered th
words before she regretted them. H
made no reply, but dark frown gatl
cred on his face. She saw the dar
look, and longed to 90 to him and as
him to forgive her hasty words; br
the old pride conquered, and she wer
about her work, trying to hum mel
ry tune.
The following day was Sunda,
Harry and Ella always attende
church on the Sabbath. For Will
after their marriage he seemed to d.
light in going to church, and everyor
said he was proud of his pretty wifi
and went more to let people have
glimpse at his prize than to hear witt
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