The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-16
THE COMMENTED MIND.
BY MARY W. JANvRIN.

$50 you are home againi Did you have
pleasant afternoon, Lou?" asked Aunt
Beck, looking up from her knitting and
speaking in her mild, placid voice. Aunt
Beck was the only occupant of the pleasant
sitting-rnom. with its bright carpet, neat
furniture and cheerful fire. into which her
niece, Mrs. Denning, entered from the keen
outer air.
"Yes-that is, I did my shopping and
made the calls for which l set out" was
the answer. as Mrs. Denning seated herself
and commenced untying her bonnet.
$50 you found your friends in. my dear"
"All but Emily Henderson-and l met
her out shopping. as usual. There is no
end to the money her husband gives her.
Then l went up to the Winthrop House to
see Kate Ashley. Oh, Aunt Beck. she's
situated splendidly. Such an elegant suite
of rooms, and nurse for little Eddie, and
such rich silk as she had on And she
showed me a set of pearls her husband gave
her for New Years present, and a magni-
fcent wrapper, and lots of other things. l
declare l did envy her! had long call
there; and afterward l went to see Ellen
Land0n in her beautiful new house; |
couldn't begin to tell you OF Its luxu ries.
But couldn't help contrasting my lot with
hers and think how live beside my more
fortunate lriendSI'
Did they seem happy, Lou% asked
Aunt Beck, quietly.
Happy Of course! What's to hnder?"
replied her niece, quickly.
You can't always judge by outside show,
Lou, whether people are happy"
1t would hdd greatly to my happiness If
l had camel S-hair shawl like Kate Ash
ley's, or palace to live in like Ellen Ian
don's. While | sat there | was contrasting
her present SfVlp Qf iiViDr with that of har
Eirihuod. They were not exactly poor, you
remember, aunt; but 1t was hard pinching
10 keep up show of gentiiity, while we had
every comfort. But Ellen has succeeded so
well in life! In fact all my old girl friends
have married more eligibly than l have"
An eligible marriage Is not always
happy one, Lou" said Aunt Beck; "but
here come the dear children" and the way
in which she turned TO the newcomers be-
tokened that she was not sorry of an excuse
10 change the subject.
The door opened to admit Master Fred, a
chubby, brOwn-eYed fellow of three; and
then goiden-haired Edna, who had arrived
at The dignity OF her first term at school, and
six sum- ers.
Mamma, mamma? You know you said
you'd bring me tandyI' shouted the boy
bounding joyouslY 10 his mothers side.
declare If | didn't forget it, my dearw
said the mother. But don't cryl You
shall have the biggest lump of sugar. Go
The boys bright face fell, and his rosy
lips were put mp for genuine cry.
SOCCER isn't tandy! You said you'd
bring me- tandy" lie persisted.
"Dcn't tease me- chidV' exclaimed the
mother, peeyishly. u am tired enough
without having you worrying me the mo-
menI l come into the house. Go to the
kitchen, l say, and get some sugar. I will
remember next time"
YES, Freddy, 90 out and get a big lump of
= nr.vtrsB so1I
Edna, the peacemaker. Are you real tired,
motherY she asked aifectionately. Then
let me carry your things upstairs for you!
See, mother, your muf IS just large enough
for me, and am just big enough to carry
up your things when you are tlredp' and
with def hardness the little maiden tripped
away with her burden.
THAT muff and tippet-I am glad to get
them ont of my sightW said Lou Denning,
fretfully, after the child had disappeared
with the offending articles of dress. "Such
an elegant set OF sables as Emily Hender-
son had on to-day. They never cost less
than three hundred And mine looked so
mean beside hers. Everybody has saDles
now. How cold my feet are. putting them
uD to the CRATE. The LlndOu house is
warmed throughout with a furnace. 1t is
like summer there. Oh, dear! Some people
are born To good luck. Can that be Albert?
Is it tea time?"
1T is just o'clock" said Aunt Beck
pretty clock on the mantel. THE days are
very short this cold weather, my dear"
Albert Denning entered-a manly brown
eyed, handsome young man of about 30,
with that expression Of frankncss on his
face that betGkened a warm heart and anna
Bile disposition.
"Well, Lou, heard of you this after
noon. l met your friend Mrs Henderson.
Splendid afternoon, wasn't il? Streets
crowded with ladies'. Freddy, boy. what's
no m 1i.ef o- ,Eg -.
the child, who had not recovered from his
disappointment. put in his head from the
hall after his Punishment to the kitchen and
Bridget. What is the matter, my son?"
Messing, papa, only mamma didn't bring
me no tandy!' burst forth the child, eacn
word coming louder in a gusty sob.
There, there! You must be man and
not cry for thati Maybe papa has got
something for his boy that is better Let us
go and rummage his pocketsw and, catch
ing up the child and tossing him to the cell
Ing, he bore him to the hall, where he ex-
tricated handsome rubber ball from his
oVercoat. "Therel that's bouncerl only
be careful of mothers mirrors and aunts
spectacles. Now let us 90 down to supper"
"You see, Albert, the afternoons are SO
short one cannot accomplish everything"
said Mrs. Denning to her husband as they
seated themselves at the table.
hom did you see. Everybody is out
this nice weather."
Mrs. Denning's reply was but the prelude
TO Inc same strain OF remarks she had deliy-
cred to her aunt-a repertoire of the ele-
giant establishments, dresses and Jewels of
her more wealthy Misunderstanding not to
close with the usual comments on her less
favored condition. Her husbands question
pad been put with the utmost good humor.
but, as he listened his brow clOuded, and a
hard. bitter expression came to his lips. He
finished his meal in silence; then he pushed
back his chair and lett for his store, with
only his customary goodnight, in slightly
constrained tone
Mrs. Denning did not finish her conyersa-
ton or 1t might be called conversation, in
which she had 1t all to HERSELF with her
supper, but followed Aunt Beck to the sit
tng-room, where, after Freddy was pnt to
bed hugsing his new rubber ball, and Edna
also kissed them goodnight and took her
doll to bed with her, she again began her
peevish refrain.
Could a stranger have listened to her
plants and observed the fretfu, unhappy
expression that disfgured her really pretty
face, such would have concluded that Lou
Dennlng had no blessings in her life for
which she ought to be thankful, no kind
husband aud affectiOuate children, no com
Portable home; but those two guests-Dis-
content and Enyy-whom she had invited
TO her heart were infusing poison aud warp
ing her good to evil.
Good Aunt Beck sat silent; her placid.
benevolent eyes bent steadily on her knit
LING, out phineu expression on her lips.
1t was not che first time she had listened to
those complaints. For a long time this
spirit Of discomfort had been gaining tie
ascendancy over LOUIS mind, aud the good
old lady, who made one in the household of
the orphan niece she had reared, had often
met her complaints with sound arguments
On her folly, which were lightly thrust
aside by LOUIS nimble tongue and deter
mined disposition; but she had never ex-
pressed herself so openly disconnected with
her lot as after this series OF visits to those
friends who had married above her own
social position. Yet Aunt Beck sat silent,
knitting away with unceasing diligence,
Aunt, suppose you don't think my talk
worth answering" she said, presently.
'You don't say anything"
Il was thinking, my dear, what pity 1t
was you married Albert"
Nonsensel You know l have no fault to
find with my husband and Pm sure try
hard ennugh 10 he cnntentad ,,.itl. ~ 10