The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-07-25


hair, rich golden brown, had been made
glossy as the wing Of a bird, aud waa
folded just enough away from the tenn
pies TO show their delicate cutting. Two
opening rosebuds-red and white
nestled above and in front Of one Of hci
pearl tinted ears. She did look lovely
and lovable, as her mirror told her.
Harry was half an hour later than
usual in coming home. Bella was sitting
in the parlor when he came in, waiting
for his return with a new feeling in her
heart-a feeling Of blending fear and
hope; fear lest he was actually becoming
estranged from her, and trembling hope
TO win him back again. His step was not
very light She noticed that; for her
ear had become newly sensitive He had
caught a glimpse of her through the win
dow, and knowing, therefore, that she
was in the parlor, came to the door and
stood there.
"Bless me !" he exclaimed after
moment, "how charming you look ."
And he came forward, with a pleased
smile on his face, and taking her hand
bent down and kissed her.
Blooming as a rosel" he added, hold
ing her away from him, and gazing at
her admiringly How her heart did beat
with new delight
Dressed for company"
There was just n little shade of cold
ness in Harry's voice, as he suggested the
probable reason for her singularly inn
proved appearance.
ayes, replied Bella.
"Who?"
"My husbandln There was tender
heart flutter in her voice.
Harry was little puzzled, but greatly
pleased. It was true that he had been
riding out that afternoon with a lady--a
handsome, attractive woman, who was
throwing around his weak, almost boy
ish, spirit syren's fascination. She put
on every charm in her power to sum-
mon; while the foolish wife was hiding
hers away, and taking no pains to hold
dominion in the heart she had won, and
was now in danger Of losing. Five min
utes before the companion of his ride APP
peared to his fancy SO charming in COM
parison with his wife, that he felt no
pleasure at the thought of meeting one
who, since their marriage, had seemed to
grow every day less and less attractive
But now, Bella was his queen of hearts
againl
"And you really dressed to receive me,
darling?" he said as he kissed her again,
and then drew his arm lovingly about
her waist.
"Yes, for you. Could true wife wish
to look lovelier to others eyes than her
husband's?"
81 should think not, he answered
She understood, in the words, more
than he meant TO convey.
There was a rose tint in everything in
Bella's home that evening. From the
cold, half indifferent husband, Harry
was transformed to the warm, attentive
lover. How many times, as she turned
her eyes upon him, did she catch a look
of tender admiration or loving pridel
"What has made you so charming to-
night ?" he said, as he kissed her once
more. "You look as pure and as sweet
as a lily"
"Love for my husband, a" she answered
and then a tear, in which joys sunlight
made rainbow, stole out from the droop-
ing lashes, and lay crystal drop on her
cheek.
She made no confession of her thought
less neglect of the means by which hearts
are held in thrall to love, though her
husband half guessed at the fact that
something had awakened her to the
| truth.
On the next afternoon Harry rode out
with lady again; but that lady was his
/ wife. He was never afterward in
danger of being won away from faithful
love; for Bella grew in his eyes more at
tractive, more charming, more lovable
every day. And she thus saved him, in
his younger and less stable years, from
being drawn aside from the right way,
and both herself and him from years of
wretchedness.
| Don't fair ladies, neglect these personal
attractions because you are married. The
charms that won are just as potent to re-
tain affection. The beginnings of alien
alton often lies just here; and many a
neglected wife has lost her husbands
heart because she ceased to look lovely
in his eyes. 1t isn't ig the heart of man
to love a dowdy, careless, fretful, un-
lovely woman. The husband bargains
for something very different from this,
and if he finds himself deceived, will
assuredly repent of his bargain So look
to it, young wives, that you lose not,
through carelessness or neglect, single
charm.