The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-24
SWEETHEARTs AND WIVES.

one, giving it a new and pleasanter as
pect. Both faces are young-that at the
window the youngest almost childlike.
Yet the window face is the face of wife,
and the street face that of maiden,
"fancy Free"
slow strangely was deceived, Bella!"
said the lady in the street.
Deceived! How, Mary? What do
you mean? But come in. You're just
the one l wish to see.
Il was sure 1 saw you, not ten minutes
ago, riding out with Harry" said the
young friend, as they met and embraced
at the door.
"Oh, dear, no! haven't been out rid
ing with Harry for a month.
"Indeed! How's that? can remem-
Der when you rode out together almost
every afternoon.
"Yes; but that was before our mar
riage, replied the young wife in voice
that made her friend look into her face
narrowly.
"The husband has less time for recrea-
tion than the lover. He must give more
thought for business" remarked her
friend
The little wife tossed her head and
shrugged her shoulders in a doubtful
way, saying, as she did so, II don't know
about the business; but lovers and hus-
bands are different species of the genus
homo The explanation lies somewhere
in this direction, presume.
"Ah, Bella, Bella! That speech doesn't
come with musical sound from your
lips" remarked the friend, smiling, yet
Gerious.
Truth is not always melodious, f" said
Bella.
"How is it as stosweethearts and wives?"
asked the friend. "Do they belong to
the same class?"
The question appeared to reach the
young wife's ears with suggestive force.
Her face was little changed as she an
Gwer9d:
II don't know. Perhaps not.
The friend had been scanning the
young wife for some moments from head
to foot, in a way that now elected the
question:
do you see anything peculiar about
me?"
eyes, (" was answered.
"What?"
=" A peculiar un.lul4-ess that never OBJ
Cerved in the sweetheart.
Bella glanced, down at her soiled and
ruffied dress.
"My neglige," she said, with a little,
short laugh.
$50 l should think! Now, shall I draw
your picture?"
Yes; if you have an artists fancy"
Here it is. Hair ltlsterless and un-
tidy; skin dull for want of action and
feeling; wrapper better conditioned for
the wash tub and ironing table than as a
garment for the fair person of a young
wife; no collar nor ornament of any
kind; and a countenance- l can't
give that as saw it little while ago at
the window, but I'm sure it wasn't the
face to charm lover. Perhaps it might
suit a husband have my doubts. "
Bella felt the reproof of her friend, as
was evident by the spots that began to
burn on her cheeks.
"You wouldn't have me dress as for a
party every day ?" she said.
"Oh, no; but I'd have you neat and
sweet as young wife should always be;
that is, if she cares for the fond eyes of
her husband. verify believe it was
Harry saw riding out little while
ago!"
Bella threw quick, startled look upon
her friend, who already regretted her
closing sentence.
"Why did y1u say that? What did
you mean?" she asked.
Il only said it to plague you, answered
the friend
"To plague mel"
There was an expression in Bellas face
that Mary had never seen there before.
Hex eyes had grown suddenly of a
darker shade, and were eager and ques-
tioning. Her lips lay closer together;
there were lines on her forehead.
"You are not really in earnest, Mary,
about seeing Harry riding out with a
lady this afternoon" she said in voice
and with a look that revealed fully her
state of mind. The color had left her
face, and her heart shook in her voice.
II was probably mistaken, Bella" re-
piled the friend, "though 1 had not
doubted of the fact a moment until I
saw you at the window a little while
ago"
did you notice the lady particularly"
mo; but let the matter pass, dear. No
doubt l was mistaken. 1t is worrying
You more than could have imagined.
Bella looked at her friend for some
moments, in a strange way then giving
u low, suppressed, wailing cry, bent for
ward and face upon her bosom, sobbing
and shuddering in such wild turbulence
of feeling that her friend became actually
alarmed.
"You have frightened mel" said the
young wife, lifting her head at last, as
her excitement died away. "Ah, Mary,
if should lose my husbands love it
would kill mel"
"Then, Bella" answered her friend,
"see to it that you neglect none of the
means required for keeping it. If you
would continue to be loved you must not
grow unlovely. The charms that won
your husband must not be folded up,
and kept for holiday occasions, and then
put on for other eyes than his. You
must keep them ever displayed before
him; nay, put on new attractions. Is
not the husband even dearer than the
lover, and his heart better worth the
holding? Look back, my dear friend,
over the brief moons that have waxed
and waned since you were bride. Put
yourself on trial, and take impartial tes-