Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-05-01
5 sWEETHEARTS AND WIVES.

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.
How strangely was deceived. Bella!"
said tile lady in the street.
Deceived! How, Mary? What do
you mean? But come in. You're just
the one wish TO see.
Il was sure | saw you, not ten minutes
ago, riding out with Harry, said the
young friend, as they met and embraced
at the door.
"Oh, dear. mol Haven't been out rid
ing with Harry for month.
Indeedl Hows that2 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-
ton 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, Bellal That speech doesn't
come with musical sound from your
lips. remarked the friend, smiling, yet
serious.
Truth is not always melodious, said
Bella.
"How is it as to sweethearts and wives?"
asked the friend. "Do they belong to
the same class?"
The question appeared 10 reach the
young wife's ears with a suggestive force.
Her face was little changed as she an
swer9d:
Il don't know. Perhaps not. I"
The friend had been scanning the
young wife for some moments from head
to foot, in way that now elected the
question:
do you see anything peculiar about
me?n
"Yes, was answered.
@What?"
A peculiar untidiness that never OBJ
served in the sweetheart
Bella glanced down at her. .soiled and
ruffied dress.
"My neglige," she said, with little,
short laugh.
$50 should thinki Now, shall / draw
your pictsire?"
yes; if you have an artists fancy"
@Here it is. Hair lusterless and un-
tidy; skin dull for want of action and
feeling; wrapper better conditioned for
the wash tub and ironing table than as
garment for the fair person of a young
wife; no collar nor ornament of any
kind; and countenance-well,I 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 husband-but 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
party every day 2" 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
agol"
Bella threw aquick, startled look upon
her friend, who already regretted her
closing sentence.
why did you say that? What did
you mean2" she asked.
Il only said it to plague you, answered
the friend.
TO plague mel"
There was an expression in Bella's face
that Mary had never seen there before.
Her 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
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.
u was probably mistaken, Bella, /" re-
piled the friend, though had not
doubted of the fact moment until /
saw you at the window q little while
ago.
Did you notice the lady particularly"
No; but let the matter pass, dear No
doubt I was mistaken. Tt is worrying
you more than could have imagined. /"
Bella looked at her friend for some
moments, in o strange way then giving
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 me!n said the
young wife, lifting her head at last, as
her excitement died away. @Ah, Mary,
If ! should lose my husbands love it
would kin 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 I'D,
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
holdingS 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-