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

/
feed on air, ana change in every hue of
condition: it must have substantial food
Deprive it of TINS and it languishes and
dies. And now, dear, have warned
/ you. Meet your husband, when he re-
turns home this evening, looking as
lovely as when he came to you in your
fathers house, attracted as the bee is to
the flower, and note the manner in which
his face will brighten up. Did he kiss
you when he came home yesterday ?"
The face of Bella flushed little.
Husbands soon lose their inclination
for kissing, she answered.
If the wife remains as attractive as tho
maiden, neverl"
"Oh, you don't know anything about
1T, said Bella. wait until you are
married"
After the friends said good afternoon,
the young wife went to her room, and
cried for good quarter of an hour. Then
! she commenced doing as the friend had
suggested. Refreshed by bath, she at
tired herself in spotless white wrapper,
with delicate blue belt binding her
waist A small lace collar, scarcely
whittier than her pure neck, edged and
| tied with narrow azure ribbon, was
turned away from her swan like throat;
| and just below, at the swell of the bosom
was an exquisitely cut oval pin. Her
hair, a rich golden brown, had been made
| glossy as the wing of bird, and was
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 her
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 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 mel" he exclaimed, after
moment, chow charming you looll!"
And he came forward, with pleased
smile on his face, and taking her hand
bent down and kissed her.
Blooming as rose!" 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 a little shade of cold
ness in Harry's voice, as he suggested the
probable reason for her singularly i'm
proved appearance.
"Yes, replied Bella.
aWho?"
"My husband" There was a tender
heart fiutter in her voice.
Harry was a little puzzled, but greatly
pleased. 1t was true that he had been
riding out that afternoon with lady-a
handsome, attractive woman, who was
throwing around his weak, almost boy
ish, spirit syrens 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
again!
"And you really dressed to receive me,
darling?" he said as he kissed her again,
and then drew his arm lovingly about
her waist.
to look lovelier to others eyes than her
husband's?"
II should think not, he answered.
She understood, in the words, moro
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 look
of tender admiration or loving pride
What has made you so charming to-
night?" he said, as he kissed her once
more. "You look as pure and as sweet
as lily"
hoNSiOi my HuoDtilu, SIG answered.,
and then tear, in which joys sunlight
made rainbow, stole out from the droop-
ing lashes, and lay a 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
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
neglected wife has lost her husbands
heart because she ceased to look lovely
in his eyes, 1t isn't in the heart of man
to love dowdy, careless, fretful, un-
lovely woman. The husband bargains
for something very different from this,