The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-06-28

| together in the summer twilights
talking of the love crowned future
| Have you been as studious to please
as then us careful of his feelings al
regardful of his tastes? Do you adorI
yourself for his eyes now as when you
dressed for his coming them AS a
wife, are you as lovable as you were
when Il maiden. Love is not chame.
leon to feed on air, and change in
| every hue of condition il must have
substantial food. Deprive it of this
and it laDguishes and dies. And now,
dear, have warned You. Meet your
husband, when lie returns 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 inclina-
ton for kissing" she answered.
eff the wife remains as attractive as
the maiden, never ~
'Oh, you don't know anything
about it, said Bella. Wait until
you are married.
After the friends said good after
noon, the young wife went to her room,
and cried for a good quarter of an hour
Then she commenced doing as the
friend had suggested Refreshed by
Il bath, she attired herself in IL spot
less white wrapper, with delicate
blue belt binding her waist. A small
lace collar, scarcely whittier than her
pure neck, edged and tied with mar
row azure ribbon, was turned away
from her swan like throat and Just
below, at the swell of the bosom was
an exquisite cut oval pin. Her hair.
a rich golden brown. had been made
glossy as the wing of a bird, and was
folded just enough way from the tenn
piles 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 levable, as her mirror told
her.
Harry was half an hour later than
usual in coming home. Bella was sit.
ting in the parlor when he came in,
waiting for his return with new feel
ing IN her heart-a feeling of blending
fear and hope fear lest he was actual
ly becoming estranged from her, and
a trembling hope to win him back
again. His step was not very light.
She noticed that for her ear had be-
come newly sensitive. He had caught
glimpse of her through the window,
and knowing, therefore, that she was
in the parlor, came to the door and
stood there.
BLESS me-" he exclaimed, after a
moment, chow charming you look -
And he came forward, with a pleas
a 10 HI IL l,n
hand bent down and kissed her.
'Blooming as rose !" he added,
holding her away from him, and gaz-
did beat with new delight
Dressed for company ~
There was Just II little shade of cold
ness in Harry's voice, us he suggested
the probable reason for her singularly
improved appearance.
Yes" replied Bella.
"Who?'
MY husband ~ There was ten
der heart flutter in her voice.
Harry was little puzzled, but
greatly pleased. 1t was true that he
had been riding out that afternoon
with IL lady-a handsome, attractive
woman, who was throwing around his
weak, almost boyish, spirit a syren's
fascination. She put on every charm
in her power to summon 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
appeared to his fancy so charming in
comparison to his wife, and that he
felt no pleasure at the thought of
meeting one who, since their marri-
age, 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 threw his arms low
ingly about her waist.
YES, for you. Could true wife
wish to look loveier to others eyes
than her husbands ?"
Il should think not he answered.
She understood, in the words, more
than he meant to convey.
There was Il 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 pride!
What has made you so charming
tonight - he said, as ne kissed her
once more. You look as pure and as
sweet as Il lily"
Love for my husband, " she answer
ed and then IL tear, in which joys
sunlight made IL rainbow, stole out
from the dropping lashes, and lay a
crystal drop on her cheek.
She made no confessions of her
thoughtless neglect of the means by
which hearts are held in thrall to
love, though her husband half guess
ed at the fact that something had
awakened her to the truth.
On the next afternoon Harry rode
out with a lady again but that lady
was his wife. He was never after
ward in danger of being won away
from faithful love; for Bella grew in
his eyes more attractive, more charm
ing, 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
Indebtedness.
Don't, fair ladies, neglect these per-
sonal attractions because you are
married. The charms that won are
just as potent to retain affection. The
beginnings of alienation 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
in the heart of man to love Il dowdy,
careless, fretful, unlovely 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,
| thrnnnh carelessneSs or neglect. a sin.