The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-05-01

the great house was beautiful, her SER
wants attentive? That did not satisfy
her. She wanted her husband. She
cared little for society, or she might
have found an occupation there. But
in spite of her great beauty she was
quiet and retiring. Yet everything was
done to please Robert Allison that could
be done. She was always exquisitely
gowned, because he wished her to be,
but that was as far as his interest in
her went. The days were devoted to
his business, the evenings to the friends
whom he preferred to her.
The solitude he forced upon her
might have proven dangerous to other
women as beautiful as she, but Mar
garet Allison was as innocent and pure
as a child, and she never fogot for a
moment that she was Roberts wife.
Duty was the stern watchword of her
life. She would not fail in her duty,
however much he did in his. He al
ways knew that he would find her there,
watching and waiting. Yet this very
fact awoke but slight appreciation in
his breast, and really made him more
Indifferent to presence always by his
side.
Poor Margaret! So days succeeded
days in dreary monotony. The slender
figure, clad In splendid gowns, seemed
to mock her sad heart as she beheld
the lonely reflection of her face. What
use? she thought bitterly, better death
than a loveless. joyless existence, no
matter how gilded the cage.
But an event happened at this time
that changed the trend Of Margarst's
whole existence. An old, rich, widowed
aunt of Roberts came to see her. The
her youth, and her face, although old
and wrinkled, was full of kindness and
wisdom. Nothing escaped her keen
observation, made so by whole life
time of experience. She was on her
way to the Old World, and only came
to spend few days before sailing.
With no ties to bind her, and plenty of
money, the old lady took delight in
travelling about. No one place was her
home, and she fitted about as her fancy
dictated. But she was very good old
lady, and full Of benevolence and wis
dom, for all that, and she had not been
in her nephew's house a week before
she understood pretty thoroughly how
matters stood. She had never seen
Margaret before, but she fell in love
with her strafghtway, as every one did
who knew the sweetness and purity of
her nature.
Aunt Elizabeth read the secret OF
those sad eyes and tender, sensitive
mouth, and though outwardly Marga-
rets life looked fair and beautiful
enough, yet old Aunt Elizabeth's world
ly wisdom enabled her to read between
the lines and understand.
''Where does Robert spend his even
ings. my dear?" she asked Margaret
one night as they sat alone.
The room in which they were was
most luxurious. Easy couches, fine
pictures, costly bric-a-brac, and Mar
garet in the chair before the glowing
CRATE looked fitting occupant. But
the face framed by the lovely hair was
white, and the delicate blue-veined
hands. nervously clasped together, be-
trayed an unhealthy unrest. A shad-
ow fell upon the face Of Margaret as
she answered.:
81 don't know, Aunt Elizabeth, he
never tells me. All i know is that he
is never at home, that l never see him,
that he is lost to me-" And then under
the kindly scrutiny Of Aunt Elizabeth,
all the pent-up feeling Of her affection
ate heart burst from it's barriers, and
the bright head lay upon the good old
ladys breast.
There, my dear, cry on, 1t will do
you good" said Aunt Elizabeth, sooth-
ingly.
AS the sobs gradually became faint
er, and Margaret more quiet the old
lady broke the silence:
"My dear, you have made the mis-
take q great many good women do.
Never let your husband know how
much you think of him, for men need
to be managed like children, and once
let him know the whole extent Of your |
love, and you lose half your power.
AS soon as you make martyr of your
self, give up all to him, defer to him,
bow to him, manlike, he sees it, and |
neglects you. Now, my dear, listen,
and let me prescribe remedy. There
is nothing like a little wholesale alb
sence to cure these cases. Now, you
come to Europe with me for six months.
Leave Robert, as he leaves you, and
see If you will not work wonders. He
does not know what it is to miss you.
Give him the opportunity. Let him
come to lonely house for six months.
Let the waiting be on his side instead
Of yours, and you come with me. Try
t, at least, poor child"
Margaret dashed the tears from her
yves and looked into the kind, shrewd
ace. She would trust to its discretion.
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