Year: 1861

cied that a look of disappointment vas in
them.


I'm sorry to see that Bertha is not look
ing so well as when I was at Fern Dale
the last time, said |, as we sat down in the
handsome library.


Not looking SO well My friend seemed
little surprised at the remark You
have forgotten. In my eyes she never
looked better. She was always slight and
delicate, you know, and rarely had much
color.
Perhaps my memory is at fault but I
have vision of Bertha with round, rud-
dier cheeks than | see to-day.


That great baby in her arms will suggest
reason for the change. 1t does not
come from failing health.


My friend seemed so entirely at ease on
the subject that I said no more; but did
not feel satisfied. We talked for an hour
in the library, when dinner was announced,
and we Joined his wife at the table She
had on white lawn dress dotted over with
small blue forget-me-not, and plain lace
cap. A slight warmth was visible in her
cheeks, and her eyes, as she lifted them to
mine, were full of smiling welcomes, She
looked pure and beautiful as q eonsecrated
vestal. saw my friends eyes rest proud
ly and loving ly upon her for few moments
ere he gave himself up to the agreeable
work before him.


I noticed that while my friends wife did,
with pleased alacrity, the honors of the
table, urging one dish after another upon
her guest and her husband, she ate very
little herself. The fact must have escaped
the observation of my friend, or he would
certainly have demonstrated. [ could not
help saying as I saw her playing with, in
stead Of eating her desert


Don't you eat anything, Bertha? l had
known her for many years-even before
her marriage-and always addressed her
with the old familiarity.


| Oh, she lives on air spoke up my friend
smiling. So don't initiate her example
while at Fern Dale. I am made of grosser
stuff, and can't get on without tho sub
stantial things that make up what are
called creature comforts.


Bertha smiledin return, and looked beau
tiful, but too etherial in my eyes.


After dinner we drove out, leaving Ber-
tha at home with the children and domes-
tic duties. Not word was said about
her going with us. Our drive was over
broezy hills and amidst scenery of the
most charming character. I felt new life
i'll all my pulses as we went rushing
through the exhilerating air. It was sun
down when we returned, both of US as
keen for supper as though hearty meal
had not been taken on y few hours be-
fore.


The warmer glow that mantled Bertha's
cheek at dinner time had faded; and as ]
looked at her across the tea-table, | no.
ticed an expression Of WEAKNESS about her
eyes, and languid falling Of the lids, that
made me feel uncomfortable She asked
me if I had enjoyed the ride, and listened
with much apparent interest to my descrip-
tions of many points in the fine scenery
through which we had driven. I was sur
prised, however, to learn, from a remark
she made, that she had never looked up
on it herself


After supper my friend and I retired to
the library, where we spent the evening a
lone, talking of old times; discussing the
merit of new books or lingering over the
current topics Of the day, Bertha did not
Join US. Once I asked for her [ had
pleasant recollections of hours spent in her
company.


Oh, she's busted with the children, or
else with the cook, answered my friend,
smiling in his easy good-natured way. Ber
tha has become famous housewife.


She has too good mind for burial after
this fashion, said l. Bertha was born for
something moro than a simple housewife.


I know it know it, replied my friend
with slight closing of his brows. But
women will take their way. Her children
and her household have completely absorb
| ed her.


Do you think such an absorption of her
life good one-a healthy one-fOr either
mind or body I asked.


Perhaps not But there is wonderful
power of adaptation in nature, as you are
aware. guess it will all work out right,
I often wish it were different; yet, as
wishing does no good, I never permit my
self to get worried over what can't be
helped. am something of philosopher,
you know, and manage, under all circum-
stances, to keep quiet mind. If Bertha
likes her way best, why SO be it; she's a
good, loving, over-indulgent wife to me,
and I won't force her out of the world she
seems most pleased to dwell in-thOugh
our tastes do run parallel in so many
things; and we might enjoy so much to-
gether.


My friends feelings lay close to the sur
face, and l saw his eyes glisten as he
turned them away from me. He loved
his wife as tenderly as any man who loved
his own ease and pleasure as well as he,
could love anything out Of himself. She
was, in bis eyes, the paragon among wo-
men. He was proud of her-very proud
of her


On the next morning, when I met Bertha
at breakfast, and looked narrowly into her
face, I saw more of the work of exhaus-
ton than I had the day before. The pear
ly skin lay in fat surface on her cheeks,
forehead and sanken nostrils, instead of
showing rounded undulation. Her lips
were very thin and white. Her eyes
large, dark and lustrous -shone out upon
you from a farther distance in their shad-
owy orbits. She had no appetite, and on
" made feint of eating, as I could see