Year: 1863

S were very much alike in size. and in taste
o regarding dress one was the counterpart o
o the other They had been together so long
too that their manners assimilated. Did ;
customer come in and address Watkins a
Wilkins, or Wilkins as Watkins. the answe


was an exact fac simile Of what the one fo


whom the question was intended would have


given. And so things were when the scene


to which our story relates transpired.


1t was a chilly October afternoon that Viii.


kiDs & Watkins, having transacted a good
forenoon's work, went their respective way:


to their respective dinners-WilkiDs to his


hotel, and Watkins to the bosom of his


family. Watkins was happy man in this


regard. He had a pretty little wife, and


everything around him as snng as could be


He was a. sure of warm welcome as be was


of warm dinner, which he had ordered oi


the provision man as he came along. He


knew as well as be wanted 10 that pair Of


white arms would be thrown round his neck


as he OF ened the front door, and perhaps be


thought Julia's-that was his wife's name
sister might be there to take dinner with
them, or perhaps Julis's father and mother
had dropped in to take pot luck with them
in either case great pleasure. So be went
along humming to himself the new air:


''The dearest spot earth to me


Is home, sweet home.h


Mr.. wilkins was a single man, and rather
prided hims elf OH being so. He went to his
hotel with swinging gait, bowing occasion =
ally as some familiar face met his view and
smiling very sweetly upon such young
ladies of the mum bef as he chaDced to know &.
He was a very gallant young man, and had
| the reputation OF being very great tavorte
among the fair young ladies of the place,
| by whom he was regarded af a very eligible
match. He INDUCED in no dreams Of q
welcome beyond that which a landlord ex-
tends to his boarders no comfort beyond his
after dianer cigar. But he thought he was
! happy, and who else had right to say any,
thing about it.


Watkins was not disappointed. On arri-
wing a the home be was singing about, he
was met at the door by the bright face that
hBd met him for the year that had transpir-
ed since their housekeeping days. and the
warm arms enclosed bis neck like paren
thesis, and the warm lips-well. the warm
lips had some pretty word of welcome to
give him that had peculiar smack in the
little dark eDtry-way where be hung his
top coat.


They were alone, and she told him all the
little domestic incidents that had transpired
during the day around home, of which there
are always so many-about the maiden aunt
who had come into town to do some shop
ping, and what grand laugh she had about
her beating down the shop keeper, and CIV
ing him twice as much after all, as the pur-
chase was worth. and how blind beggar
woman came to the door with little girl
leading her, poor and cold, and how she
couldn't help CRYING over the little she bad
given her, and how the poor woman invok-
ed a blessing on her, which she really be-


ieveG bai been answered in the happiness
she had received; and about the organ
grinder, and the little peddler girl with the
buttors, and the new servant at the parson-
age who threw the potato parlngs into the
well. What a story there Was to tell about
everything; and how pleasantly Watkins sat
and listened, all the while the dinner was
being eaten, with the keenest relish. Wat
kris never bad achieved a meal that was
more cheerful, and after dinner. as he kiss
ed his ROSY little wife for dessert. he averred
that he did not believe a happier dog than
himself existed within good many days
Journey. He ventured to say that be thought
wilkins was standing fearfully in his own
light in not getting married, and hinted
eravely that he must give him talking to.


Julia , said he, 'ons of my gloves has
rent 10 it, which l wish you would repair;
Won don't want your husband to look shabby,
Won know. You will find it in the right
pocket Of my coat


She, like a very dutiful, beautiful, sweet
little wife as she was, went 20 the coat as 1t
hung on its peg in the entry, and reaching
down into the pocket to find the glove, she
touched something of paper kind, that 10
her deciG edly resembled letter. She took
it out with the glove, and as her work basket
was upstairs she thought she would mend
the rent there, while Watkins was enjoying
his newspaper. 1t was curiosity-a passion
which has clung around poor humanity with
a pertipacious strength from the beginning
that prompted her to take the letter, but
when alone by herself she reflected before
she opened it, and laid it on the table. She
proceeded TO mend th glove, still thinking
Of the letter, asking herse If should she open
it? fearing it would be wrong to do so, and
at last determining that she would. ltWas
a letter of which the envelope was destroy
ed, and glance at the first page assured her
IL was a female hand. At that instant her
husbands foot was heard upon the star,
and placing the letter under her basket,sne
gave him his glove, and heiwent away bid
ding her good-by.


He is dear good s6ul' said she, 'and it
is almost like doubling him to read this let
ter But OF course il can't be anything he
would not want me to see-of course not,'
and with this reflection she took the letter
in her baud again. The first glance caused
her to turn deadly psle. and in an instant
the mere suggestion of idle curiosity had be-
come transformed into intense anxiety -
Her lips we're apart, her eyes were hxed
with a stony glare upon the paper. her form
trembled violently, and the POOR little thing
came nigh swoonino under the pressure oi
feeling that overpoWered her. There was
letter, written in fem ale band to her nus
band, beginning with MY dear, dear, deo.
w. and ending with Yours. alone anna