Year: 1877

see bLlG immature y CdlultIs Du lipg
less painful state succeeded, in which
conscience whispered of Indifference and
neglect. Had she turned habitualIy her
most or her least attractive side TO her
husband? Had she kept herself lovely
in his eyes-lOvely in temper and lovely
in person? Her heart sank: it grew
darker and darker around her; life
seemed crushed out.


Who is it ~ This question marked
a change in the current of Mrs. How
lands thoughts. Rapidly she passed IN
review one lady friend after another, but
without an incident to fix suspicion.
The times and seasons in which her hUs-
band had been absent from home were
dwelt upon. Once a week regularly be
went out in the evening, occasionally
twice. The regular absence was for the
purpose of attending a literary society
at least so he had informed his wife.
Now, for the first time, doubt of his
truth crept in, and this doubt was the
sweeping away of all the sure fOUnda-
tion on which her soul had rested.


For time Mr.. HOwland remained sit
ting at his secretary with his face buried
in his hands. At length, rising with slow
weary motion, as if of one exhausted by
bodily or mental exertion, he drew out
his watch.


"Half-past ninen' was calculated in
surprise. And then he looked through
the door over towards the chamber
whittier his wife had gone with the
children, and stood listening for some
sound. All was silent. For short time
he moved in an uneasy, irresOlute way
about the room, and sitting down, tried
to find interest in the pages of a book.
But in a little while the volume closed
in his hand. Thought was too busy in
another direction to dwell even with a
fayOrite author.


Ten o'clock :" The bell was ringing
its clear notes from a neighboring steeple.
Mr.. HOwland started upand turning out
the light, went over to the sleeping room.
His wife was in bel. lie spoke to her,
but she did not answer.


Are you aslesp?" No motion nor re-
spOnse of any kind. She lay with her face
nearly hidden under the bed clothes. He
looked at her in strange earnest manner
for some moments, and then, moving
about nOiselessly prepared for rest. The
day had been one of much activity, and
Mr.. 'HOwland was weary enough for
sleep. Soon after his head touched the
pillow he was in the land of dreams
His deep breathing had scarcely given
evidence of the fact ere light movement
Oh the part of Mrs. HOWland showed her
to be awake. Presently she drew the
clothes from her face, and raised hcrself
cautiously. The heavy breathing of her
husband was not disturbed. She sat up
in bed he still slept on; she gEded from
beneath tue covering, and cropping in The
darkness, found her husbands vest from
which she took Il KEY.


"Motherr' The slight noise made
opening the chamber door had disturbed
one of the children. Mrs. Rowland
stood still holding her breath The call
was not repeated, and she went out,
cropping her way along the passage with
a hand on the wall. Entering the room
she sought, she closed the door behind
her and drew the belt, fastening herself
in. After lighting the gas she went TO
her husbands secretary, and with the
KEY in her possession unlocked one of the
private drawers. Her hand shook as the
key ratified on the scutcheOn before Il
way was found into the wards. The
first object that met her view as the
drawer came open was morocco minia-
tuTe case, which she seized upon with a
| clutch as eager as that of a bird of prey
| and bearing it to the gas-light, unlOosed
her clasp and exposed the f2ce Of her
rival.


1t was a young and lovely face, and
the eyes looked up into hers with a ten
der and sweet expression. Away from
the pure forehead the hair of golden au-
burn tell smooth back, and lay in curls
about her neck, that was whittier and
| purer than alabaster. The lips were
| full, soft, and arched as if for a flight of
arrows. Loves witchery was in the
| picture cOUntenance.


Still, very still, did the wife sit and
! gaze down upon her rivals face-that
| face on which, scarcely an hour before,
/ she had seen her husbands kisses laid.
! Still, very still, she sat, the tears creep
! ing out of her eyes, falling slowly over
her cheeks and dropping upon the mini
ature Was she Jealous Of that rival =
| No Her heart was too glad for ieal-
ousy, too full of Joy, too wild with a new
born Happiness. The bride of ten years
ago was the rival of to-day, and the
heart of her husband was true to his
marriage vows. 1t was no fault of his
that he could not love what had become


UnlOvely. Not UnlOvely in the poorer


signifCatiOn of that word, as Indicating


changes wrought by the wearing hand o.


time, but unlovely through indulgence


and impatience, and fretfUIness, and il


the neglect of self-discipline-unlO


also, from carelessness of attire and per


sOnal neatness.


With the image of herself as she wa


ten years before, and with the image 0


her husband fOndly, passiOnateIy kissin!


that image, dwelling in her imagination


Mrs. Rowland went back to her bed


She had suddenly awakened from
dream, and the language of her hear


was ''Thank God, / am awake"


As they sat at breakfast on the mex


morning, Mrs. Rowland noticed a chang


in the expression of her husbands fac,
} as he looked at her across the table, let


ting his eyes dwell upon her with un
, usual interest. 1t was an almost admirin;
expression. She was in no doubt as t,


the cause, for she had attired herseI


with scrupUlOus care in a clean, brigh
morning wrapper, and wore a cap fas
] tened at one side with a rubber hairpir


and OTnamented with two or three small
pink bows and a sprig of flowers. 4
plain linen collar pinned with came,


was around her neck. And, better thar


all, she had banished every sign of dis


content and fretfulness from her face,
How sweet mother looks this morn
} ing" said Mr.. Rowland, glancing at on


OF the children who sat near her, an,


smiling one Of his old, bright smiles.


Don't she - answered the little on
} lifting her rosy mouth to mamma for


kiss.


Me kiss too, mamma 50 beautiful p
and little Allie scrambled down from he


chair in newborn admiration Of he


mother, and put up her mouth also.


" And me too" exclaimed Mr.. How
land passing around the table and Iayin
his lips seftly and lingeringly uDon tia
lips of his wife. He saw, as he locke
across the table. resuming his seat, tina
, her eyes were dim with tears. He kney
they were tears of pleasure; but he