Year: 1877

went lightly up the stairs.


Both tone and manner betrayed her
secret, or rather, the possession of Sc
cret with which her husband was to be
surprised. Scarcely had her loving face
faded from before his eyes when thought
returned, with single bound, to an un-
pleasant event OF the day, and the waters
of his spirit were again troubled. He had
actually arisen and crossed the floor once
or twice, moved by restless concern
when his wife came back with the dress
ing gown and slippers. She was trying
to force her countenance into a grave
expression, TO hold back the smiles that
were continually striving to break in
truant circles around her lips, when
single glance at her husbands face told
her that the spirit, driven away by the
exorcism of her love, had returned again
to his bosom. He looked at her soberly,
as she came forward.


What are these ?" he asked, almost
coldy, REFRESHING surprise, and affecting
an ignorance that he did not feel in re-
gard to the beautiful present she held in
her hands.


"They are for you, DEAR" was the re-
ply. /" l made them"


For me !" he exclaimed. "Non-
sense What do l want with such jim
crackery This is woman's wear. 10
you think l would disfgure my feet with
embroidered slippers, or dress up in that
gown Put them away, dear. Your
husband is too much Of man to robe
! himself in gay colors, ike clown or an
actor" And he waved his hand with
an air Of contempt.


There WAS a cold, sneering manner
about him, partly affected and partly re-
al-tLe result of his uncomfortable state
of mind. Yet he loved his sweet wife,
and would not, Of set purpose, have
wounded her for the world.


This unexpected repuse--this cruel re-
ception of her present, over which she
had wrought patiently, in golden hope
for many days-this dashing to the earth
of her brim-full cup of joy, just as it
touched her lips, was more than the fond
young wife could bear. To hide the tears
that came rushing to her eyes, she turn
cd away from her husband and, to con-
ceal the sobs she had no power to repress,
she went almost hurriedly from the room,
and, going back to the chamber from
whence she had brought the present. she
lald it away out of sightin closet. Then,
covering her face with her hands, she
sat down and strove with herself to be
calm. But the shadow was too deep
the heartache too heavy.


In little while her husband followed
her, and discovering, somewhat to his
surprise, that she was weeping, said in a
slightly reproving voice, Why, bless
me not in tears What q silly little
pvss you are ! Why didn't you tell me
you thought of making dress gown and
a pair of slippers, and would have We
toed the matter at once You can't per
suade me TO wear such Haunting things.
Come back to the parlor," he said, tax
ing hold Of her arm, and lifting her from
the chair, land sing and play for me,
1.-The Dream Waltz The Tremolo,
Dearest May or The Silly Night are
worth more to me than forty dressing
gowns or cargo Of EN- broidered slip
pers.'


Almost by force he led her back to the
parlor, and placed her on the music STOOL
He selected II favorite piece and laid it
before her. But tears were in her eyes,
and she could not see note. Over the
keys her fingers passed with skillful
touch but when she tried to take up the
song utterance failed, and sobs broke
forth instead of words.


"How foolish I" said the husband, in
q vexed tone. - am surprised at you"
And he turned from the piano and walk
ed across the room.


A little while the sad young wife re-
mained where she was left thus alone,
and in partial anger. Then, rising she
went slowly from the room-her hus band
not seeking to restrain her, and going
back to her chamber, sat down in the
darkness.


The shadow which had been cast upon
her spirit was very deep and though
the hidden sun came out again right ear
ly, it was a long time before his beams
had power to scatter the clouds that float
ed in loves horizon.





The shadow we cast Father, husband
wife, brother, sister, son, neighbor-are
we not all casting shadows daily on some
hearts that are pining for the sunlight of
our faces? We have given you two
pictures of life-true pictures, not as a
mirror, but as a kaleidoscope. In all
their infinitely varied relations, men and
women, selfshly or thoughtlessly-from
design, weakness or ignorance-cre cast
ing their shadows upon hearts that are
pining for sunlight. A word, look, q
tone, IN act, will cast a shadow and sad
den spirit for hours and days.


Speak kindly, act kindly, be forgetters
of self and regsrders of others, and you
will cast but few shadows along the path
Of life. The true gentleman is always
tender of the feelings of others, always
watchlul lest he should wound uninten-
tionally, always thinking, when with 9TH
ers, of their pleasure instead of his own.
He casts but few shadows. Be gentle
men--ladies, or-in a word that includes