Year: 1874




and when you were at liberty we could 60
out and enjoy ourselves aud sec something
of the world, instead of being cooped up
in this lonesome place"


"Oh, Alice, | am so sorry to hear You
talk in this way. | thought you were
contentcd and happy here" He was sur
prised and deeply grieyed, and Alice knew
III but she had pondered this matter too
long to give it up easily now, and she
brought forward every argument that she
could devise to convince him that she was
right, and Gilbert Drew went back to the
field that morning with sadder heart than
he had carried for many day.


After that Alice gave him no peace.
She had SGT her heart on leaving the farm,
and she was constantly picturing to him
the easy, carc-free life she imagined they
might live in the city. Gilbert was far
from sharing her views of the subject but
he loved her too we'll to be unmindful Of
her pleasure, and finding that she would
be satisfied with nothing less, he finally
yielded to her wishes Having an oppor-
tunity to dispose Of his farm and stock for
a good price, he did so, and another spring
time found our country friends safely set
tied in city quarters. They purchased a
handsome house in fashionable locality,
and Gilbert obtained the position of clerk
in dry goods establishment. Through
friendly influence they gained admittancc
to an aristocratic circle, composed mostly
Of people with wealth aud leisure at their
disposal. Alice, with her lovely face and
easy, graceful manners, became quite a
belle, and her time was completely occu-
pied in shopping, returning the calls of
her fashionable friends and visiting places
of amusement. Gilbert grew used to find.
ing the house closed and STILL and hearing
the servant girl say that her mistress had
gone out. He was naturally social, and
was always glad to have few friends in
of an evening and a cosy little supper
but he took no interest in the gay society
in which Alice delighted, and large par.
ties and midnight revelries were utterly
distastcful to him. He was occupied at
the store only during the day, and evening
after evening he sat alone, while his wife
passed away the hours at some brilliant
gathering, listening to words Of flattery,
and forgetting her womanhood aud her
truth, inasmuch as she forgot TO care fol
the interests of her home and the happi
ness Of the man she had promised to love
and honor. She had natural fondness
for dress; but in her country home, asso,
ciating with people whose means were sim.
liar to her own, she had never INDUCED in
any unwarranted extravaganza, aud had
considered herself well dressed in an al
paca or fresh muslin. But now she had
everything about her to stimulate and
arouse the desire for fnery, and as the
ladies with whom she associated wore jew
els and fine laees, she naturally coveted
the same, and was fretful and unhappy i
denied them. Gilbert indulged her il
everything that he could possibly afford
but his salary was not large, and sadly HI
realized that instead of gaining in proper
ty, as he had hoped to do, he was fallin,
behind at fearful rate. He grew morbit
and unhappy, and the homo that hat
blossomed with the flowers Of love ant
peace lost its charm for botli'of them


Coming home one night about yeal
after their removal to the city, Gilber
went up to his wifes room and found hel
before the mirror, giving the finishing
touches to an elegant toilet. She looked
very lovely standing there in her robe o
azure silk, with its ovcrdress of misty lac,
caught up here aud there with silver grasses
But the sight of her beauty excited N,
pride in her husbands heart, and with
keen pang he thought how once the sount
Of his footstep had brought her to nee
him with welcoming kisses and fond words
Are you going out again tonight, AL
ice p he asked, sadly.


YES; this is the evening of Mrs. Hill
dreth's reception, and | could not think o
staying away. See, isn't my new dres
becoming?" she asked turning to him will
J an animated face.


" Yes, Alice, you look very lovely, bu
you used to look better to me in a shillin,
calico than you do tonight in all you
finery. oh, how happy we were in GU
old home 1t seems to me that if we wer
back there now, just as we used to be,
should be the happiest man alive"
How can you be so absurd said AL
} ice, almost in anger. II thought you wer
getting over those foolish notions. You
have been out lately more than usual, an,
l did hope you had given up moping an'
would try and enjoy yourself"


al have noe been out expecting to fin,
} enjoyment. | only go out because it is $
. silent and lonesome here. / wish 70,
would stay at home sometimes, Alice,
he went on, pleadingly II want your CON
, pany so much"


!" am not going to be forever tied u
at home, for anybody she setorted, can
if you are lonesome there is nothing I
hinder you from going out and enjoyin
: yourself, If you only would. Good night
' Mrs. Clinton's carriage is waiting for m
at the door, and gathering up her slke
skirts she ran lightly down the stairs, lea,
. | in0 har huahand tn n,ae his avan;,,sy alan,