Year: 1874

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 parties and
midnight revelries were utterly distaste-
full 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 fattery,
and forgetting her womanhood and her
truth, inasmuch as she forgot to care for
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, assc
ciating with people whose means were sim
liar to her own. she had never INDUCED in
any unwarranted extravaganza, and had
considered herself we'll dressed in an al
paca or fresh muslin. But now she had
everything about her to stimulate and
arouse the desire for 6nsry, and as the
ladies' with whom she associated wore jew
els and fine laces, she naturally coveted
the same, and was fretful and unhappy if
denied them. Gilbert INDUCED hor in
everything that he could possibly afford
but his salary was not large, and sadly he
realized that instead of gaining in proper
ty, as he had hoped to do. he was falling
behind at fearful rate. He grew morbid
and unhappy, and the home that had
blossomed with the flowers Of love and
peace lost its charm for both of them.
Coming home one night about year
after their removal to the city, Gilbert
went up to his wife's room and found her
before the mirror, giving the finishing
touches to an elegant toilet. She looked
very lovely standing there in her robe of
azure silk, with its overdress Of misty lace
caught up here and there with silver
grasses. But the sight of her beauty ex-
cited no pride in her husbands heart, and
with keen pang he thought how once
the sound of his footstep had brought her
to meet him with welcoming kisses and
fond words.


care you going cut again tonight,
Alice ?" be asked, sadly.


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


"Yes, Alice, you look very lovely, but
you used to look better to me in shilling
calico than you do tonight in all your
fnery. Oh, how happy We were in our
old home. 1t seems to me that if We
were back there now, just as We used to
be, should be the happiest man alive."


How can you be SO absurd p said
Alice, almost in anger. | thought you
we're getting over those foolish notions.-
You have been out lately more than usual
and | did hope you had given up moping
and would try and enjoy yourself"


" have not been cut expecting to find
enjoyment. l only go out because it is SO
silent and lonesome here. | wish you
would stay at homo sometimes, Alice"
be went on, pleading ly; - want your
company so much


" l am not going to be forever tied up
at home, for anybody" she retorted, "and
if you are lonesome there is nothing to him
der you from going out and enjoying yeur-
self, if you only would. Good night !;
Mrs. Clintons carriage is waiting for me
at the door," and gathering up her silken
skirts she ran lightly down the stairs,
leaving her husband to pass his evening
alone, or follow her advice and seek
amusement abroad.


Never had Alice looked more radantly
beautiful than she did that night, and new
er had she received more attention. 1t
may be that her conscience troubled her,
and she was trying to drown its voice; at
least she was gayer than usual, and her
vivacity and sparkling wit kept her con-
stantly surrounded by an admiring circle


Late in the evening as she was sitting
in a crimson backed easy chair, languidly
listening to the insipid talk Of Mr. St. Ce-
Gil, one Of her newest admirers, the host
ess came to her, saying that there was a
boy below asking for Mrs. Drew. Won
dering what it could mean, Alice excused
herself, and following Mrs. Hildreth found
a little colored boy who went on errands
for them sometimes.


"What is the matter, Theodore ?" she
asked in alarm.


" Bridget sent me to form you dat mas
sa Drew is sick, and she wished you d
come homo mediate" said the boy with
alacrity.


The hostess ordered servant to bring
out the carriage; and Alice, without wait
ing to bid her friends adieu, hurried on
her outer wrappings. and was soon whirl-
ing swiftly away from the scene Of gayety.


Gilbert i'll, perhaps dying The thought
struck terror to her heart, and in an ar-
ony of self-reproach she remembered the
unkind words she had spoken to him at
parting With whitening lips she sent
up to Heaven silent prayer that he
would live that she might have space to
ask his forgiveness and atone for her heart
less conduct. When she reached home
the door was opened for her by the servant
girl, who said, in answer to her anxiou,
inquiries, that her master was better and
wac elaaniu0 then He want out shs