Year: 1872

easily forgetting what had caused me so
much suffering. He was very busy on
that day and did not stay with me as
usual to chat, but went off whistling even
more cheerily than when he came.


| went up into the nursery and sat
down to think it over. Baby was asleep;
the rain was pattcring against the win
dOws; the wind was rising; and to me
the world looked dreary enough. [ had
tired myself all out getting such dim
ner, and now the excitement was over |
began to ask myself what had got for it,
just nothing at all. My husband did not,
or would not see that there was anything
TO be reconciled about / blamed him for
his lnsensibiity.


Once" thought |, che would have no
ticei any change in my voice or any
shadow which came over my spirits now,
| can really be cross to him and he does
not mind it at all"


II had dolelul afternoon of it.
was restless enough; trying first one en-
ploymcnt and then another, but finding
nothing which would suit. went down
20 tea, farther, if anything, from the right
point than had been at noon. sat de-
jectcd and silent. Ny husband tried
once or twice to engage in conversation,
without success.


Annette said he at length in q kind
tone, "do you fell well to-day


Not very" said | with sigh.


What Is the matter?"


My head aches the baby kept me
awake almost all night" This was the
truth, but only inpart, and | felt guilty
as [ said it; Then he begged me to 90
aud lie down on the sofa in the parlor, and
said he would read to me anything which
| would like to hear.


Ifelt this was kind in him. Il was
Ike old times; the new times, you see,
had been but 4 day, but TO me it seemed
very long; yet it was not what WANTED,
/ wished to have the trouble cleared
away, not bridged over; and determine
cd to hold out until it should come to this,
and he should see and feel that l could
not be made happy after cross word,
without a scene of mutual contrition and
forgiveness so / would not stay TO be
read to, but told him must 90 to bed. |
left him in his easy chair, with study
lamp and book and bright fire, in regular
old bachelor style, and went off into my
nursery, and then to bed and cried my.
self 10 sleep. You laugh, Kate as
though you thought Twas fool. | think
50 myself now"


How did it all end, Annette Y


81 held out week, becoming every
day more and more sad, and sulky, Imay
as we'll call it. When Twas left alone, |
would take my baby up aud cry over him
as if my husband was dead, and the child
was all / had left in the world. Dear
me, how unhappy / was, and every day
added to it. would find something in
his conduct to pain me every time time
We met. Either he was too attentive
to mc-or else he was not attentive
enough; talked too much or too little.


lie bore my moody ill-bmor most pa
tiently thinking | was ILL., One day he
came home and told me he had obtained q
weeks leave Of absence and had engaged
a cariole, and Imust pack up myself and
baby and be ready to start off in IN hour.
lie was going to take me home to my
mothers.


we may as well have journey as to
pay doctors bills, Annette" said he,
land as to having you dropping about in
this style any longer, I~m not going TO-.
We will send off old Bridget, lock up our
house and run away from all care and
have some fun"


He looked up so kindly that | could
have fallen upon his neck and wept my
heart out to think it over. hurried
away to pack, but before I was half
through packing, had resolved that [
would tell him the whole story from be-
gining to end.


The moment | came to this dctermina-
ticn the load was gone; my heart seemed
light as a feather; the expression Of my
countenance, the tone Of my voice chang
ed; | was conscious Of it, and he noticed
It as soon as [ joined him at the appoint
ed hour.


"Why, Annette, getting ready has cured
you. We may as well stay at home
now"


THAT will do, Kate The rest OF the
story will sound sentimental to a third
party"


No, no, Annette, that would be leav-
ing out the very cream Of it. Tell me
how you settled it,


Well, We rode on enjoying the change
until towards dark. Baby then fell
asleep. 1t was very quiet hour. Ev-
erything about US was beautiful and
peaceful. Tears of real penitence came
into my eyes, and before | knew it they
we're dropping down upon the baby. My
husband turned and saw them.


"Why, Annette" said he with the ut
most surprise, "what is the matter"


"Oh, I'm so sorry" said L.


"Sorry for what, love-" said he, care
you not happy? Does anything trouble
youP


I'm so sorry" said | "that L have
been 50 ugly this week"


What do you mean ?" said he looking
more and more puzzled.


"How can you help knowing?"


Then l began at the beginning, and
told the whole story. How / rose feel
ing irritable, and was provoked to speak
+ha fret orooc 1uord bou ba fold mo nv