Year: 1875

eager flush in her face dying out quickly
and leaving II incxpressibly sad.


had to stop here, for Maggy broke
out suddenly into a wild Ct of sobbing and
crying, which lasted for nearly minute


"What ails you, dear ?" l asked, as she
began to be little composed.


"Oh you have frightened me so. If
John should"


She cut short the sentence, but her
frightened face left me in no doubt as to
what was in her thoughts.


She arose and walked about the room in
an uncertain way for some moments, and
then sat down again, drawing in her breath
heavily.


If young wives" | remarked-beliey.
ing that in her present state the truth was
the best thing to say-"would take half the
pains in making themselves personally at
tractiye to their husbands, that they did
to charm their lovers, more Of them would
find the lover continued in the husband.
Is a man, think you, less an admirer of
womanly grace and beauty after he be-
comes husband than he vas before ?"


Hush hush p she said in choking
voice. 81 sec it all, ] comprehend il all"
And she glanced down at herself. "I
look hateful and disgusting"


After plain, earnest talk with Maggy
| went home. l give her own words as
to what happened afterward:


| was wretched all the afternoon.-
John had acted worse than usual at din
ner time; and what you told me about
poor Helen set my fears in motion and
worried me half to death. Long before the
time he usually came home, dressed my
self with care, selecting the very things
had heard him admire. As looked at
myself in the glass | saw that l was at
tractive; felt as I had never felt before,
that there was power in dress that no
woman can disregard without loss of in
fuence, no matter what her position or
sphere Of life.


"Super-time came. | had made some.
thing that | knew John liked, and was
waiting for him with nervous eagcrness
it was impossible to repress. But the
hour passed, and his well known tread
along the little garden walk did not reach
my anxious ears. Five, ten, twenty min
utes beyond his hour for returning and
still | was alone. Oh | shiyer as l recall
the wild fears that began to crowd upon
me. / was standing at the window, be-
hind the curtain, waiting and watching.
All at once / saw him little distance
from the house, but not in the direction
from which he usually came. He was
walking slowly, and with his eyes upon
the ground. His whole manner was that
of one depressed or suffering l dropped
the curtain and went back into our little
breakfast-room to see that supper was put
quickly on the table. John came in and
went upstairs as he usually did, to change
his coat before tea. In few minutes
rang the tea-bell, and then seated myself
at the table to wait for him. He was
longer than usual in making himself ready,
and then | heard him coming down slowly
and heavily, as if there was no spirit in
him.


" My heart beat strongly. But tried
to look bright and smiling. There was
OH SO dreary look in Johns face as
first saw it in the door. He stood still
just moment with his eyes fixed on me;
then the dreary look faded out; fash Of
light passed over it, as he stepped forward
quickly and coming to where sat, stoop-
ed down and kissed me. Never before
was his kiss SO sweet to my lips.


"1have found my little wife once more"
he said softly and tenderly, and with
quiver in his voice.


81 laid my head back upon his bosom,
and looking up into his face, answered -
+" And you shall never lose her again.





And think he will not. The sweet
ness Of that hour, and the lesson II taught
can never be forgotten by nv friend Maoov