Year: 1872

| Sometimes Frank read aloud, and
though his wife could not help wishing
that he wouldn't pick out the dullest
books in the library to read evenings,
she never said so, but listened atten-
lively, and whenever lucid passage did
occur expressed her appreciation hon.
estly, and Frank never guessed that she
would have been much more entertained
had he shown some interest in the pretty
fancy work with which her fingers were
engaged.


Thus time had slipped pleasantly by
and the young couple had celebrated the
second anniversary of their marriage ere
the conversation took place which opens
our story. Frank was very fond of COM
pany, but Susie's whole heart was CEN
tired on her husband, and if he could be
with her she had nothing more to ask;
besides, she was not very strong, and
often felt sick enough to go to bed and
stay there a week, after having over
exerted herself in her endeavor to enter
tain Franks numerous guests. But she
was ever anxious to grant his wishes
whenever 1T was possible, and Kate was
accordingly invited and came. She was
quite the reverse of Susie in her per-
sonal appearance, for she was tall and
had dark eyes and hair She was not
strictly beautiful, but was nevertheless
greatly admired, for she was very tall
ented and possessed of fine conversa-
tional powers. Her admirers had been
legion, yet she was twenty-five and still
unmarried. 1t was not an easy thing for
Kate to find the one whom she could re-
spect and love sufficiently to be willing
to accept of his companionship for life
Susie loved almost everybody. She was
not fond of picking flaws in any ones
character, and holding them up to the
gaze of her friends. On the contrary,
she delighted to accept the good in all,
and forget entirely the bad. And thus
she did not doubt that she should like
Kate Emerson, but from the first that
proud young lady seemed to look down
upon her as though she were an inferior.
Susie, who, as mistress of the house, and
by virtue of her own sweet loveliness,
had always been treated with respectful
Difference by her guests, could not but
be surprised and annoyed at the positive
Indifference with which Kate treated her
Kate did not really intend to do wrong





vain, and had become so used to being
first in everything that she had learned
to expect it as her right. She did not
stop to consider that, as Franks wife,
Susie had the first claim upon him. She
only knew that she hated to be second
anywhere. Yet she was thoroughly good
natured and very obhging when she
could do favor without too much self
! sacrifice-and she really liked Susie as
well as she could like anyone whom she
,nsidered very muchshe inferior. But
j irving to make herself attractive to
Frank she became ensnared herself For
the first time in her life Kate was really
in love, and with married man And
this was not all. Although determined
not to see it, Susie's eyes were not shut
/ to the fact that Frank soon neglected her
for Kate He was very fond of music,
and Kate played so beautifully that he
never wearied of hearing her, yet it re-
ally hurt Susie's feelings to have him
alrays say at night. Come, Kate; play
something for us, please" She was per-
fectly aware that Kateplayed very much
better than she ever should, still she
thought he need not be ashamed of her,
but might sometimes ask her in the old
loving way to sing aud play for him.


Then, sometimes, they would get to
talkiug about things in which she had
no interest, and Kate seemed to have a
faculty for drawing outall her ignorance.
One evening they had been talking about
the possible impeachment of President
johnson, when Kate said, BY the way,
what very interesting account of the
impeachment of Warren Hastings there
is in Moore's Life of Richard Brinsley
Sheridan! Have you read his life, Susie?"


No; I know nothing about him ex-
cept what little / read about the battles
he was engaged in during the war. I
used to read the war news every evening
to my father"


"Ah, you misunderstood me, dear; /
mean the English Sheridan who used to
write plays, and was member of Par
| lament"


| Susie looked very red as she answered,
cit was quite blunder, truly; but as I
never affect to know anything of which
am ignorant, l may as we'll tell you
that | never heard of that Sheridan be-
fore. You know / am different from
you, Kate; like to read Dickens works,
| Mrs. Stoves novels and the like, but /
am not well-informed as you and Frank
are. I am naturally very domestic in
my habits.


Frank said not a word at this very
plain speech of Susie's, but for the first
time in his life he was conscious of feel
ing ashamed of her, and as he looked at
Kate, who sat with her feet on the fend-
er, gazing into the bright coal fire and
humming little tune to herself, he was
guilty of the thought that possibly he
might have been wiser in the selection
of wife if he had waited until now.
Kate saw their mutual embarrassment,
and with her usual tact changed the con-
versation.


:, Isn't it Parepa's concert night she
asked


Why, yes," said Frank. ''I meant
to have spoken of it before, but forgot
all about it. 1t isn't too late to go now;
and as have the tickets, twill be pity
not to have the benefit of them. Queer
that should have forgotten. I intend
ed to give you both little surprise, for
didn't think you knew she was here.
Have you ever heard Parepa, Kate ?"


No, never; and I've always wanted
to so much"


Well, Susie, what have you to say?
Shall we go?"


Il should be very glad to hear her, :"
said his wife, who was very fond of mu-
sical entertainments, "but I am quite
tired tonight and had rather stay at
home. You and Kate go just the same,
however. You have neither of yon heard
her and it will be great treat"