Southern ladies' journal., July 02, 1887, Page 5, Image 5

About Southern ladies' journal. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1886-18??

Image provided by: Arkansas State Archives

                
oFOR better or worse.
My True Wife.”
BY MRS. MARY W. LOUGHBOROUGH.
CHAPTER XII.
“ Heart, heart, lie still;
Heaven’s sweet grace alone
Can keep in peace its own !
“ Let that me fill
And I am still/’
For four weeks since the close of our
summer journey we had been the guests
of Judge Pryor. Nuw, our little resi
dence all arranged, the two servants of
the establishment having entered upon
their duties, we were to take our 6
o’clock dinner for the first time under
our own roof-tree.
The pleasant fall afternoon was closing
as, making our adieus for the time being
to Miss Ethel and Judge Pryor, we
walked out by the river to the cottage
which was to be our future home. The
golden sunshine glowed here and theie
upon the yellow and scarlet foliage of
the Autumn ; the air was mild and clear,
but at our feet there rustled leaves, the
harbinger of nature’s season of dormant
vitality.
“And so, Trecha,” I said, putting my
arm about her, “you are leaving your
father’s home, setting out in the world
with only your husband?”
“And I am going to hold fast to my
husband’s hand,” she said, looking up
with a smile. “What a pretty walk this
will be for us along the river, as we go
to and from town. Only think,” she
continued, “I am going to be one of
papa’s nearest and best neighbors.”
“Do you think, lady bird, you can be
happy without a carriage?” I queried.
“Philip, you are laughing at me,” she
said. “I can always use papa’s carriage,
if I wish; but I prefer this lovely walk to
driving. Look, Philip, how the light
varies over the sail of the little boat
across the water. The wind is shifting;
and do you notice how like a fine etch,
ing the canvas appears, with shadows
thin or heavy as the motion changes and
the light shades or brightens?”
“Yes, it is a study. A more practical
thought suggests itself,” I said, “in view
of that boat. Trecha; what elegant fish
we can secure from the watermen over
there! They can bring them fresh from
the stream. We will find them far bet
ter flavored.”
“Yes,” she said, “they will seem al
most like our own possession, will they
not? And I think, dear, we will enjoy
the portico from the dining-room, with
its outlook over the water. Oh, Philip,
how happy we are, and how blest.”
“Y es, lady mine; but doubtless there
is many a march in life for us less pleas
ant than a walk along this shady road
way.”
“How can anything be less pleasant
when we will be always together?”
“Ah, but there are such things as sick
ness and death. Pardon me, sweet one,
my heart is as happy as your own. And
why should I croak.”
She laughed gaily, exclaiming, “Ah,
why, my Lord Hamlet, but that ‘The
time has grown so picked,’ and your
philosophy but seldom seeks repose.”
There were a few maples and some
handsome oaks upon the lawn.before our
house. The mellow sunshine cast level
lines across their trunks, and along the
variegated leaves that scattered over the
still green grass. As we walked around
a little flower circle fronting the door
way a robin and an oriole honored our
arrival by a cheerful burst of music,
keeping up the carol and cadence until
we passed within the doorway.”
Within the room there were warmth
and brightness everywhere, while the
smiling, gracious mistress ceased not to
express her pleasure in the pretty gifts
and possessions that adorned the cosy
mansion. The 6 o’clock dinner, at
which my lady love presided with con
scious pride, was a pretty and recherche
affair. Beatrice served deftly and with
grace the dessert from the bright service
of silver, expressing with smiles and
happy words her joy in the possession of
our snug home nest.
On leaving the table Beatrice remained
to speak with a servant, while I stepped
out on the small portico fronting the river.
The stars had come out, though there
still lingered a light across the western
heavens. Supreme peace and happiness
filled my soul—that happiness which
pervades the mind with a dreamy con
tent in all things.
How long I had desired with infinite
longing this home peace and comfort.
Now it is mine, and with it the contin
ued presence of the woman who is dearer
than all else in the world, more precious
by far than my own life.
“Philip, are you smoking?”
“I am just about to smoke, sweet
heart.”
“Shall I come with you?”
“Yes; get your shawl, and we will go
down by the river.”
For some time we walked up and
down the garden pathway along the
river. The changing water, reflecting
the stars that seemed to float along the
ripples of its surface. Here and there
shone the light of passing schooners or
small fishing boats as they sailed or
drifted by.
“lam going to make a very.pretty
garden here in the spring,” Beatrice
said. “And, Philip, I must have some
chickens; they are such aids to a house
keeper.”
I was amused at the dear woman, and
I laughed softly, saying:
“Indeed, our housekeeper must have
every aid possible. I think Aunt Chloe
will be pleased in sending us some of
the chickens from Cedarcroft.”
“What pretty ducks and chickens she
has. Do you think Gen Eldon would
object to my having some from there?”
“No, I think not. Aunt Chloe’s ducks
and bantams are of small interest to
him. Really, Trecha, I think that his
malady gains upon him. He seems so
restless and irritable. I am in favor of
his going again to the Mediterranean.
He has always liked being there at this
season. The climate is so mild that he
cruises about, living out of doors on the
deck of his yacht, and gaining the tone
that salt air always gives him. And
now, lady mine, we must go in; the
night is growing heavy and damp. You
will sing some for me in that pretty bijou
of a sitting-room, will you not?”
“Philip, I want to show you the com
fortable lounge I have arranged for you,
where you can lie when you have on
your dressing jacket and slippers, with
your tired feet to the fire.”
“And this is my lounge!” I said, after
I had opened the little upright piano in
the sitting-room and placed the music.
“If ever a man was a fortunate creature
I’ve come to that estate. And this soft,
'pretty thing, with the dainty pillow, is
mine? Sweetheart, 0, but I’ll try it.
Where is my dressing jacket and slip-
I pers?”
“You shall have them in a moment!”
and, laughing, she ran to our bedroom
adjoining, and brought them; helping me
off with my coat, which she carefully
placed away—and then she clapped her
hands with pleasure as she saw me ex
tended on the delightful resting place,
with my feet toward the cheerful wood fire.
“And now what shall I sing? 0, I
have it—the ‘lngle Side,’ for our home
i coming.”
She seated herself at the instrument,
I and began the low prelude to the old
> Scotch song.
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