A Lesson For Husbands

" Well, now, this is what I cali living," said Frank Elwyn. " Better than boarding, isn't it, Belle s1 " ' A great deal better, I think," says Belle, smiling. " Yes, I should say sol " And Mr Fra k settled his manly proportions back in his chair, and elevated his feet man-fashion, on Belles new pianp-stool, regardless of the pretty rose-tidy whicli had cost her soft flngers so many hours' labor. Márried a year ago, they had been boarding at a stylish house ever since, and were now only a few days settled in a cosy home of their own. They sat in the prettiest httle parlor imaginable, with flower-stands in the Windows and pretty gracef ui nick-nacks scattered around, and the lamp burning under its transparent shade with a mellow light. Belle had a natural enius for housekeeping - all true women have a little of it - and it was her daily deiight to go through her small establishment and put everything in ;he dantiest order, without spot or speek. One thing fcroubled her orderly soul - that was Frank's propensity for eaving things lyiüg about just anywhere, in a careless faahion not at all )leasing to ber. He had a habit of tmeking his slippers under the parlor sofa, so as to have 'em handy, and in vain Belle cautioned him to put them n the sitting-room closet. In vaiu she worked an elegant slipper-case of green merino. Frank admired it, thanked her with a careless kiss, and still kicked hls slippers under the parlor sefa. One day Belle carried them up-stairs. Then Frank gave vent to a subdued growl. "I'd like to have things lef t where I leave 'em, Belle! " "And I'd like to have them put tway, once io a while! " retorted Belle, picily. " No use to lug 'em off to the other oom. Leave 'em here, and have 'em handy." grumbled Frank. "But Frank," insisted Belle, "I don't want to get the name of an unidy housekeeper, just to humor you in an unreasonable whim." "Nonsense! A fellow likes his own way now and then! " Belle opened her mouth to say " So does a woman!" theü resolutely shut it agaiu , She was determined not to scold; but she was also resolved to cure Frank of his bad habit. Woman's wit, having a will, generally manages to flnd a way, and a man's wisdom inay as well surrender when she says, " I ehalll ' as Master Frank soon found out. Next morning he kicked the slippers under the sofa, and said, " Now, Belle, let 'em be, so they'll be handy when I come home." "But. Frank," says Belle, making one last attempt to carry the field openly, " Why not put them in their proper place?" Too much trouble! A man's home isn't home unless he can do as he pleases." "But they don't look nice. They spoil the looks of the room, Frank." "Yes they do; no they don' t," saya Mr. Frank, mixing up his answer with a man's usual clearness. "You just et 'em be, Belle. A thiug looks as well in one place as another! " 'Ís that your rule?" asked Belle, demurely. ■ " Yes, certainly," said Frank, preparing to go. And if he had been as iharp as he might have been, he would íave noticed a twinkle of minoMef in Belle's bright eyes as he kisaed her jood-bye. But he went oLt to his work, and Madam Belle went to hers! If the leid couldn't be carreed by open warfare, it should be by stratagem said General Belle! Frank was expecting ;o bring a friend home to dinner that day. It was Mr. Halford's flrst visit, and Belle wanted everything to be the .ip-top oí neatness. She stiil meant to iave her dinner as perfect as could be, Dut she also meant to give Mr. Frank a complete lesson. She made the pretty parlor tidy, arranged everything in ihe nicest order, and then - she pulled the obnoxious slippers out into still plainer yiew, brought an arm-load of things from up-stairs, and proceeded to fling a hat on one chair, a saeque on another, a dress over a tnird, Frank's overcoat and a skirt of her own on the 8ofa,_ and two or three yests and shawls on t'he piano, while just in front of Frank's easy chair she tumbled a worn pair of boots. The effect can be better imagined than described. Mrs. Belle surveyed it a moment, then with a hearty laugh lefl it for Frank to inspect. When they came in to dinner, Belle met them in the hall, greeted Mr. Halford cordially, and gracefully led the way to the parlor. The horrifled expression of Frank'a face when he saw the room, was almost to much for Belle's gravity; but ehe cooly tossed the things from a chair and offered it to their guest, seating herself upon the sofa on Frank's overcoat. In vain did Frank, by sundry expressive glances and restless manoauvres endeavor to attract Belle's attention. That provoking little matron remained obdurately insensible to all his telegraphing, and presently excused herself to see about the dinner, with-out a look toward him, or a remark regarding the disordered room. When abe came back to announce dinner she could hardly help screaming with laughter to see that chairs, sofa and piano were cleared - not a garment to be seen anywhere! When the dinner which was a delightful success, was over, and Frank and Mr. Ha.lford were gone, Belle instituted a search for the property, and fonnd it most ingloriously tucked into a closet under the stairs. "It's a poor rule that won't work both ways, Mr. Frank!" she remarked. Frank found his slippers under the sofa, when he come home to supper, and Belle fancied he looked a little sheeplsh as he drew them forth. " Well, did you enjoy Mr. Half ord's visit?" she asked with a smiling face of angelic (and provoking) innocence. " Why - ah- yes, pretty well! But I didn't exactly like the order of thimrs, Belle! " ' What was out of order ? " Wasn't the dinner nice? "cooly asked Belle. "The dinner was capital. I didn't mean that." " Well, what did you mean ? " "Why, Belle, this horrible looking room!" ,'What was wrong with the room, Frank!" very calmly. " Oh, nothing if it didn't strike you. Only I don't fancy a parlor being used fora closet, that's all!" in an injured tone. " You don't! "exelaimed Belle, as if in surprise. " Why, I'm sure you said only this morning, that a thing looked as well in one place as another, didn't you 'í I was only f ollowing your own rule. Frank's color rose, He looked at Belle for a moment as if he did not know what to think. Then he broke into a laugh. " Sold completely! " he cried. "Come, Belle, ril give inl You've beat me. You keep the other traps out of the way, and 111 put my slippers in the case hereafter." "It's a bargain! I'll stick to it as long as you do," declared Belle, with a laugh. "Done! I'll behave better in future. But I'll have to tejl Halford the joke, Belle, for I know he thought queer things of this room. " Wel! bríng him again and he'll find it looking better," said Belle. Thereafter the little parlor did look better, for Frank remembered nis lesson, and the offending slippers troubled Belle's orderly soul no more.