Big Wives And Little Husbands

When Parepa married people smiled at her choice, simply becauso of the inequalïty of their size.but I remembered what sho told me when first we met, and I believed in hor womanliness more than ever She married an artist, andas time hasproved she marned him from motives that cannot be questioned by the skeptic, in downnght, unselfish affection. That their personal appoarunce when together was something comical she well kuew, and laugbed at it more heartilv than anybody else. If he did not caro becauso her unusual size mado him appear smaller than he roally is.ueither did she foei sensitivo becauso his little figure gavo her the appearance of a beautif ui young giantess. One night I saw thom together at the Leiderkranz ball Every body who is familiar with the grotesquoness of this grand affair knows that no opportunity of burlesquing notable people is permitted to pass without marked attention. Parepa had become Mino llosa a httle while before, and many por sons had not yet stnoothed the smile out of their taces that the differenco in their height would cali up. An immensely tall Teutón, drossed himseü for tho ball as a bride in whito robes, a lady s wig, and flowers, and a small lad was arrayed in the full dress of a eentleman. The tall masked bride led the little man aboutby the hand, while in the tiny husband's other hand was carried a small ladder. Now and then he wished to converse with his wife, and with a pull of hor hand, or a snatch at her drapery she was made to understand that an interview was desired. The wife halted, the ladder was placed against hor breast, and the little husband ran up it until his face was on a level with his companion's, wheu a most social occasion occurred. When the chat was over, the little man ran down, took his ladder in his hand again, and the pair promenaded throuh o ououjjr, un itosa ana lJarepa, his handsome bride, saw the intensity of the burlesquc, and whatevor unploasantness Kosaniight have feit, he smiled very pleasantly about it, while his wifo laughed hke a nierry child until the teara rolled over her handsome dimpled face. Round and round the immense ball-room the great artists followed this travestie of themselves, so that uo oae should fail to comprehend the practical joke. " It is disrespoctful, and I don't like it," I said to her, as sho carne to my box. " O, but I do," she answered ! " It is such fun for everybody ; " l've got a litle husband no bigger" than my thunib, '11 put him in a pint cup, and there 111 make him drum,' won't I Cari Rosa r" and she looked so happy and childlike at him that he laughed back at her while he sang their old fashioned nursery hymn,, in the sweetest of undertones. Then I knew that she was thoroughly a happy wife, and satisfled with her lot.