Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-07-12
was not thinking wholly of my

/ was not thinking wholly of my
own wedding. That evening my broth.
er was to bring home his young wife,
and I was watching to see the stage
come round the great bend in the
road. Amos had won his bride in Con-
necticut, and l had never seen her.
My idea of her appearance and temper
ament was adduced from occasional de.
scriptions he had given me of her in
his letters.
Before a great while I was chatting
gaily with the newly married pair
Amos wife was dear, sweet girl, but
l knew at once that she was not the
wife for him. She was too quiet and
childlike. Diminutive IN form, with
soft eyes, sunny hair, and a placid ex-
preston Of countenance, she seemed
more like half:fiightened dove. She
was the opposite of Amos in every
thing. Perhaps l should not have said
that, as there was considerable simlari-
ty in their intellectual tastes. But
Amos was so stern, rigid, moody, pas
sionate. He was jealous and exacting,
imperative in his commands, and in
simultaneously to be obeyed. These
traits, singular as it may seem, he had
inherited from his mother. / was more
like my father, good-natured, affection
ate, and yet little proud, do confess.
True, l had softened Amos disposition
considerably, but still it was not one to
be mated with one SO gentle as Min
nie's. .-... -.....
They lived year in the old mansion,
and / watched them narrowly. Amos
seemed happy in his new relationship !;
fully as happy as / believed him capa-
BILE Of being. Minnie was so docile,
SO cringing, SO obedient. She yielded
to every command, to every whim,
even studying to conceive the strange
path of duty his imperativeness had
marked out for her. ~.
The little chiId-wife was not happy.
She had met with Disappointment
A great sorrow was slowly creeping
up into her soul. And yet she did not
murmur nor rebel There seemed to
be no energy, no will, no positiveness
about her. .,.
She came to me one evening, and sat
down at my feet. l was sitting on a
low ottoman, working a smoking cap,
which intended as present for John.
I laid aside my work, and drew her
head into my lap. A little while be-
fore, in passing the parlor, l had OBJ
served her sitting beside Amos. He
was reading, ard seemed indifferent to
her presence, scarcely conscious that
pair of soft, white arms We're entwined
about his neck. He had no doubt
thoughtlessly repulsed her. AS I
looked down into her saddened face, |
was sure of this. Her lips were com
pressed, aud there were tears in her
eyes. ...s.,. -.
"You seem unhappy, Minnie," l
saids .....
Il am unhappy, Jane. You must
know it sooner or later. Oh why did
Amos marry me if he did not love
me ?' -.. .......
Gle does love you child" I often
called her child, she was so much like
one. ''He loves you as much as he can
love anybody. He may not express it
in the mariner you DESIRE
s'Or for which my heart yearns,
Jane. This is what is killing me. He
is so cold, SO stern, so crushing! He
is always the same. thing. He never
softens toward me.'
''Is he not kind to you, Minnie p
"Yes. l must say Ee is,-gentle,
after his way. But that is not what 1
mean. He does not enter into my lit
tie dreamings, he docs not appreciate
the wealth of love in my soul There
is little impre>sibilitv about him, and
less comprehension. He does not seem
to wish to understand me. He is an
! iceberg, glittering brilliantly, yet cold
ly, in the SUM-"
Minnie wept bitterly, tried my best
to sooth her. felt deeply for her, and
my words, to a certain degree, made
her calm. I spoke to Amos about the
matter. He smiled vaguely, and put
me quietly aside, just as he had Min
ME.
| Amos was one evening putting up
a shelf for me in the pantry. 1t was
not quite dark. He had sawed the
shelf out of board, and was resting
himself on the door step. just then
Minnie came up. She had been down
the garden, and was holding a bouquet
in her hand. The flowers were very
tastefully arranged.
aSee, Amos !'' she said, with some.
thing of the old love in her eyes. care
they not beautiful? | have gathered
them expressly for YOU
She placed the flowers to his nose as
she spoke, while her other arm half en-.
oircled his neck.
"Just look, Jane p she added laugh.
ing. "His nose is all yellow with the