The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-06-13
Miscellanp.
THE wIFE's SURPRISE.
From the New York Ledger.
by AMY RANDOLPH.

From the New York Ledger
"The fact is. my dear Mrs. Lynde, your child
rem ought not to remain in this poisonous city
atmosphere day longer. They are too delicate
l regard it as your imperative duty to send them
out into the country"
Dr. Carson shut up his ponderous gold eye
glasses as he spoke, with the air of an autocrat
whose slightest wishes law. Little Carry
Iynde nesting ON the sofa, held tight TO her
mothers hand, and regarded the doctor with
wido-opened blue eyes. Mrs. Lynde sighed
softly
81 doubt whether Mr. Lyndo afford the
expense OF sending his family into the country
this season, doctor.
..Afford it, ma'am! Afford it? Why all the
world knows how fast your husband Is making
money. and-excuse me, Mrs. Lynde, but L am
plain man-all tendencies to a parsimonious
life ought to be checked in the bud.
Mrs. Lynde blushed an indignant crimson.
.Dr Carson. do not like to hear that word
applied to my husband"
The doctor took his hat. THE powder at
eleyen-perfect quiet, and my little patient will
do very we'll. And remember what recon-
mended to You about the country!
After the doctor had taken his departure, Mrs.
Lynde sat thinking of what he had said.
"Charles is poor man." she mused--"a man
who is dependent on his practice as lawyer for
daily bread | knew it when / married him
nor have eyer regretted leaving the luxury of
Beech Grove for his humber, quieter home
And as for my Charles being parsimonious don't
/ know better?"
The rosy glow was still mantling Mrs. Lynde's
cheek at the bare idea, when a CHEEKY voice
sounded on her ear.
"Well, how is Garry tonight 7"
"Charles is it you? How you startled me !"
He Was frank, noble-looking man, with clear
Iorl- a,-cs nd STrila fbu+ hriuhtopp1 his whole
face.
"Am 7 SO very startling What does the doc
tor say?"
HE gays the children must all go into the
country this summer, with as little delay as
possible"
Mr.. Lyndo slightly contracted his brows.
81 am not sure we can afford it, Alice"
''That is what | thought, myself--but, oh,
Charles, if their health-perhaps their life
depends upon it, ought we to hesitate? y
Mr.. Lynde sat down whistling quietly under
his breath.
NO. suppose not-but Alice, it's terrible
drain on a fellows purse Just now"
Alice Lynde felt cold chill at her heart
was it possible that DR.. Carson's words had a
foundation in TRUTH Was her husband becom-
ing prey to the terrible dragon of avarice. Mr.
Lynde went on:
~ suppose [ must try to find some farmhouse
weight in gold Alice do you never sigh after
the velvet lawns and shady copses of Beech
Grove-the old stone house, with its cool veran
dahs and the summer-arb0r by the lake -
"No!' said Mrs. Lynde stoutly.
'Nover, Alicer'
"Wel, -sometimes I can't help thinking how
nice it would be for the children. / wonder il
the old man who owns it now has any children
"a childless widower, l believe. But all thi.
b IL, IL
Of course you'll need no extra wardrobe to go t.
farmhouse where there are no fashonabl,
danes and demoiselles to crlticise your toilet I?
Garry and Lucy have quite outerown theI
last summers clothes, Charles, and Frank ha
nothing at all to wear ] suppose | might ge
along, although | need u new travelling dress
sadly"
"Try to dispense with it at present, that's 6
dear little economical puss.'
Charles" said Mrs. Lypde, speaking up from
the impulse of her heart sis not your bushes,
prosperous just at present."
''Prosperous Yes"
"Then why do you perpetually urge upon me
the necessity OF economy "
He cooled little-she thought he appeared
somewhat confused at her abrupt question.
"There are n great many outlets for our money
Alice, of which you can hardly form an adequate
idea. Eight o'clock, is it? Then | must be off
Uoou nlgnu, my lofe--l.l Try 10 DC at nome De-
fere eleven Z"
Mrs. Lynde was sitting by Carry's sofa, at hel
sewing, the next day, when Miss Priscilla Forbes
was ushered in.
Good morning, my dear-hows Garry? Bet.
ter, eh Well I'm glad to hear it. Bethiall
Lambs little girl was taken with just the same
symptoms, and she didn't live three days!, I'd
advise you to be careful though, Alice there's
always danger Of relapse, and 10 one can tell
the consequences of relapse! BY the way
where has your husband gone to-day"
us lie not at his Office y
''No---he went out on the Brigham railroad
this morning. | saw him go by as if life depend.
ed on the haste he was making; and thinks tC
myself, III just keep an eye on him, and see
where Aa is going! So followed just as fast b,
could trot and was Just in time to see him
of town don't know but thinks l to myself
again, Alice can tell me all about it :"
probably he is looking for summer boarding
she remembered with pang, that her husband
had said nothing to her about it,
'Clarlos,' she said when he came home to
dinrrr, where were you going out of town, TO-
day."
How did you know vas out of town :" he
asked little sharply.
"1[iss Priscilla FORBES saw You start"
81 wash Miss Priscilla Forbes would 10 kind
enough to mind her owo business"
Alice was silent minutc-then she asked:
Odd YOU End place for the children Z" !.
''No,' was lis bri,f reply.
Alice inquired no fartAcr-she felt hurt and
resco,ful. and Charles paid no attention to heI
ls. p.,,Il9 ,,f,, ~