The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-09-06
Johns Wife.

Johns Wife.
Miss Barbara SNYDER sat in he
straightforward chair. before the fire
her feet on the fender her head droop
ing, her eyes closed-to tell the truth
although she would have Indignantly
denied IT, Miss Barbara Snyder wa
asleep. Her maid, hard-featured, mid
ule-aged woman, who was moving abou
Ine room, putting it in order;'' as sh,
ulu hity times day, at her mistress
command, and watching her furtivell
10 see that she did not fall into the fire
Jane" said Miss Barbara, suddenl,
waxing and sitting bolt upright witt
unbHnking eyes, ''if he comes-and
am sure he will-don't let him in ~
NO, ma'am,p answered Jane sub
missively.
''Tell him he has seen me for the last
time, the hypOcTite? to pretend always
10 De so fond of me, and then 90 and
marry some empty-headed doll-babv.
BE sure and send him away, Jane"
"Nes, ma'am.U
A sudden commOtiOn in the lower
hal interrupted them; q few bars of a
popular air, whistled in a masterIv
manner, rapid clatter of boot heels on
the stairs, and then a young gentlemen.
who might have sat as a model for n
modern Hercules, rushed in, and falling
over an ottoman, upsetting a chair, and
making confusion worse confOundedi'
IN the quiet room, dashed at Miss Bar-
bara and took her by storm.
congratulate mer' he cried, after
Ihprlntlng half-dozen kisses on her
wlthered cheek. "Aunt Barby. she is
the dearest"
You may go, Jane" Miss Barbara
mad recovered from the shock a little.
and as Jane had retired she folded her
mittened hands tightly together, and
turned upon him.
Nephew John"
There was eomical expression of
despair on the young fellows face nj
ihis unpropitious beginning, but he
said nothing.
Nephew John, am disappointed in
you! L am not angry, but i am deeply
.',Why, Aunt Barbyr' The blue ewes
oi her listener opened wide, but she 81
fenced him by stately gesture.
Please be quiet-I wish to speak. /
have done my duty to you, John.D
There was a little tremble i'm her voice
as she said this, but she went on GRIM
w. "and now that you were just com
ing TO manhood John was twenty-sixl.
and had begun to trust i'm YOU little.
you desert me for q doH-haby.u
she Is not a doll-baby o. said the
young husband Indignantly. "If YOU
only. knew her you would love her
dearly
''Nonsensen' The black eyes snappcd
decidedly. "All girls are fools nova
days, but no matter, you have chosen
between us. My will is made, and |
shall not change it, but you viii never
be again TO me as you were before.u
There was real distress in John Bar
IONS heart as he rose and stood before
her.
'If you will only let me bring her
here 10 seeyou," he pleaded. 81 am sorry
You are 50 displeased. Aunt Barby,
don't let this part US"
You have chosen" The Sphynx
could not have looked more unmoved.
Il ordered them not to admit yOu-you
need not come again.
IF you viii only hear me-
But / -gOod-afternoon.r And
so John Barton left her, with her face
Turned away from him and her hands
still clasped before her.
Miss Barbara Snyder was proud.
MISS Barbara was wealthy. Miss Bar
u para snyder was fond of her own way.
put she was still a woman, and in her
Iiei leaII oil hearts she loved John Barton, /
llei handsome nephew, dearly. His Z
me, iIeI only sister, had died when
ne was a little child, and his father dv-
ing soon after, Miss Barboro bod IN
fashion, adopted him. She had in
uulged him from the first dav of his on
trance INTO her house: She had watched
over him and made him her one object
IN life. He had been the gIeam of snne
shine in her lonely life, and TO his honor
be IL said, he had never been un1vorfbv
Of the love and confidence which She
gave him. "Aunt Barby'' was 10 him
the only person in the world. and al
though people marvelled at the affec-
-l0n OF the bright-faced young man for
nls grim old aunt, it was genuine and
true. He had gone through college in
4 thoroughly satisfactory MANNER, and
afterwards had settled down into as
steady and trustworthy a young busi-
iess man as there was i'm the city; and
.or o, 5lree years had behaved entirely ac-
.,OIutihg 10 his aunt's wish i'm every re-
one one day, however. the peace and tran
GulIlty Of Miss Barbarais bouseboId
can,o broken up by a wbisper which
sSna,.i, 70 her ears-John. be! Jobn v-os I
was al attention" TO somebodvf Sbo |
went b,. 81 81 lncredulous. buf as fbe do--S |
for one niebt was forced to believe If: 9
his yellow sbbsl bali John, sitting at her feet 4
told her with mSnh shining in the freight, 7
barrassnenf tiose1 confusion ana or, q
married. was going to be Y
sbe el1S8 yS3s barbara Ta,2. was good woman
anu ABOVE all very iealons .tis ~ selfish, {
dignity, and the knowIeJe,.o oi her own I
had asserted his independencsah mat John ]
tually planned out his futnreeG feG i,sd and ae- c
out consulting her beforehonsJii ne with y
very hard thing for her to bear was {
was .ols,,t nor patent patent nor iorgiving, and the
scene. She who had neT:S.
spoken to him harshIy before oy,or
whelmed him with hard, bitter words
and then, when he was gone, went her,
self asleep over his 'fngratitude.U rs
she called it.
When at last he was really married
her anger new no boun1r and - g.