The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-06-20
JOHNS WIFE.

Barbara Snyder was asleep. Her maid
. hard-featured, middle aged woman, was
moving about the room, putting it in or
der" as she did fifty times a day, at her
mistress command, and watching her fur
lively to see that fshe~did not fall into
the fire. @
"Jane," sale Miss B4-bara, suddenly
waking and sitting bolt upright with I'm
blinking eyes, off he comes-and I am
sure he will-don't let him in" l~.-.
mo ma'am," answered Jane sabmiss-
lively.
"Tell him he has seen me for the last
time-the hypocrite Ito pretend al
ways to be so fond of me, and then go
and marry some empty headed doll baby.
Be sure and send him away, Jane,
eyes, ma'am.'
A sudden commotlon in the lower hall
interrupted them; few bars of popu-
lar air whistled in mastery manner, a
rapid clatter of boot heels on the stairs,
and then young gentleman, who might
have as q model for modern Hercu-
les, rushed in and falling over on an otto
man, upsetting chair and making soon
fusion worse confounded" in the quiet
room, dashed at Miss Barbara and took
her by storm lae 7r
"Congratulate me ?" he cried, after i'm
printing half dozen kisses on her with
cred cheek. "Aunt Barby, she is the
dearest" ra
"You may 60, Jane" Miss Barbara
had recovered fIom the shock little, and
as Jane had retired she folded her nit
tened hands tightly together and turned
upon him Nephew john"
There was comical expression of de.
spair on the young fellows face at this
unpropitious beginning, but he said moth
ing. asa4
"Nephew John-T am disappointed in
you! am not angry, butrI am deeply
grieved-" r. na
"Why, Aunt Barby!n The blue eyes
of her listener opened wide, but she ST.
fenced him by stately gesture.
please be quiet, / wish to speak.
have done my duty by you, John," (there
was little tremble in her voice as said
this, but che went on grimly), "and now
that you were just coming to manhood
(John was twenty six), and had begun
to trust in you a little, you desert me now
for IA doll baby la Isl
"She is not a doll baby !" said the
young husband Indignantly eff you on
~ knew her you would love her dearly"
Nonsense !" the black eyes snapped
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 will never be
again to me as you were befora'
There was real distress In John Bar
toms heart as he rose and stood before
hed. eff you will only let me bring her
to see you," he pleaded. "Iam sorry you
are so displeased. Aunt Barby, dent let
this part US"
"You have chosen" The Sphinx could
not have looked more unmoved. 81 or
dered them not to admit you-you need
not come again"
eff you will only hear me"
"But won't-good afternoon" And
SO John Barton left her, with her facs
turned away from him and her hands
still clasped before her
Miss Barbara Snyder was proud, Miss
Barbara was wealthy, Miss Barbara Sny-
der was fond Of her own way, but she
was still woman and in her heart OF
hearts she loved John Barton, her hand
some nephew, dearly. His mother, her
only sister, had died when he was little
child, and his father dying soon after,
Miss Barbara had, after fashion, adopt.
ed him. She had INDUCED him from the
first day of his entrance into her house
she had watched over him and made him
her one object in life. He had been the
one CLEAN of sunshine in her lonely life,
and to his honor be it said, he had never
been unworthy of the love and confidence
which she gave to him. "Aunt Barby''
was To- him the only person in the world,
and although people marYeled at the af-
lection of the bright faced young fellow
for his grim old aunt, it was genuine and
true. He had gone through college in a
thoroughly satisfactory manner, and af-
terward had settled down into as steady
and trustworthy a young business man as
there was in the city, and for three years
had behaved entirely according to his
aunt's wish in every respect. MI.
One day, however, the peace and tran
guilty of Miss Barbara's household was
broken up by whisper which came to
her ears-John, her John, was "paying
attention" to somebody She was at first
incredulous, but as the days went by she
was forced to believe it; for one night,
John, sitting at her feet, with his yellow
hair shining in the freight, told her
with much confusion and embarrassment
that he ''was going 90 be married"
Miss Barbara was good woman, but
she was very whimsical, little selfish,
and, above all, very jealous Of her own
dignity, and thefknowledge that j Ohm
had asserted his Independence and actu
ally planned out his future life without
consulting her beforehand, was very
hard thing for her to bear. She was not
patient nor forgiying, and the result OF
Johns condolences was q very unpleasant