Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-06-20
JOHNS WIFE.

straight-backed chair before the fire,
her feet on the fender her head droop-
ing,s her eyes closed-to- tell the truth,
although she would have indignantly
denied it, Miss Barbara Snyder was
asleep. Her maid, hard. featured.
middie-aged woman, was moving about
the room, "putting it in order" as she
did fifty times day, at her mistress's
command, and watching her furtively
to see that she did not fall into the fire.
'Jane," said Miss Barbara, suddenly
waking and sitting bolt upright with
unblinking eyes, "if he comes-ana I
am sure he will-tlo not let him come
in"
No ma'am, answered Jane submis-
sively.
''Tell him he has seen me for the
last time-the hypocrite Ito pretend
always to be SO fond of me, and then 20
and marry some empty. headed doll
baby; Be sure and send him away
Jane"
Yes, ma'am."
A sudden commotion in the lower
hall interrupted them; few bars of q
popular air whistled in a masterly
manner, q rapid clatter of boot heels
the stairs, and then young gentleman.
who might have sat as model for q
modern Hercules, rushing IN and fall
ing over on IN ottoman, upsetting a
chair and making "confusion worse
confounded" in the quiet room, dashed
at Miss Barbara and took her by storm.
Congratulate me2" he cried. after
imprint,ng hah-dozen kisses on her
withered cheek. "Aunt Barby. she is
the dearest"
"You may go, Jane" Miss Bar
bara had recovered from the shock a
little, and as Jane had retired she fold
ed her mittened hands tightly together
and turned upon him "Nephew John. "
| There was comical expression of
despair on the young fellows face at
this unpropitious beginning, but he
said nothing.
"Nephew John-I am disappointed
in you! l am not angry, but 1 am
deeply grieved-"
"Why Aunt Barby!" The blue
eyes OF her listener opened wide, but
she silenced him by a stately gesture.
please be quiet-I wish to speak.
l have done my duty by you, john
(there was little tremble in her voice
as she said this, but she went on grim
ly), "and now that you were lust com
ing to manhood John was twenty six),
and I had begun to trust in you a lit
tie, you desert me now for ia doll
baby"
"She is not doll.baby!" said the
young husband Indignantly. "If Won
only knew her you would love her
dearly"
Nonsense!" the black ewes snap.
ped decidedly. ''All girls are fools
now-a 'days-but no matter, you have
chosen between us. Ny will is made,
and shall not change it, but you will
never be again to me as you were be-
FORE"
There was real distress in John
Barton's heart AZ he rose and stood be.
fore her. eff you will only let me
bring ber to see you" he pleaded. ttI
am sorry you are so displeased. Aunt
Barby don't let this part us"
"You have chosen" The sphinx
could not have looked more unmoved.
" ordered them not to admit YOU
you need not come again."
"lf you will only hear me-"
But l won't-good afternoon. .
And so John Barton left her, with he,
=Eface turned away from him and he,
hands still c]asped before her.
Miss Barbara Snyder was proud, Miss
Barbara was wealthy, Miss Barbara
Snyder was fond Of her own way, but
she was still o woman and in her heart
Of hearts she loved John Barton. he,
handsome nephew, dearly. His moth.
er, her only sister, had died when he
was little child, and his father DIVING
soon after, Miss Barbara had, in fash:
ion, adopted him. She had indulged
him from the first day of his entrance
into her house she had watched ove1
him and made him her one object il
life. He had been the one CLEAN o
sunshine in her lonely life, and to his
honor be it said, he had never been I'M
worthy of the love and confidence which
she gave to him. "Aunt Barby" wa.
to him the only person in the world
and although people marveled at the
affection of the bright. faced young fel
low for his grim old aunt, it was gen
uine and true. He had gone through
college i'll thoroughly satisfactory
manner, and afterward had settled
down into as steady and trustworthy .
young business man as there was in tn.
city, and for three years hud behaved
entirely according to his aunt's wish i,
every respect.
Zone day, however, the peace ani
tranquility Of Miss Barbara's house
hold was broken up by whisper which
, came to her ears-John, hcr John, W.,
"paylng attention" to somebody Sh'
, was at first incredulous, but m tn
: days went by she was forced to bcliey,
1T; for one night, John, sitting at he
i feet, with his yellow hair shining i
the freight, told her with much Con
fusion and embarrassment that l.
WAS going to be married."
Miss Barbara was good woman. In
she was very whimsical, l. little scltisl
and above all, very jealous of her ow
dignity, and the knowledge that Joh
), had asserted his independence On
actually planned out kis future lii