Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-19

selfish, that she needed trip South; be
cause he scrubbed until late at night, anG
; because he didn't scribble enough; be
cause he didn't make fortune, and be
cause he didn't lavish more on her
because she couldn't go to Washington
and because she did go to Washington
. but couldn't keep up with the Cabinet
ladies. But in all her wailing, it never
occurred to her wall that she was no fit-
ting wife for the proud and sensitive
young man, who had made such a good
fight for the position he could give her.
Neither did she lift up her voice and weep
because her disposition developed his
bile and made him desperate.
MiSfOrtunes gloomed around Tom His
paper changed hands, and instead of be-
| ing beckoned higher, he was put in a
more subordinate position. "Jovew NUT
tered Tom, This to the end of the chap
| ter?"
| "1 on don't seem to care what becomes
of your wife!" whimpered Ada
| Then he fell sick, and some clever fell
low stepped into even this lower
place. Tom was put to one make
shift and another Had a good
| berth half promised to him here,
| and brilliant prospects opened to
him there but when he put out his hand,
they weren't there. "Just my luck! he
fell into the habit of saying. He did the
meanest literary work, except toadying.
This he never was driven to, even by Ada's
vixenish fits. And they draggled from
one cheap boarding-place to another.
1om walked the streets towards sunset,
gaunt and weak, yet watching to meet
something" Tom was Imaginative; had
often enjoyed other peoples blessings by
MS very, sympathy with them. But sick
ness and Adas long attrition had blunted
THIS beautiful faculty So he didn't steal
much happiness as he went past, out of
rich mems houses In fact, he saw fine
gracious faces which hurt him. II won,
DER" thought Tom, eff some woman could
not nave endured what she has with me,
without making such a row about it?n
He paused on a bridge. The draw was
open While waiting for it to be closed,
he watched the slow, fascinating current
under him. He began recalling all the
suicides he had reported, and decided that
OF all the independent routes to the next
world, passage by water was the best
Soon under and soon hid" muttered
Tom. Friends haven't the trouble and
expense of funeral. If you are fished
out they can't recognize YOU
The draw was closed. People passed
over, but Tom fingered watching the
evening star skate across the water
81 suppose if | scramble hard, I can
get through life in a make-shift fashion;
but what's the use of making the effort?
1t might as well end now as ten or twenty
years hence, I'm a failure and a fool.
No Use being sentimental and saying I've
had drawbacks Most men have, but they
come out, while | go under Couldn't
have been put up right in the first place
Here's your choice: swing through the
air, a natural gasp or two hen maybe a
better chance at your next beginning, if
the Lords fair; or, a long crawl ahead,
broken backed snake fashion, and likely
as not missing heaven at last Ada1l be
comfOrted. She'll 90 home to her fathers
and carry black bordereI handkerchiefS
for year, and then she'll 90 the charm
ing widow to some fellow, as she did the
charming girl to me, and he'll begin to
pay her bills and get ready for eternitvw
Here dashed suddenly through his mem
DRY sarcastic paragraph he had once
written concerning a young man bent on
self-destruction, who rushed to the brink
of a bluff, cast one long, last look below,
and then-returned home.
''Jover' muttered Tom, before I'd
make up my mind and go back on my
word, I'd jump, out of selfrespect. Bet
ter not be much longer thinking about it."
He was seated on the edge of the bridge
He braced his hands firmly on each side
| of him, looked up at the fair twilight sky,
at the city beginning to twinkle with
lights, the smoke belching from tall chin
neys, people running like ants in the dis
lance