The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-08-14
JOHNS WIFE.

/, i Z - . .
Miss Barbara Snyder sat in her
straight-backed chair, before the fire,
her feet on the fender, her head in.
clined, her eyes closed-to tell the
truth, although she would have de-
MED it, Miss Barbara Snyder was
asleep. Her maid, hard-featured,
mmdle-aged woman, who was NOV
ing about the room, putting it In or
der, as she did fifty times a day, at
her mistress, command, and watch
ing her furtively to see that she did
not fall into the fire. satEsas l
"Jane," said Miss Barbara, sud.
denly waking and sitting bolt up.
right with unblinking eyes, ssif he
comes, and ! am sure he will, don't
let him in" A.i o
"No, ma'am," answered Jane SUBJ
missively. a.. w
"Tell him, he has seen me for the
last time, the hypocrite to pretend
always to be so fond Of me, and then
go and marry some empty-headed
doll-baby. Be sure and send him
him away Jane" sd
eyes, ma'am."
A sudden commetion in the lower
hall interrupted them few bars of
apopular air, whistled in masterly
manner, rapid clatter of boot heels
on the stairs, and then young gen.
tleman who might have sat for a
modern Hercules, rushed in, and
falling over an ottoman, upsetting
chair, and making confusion worse
cOnfounded in the quiet room, dash
ed at Miss Barbara and took her by
storm. ans.
"Congratulate me-" he cried after
imprinting half dozen kisses on
her withered cheek. Aunt Barby,
she is the dearest" faa Ias
"You may go, Jane" Miss Bar
by had recovered from ithe shock
little, and as Jane had retired, she
folded her mittened hands tightly to.
gether, and turned upon h,m.
"Nephew John" d. .ara
There was comical expression of
Despair on the young mans face at
this unpropitious beginning, but he
said nothing. Hsg
"Nephew John, l am disappointed
in you l am not angry, but l am
! deeply grieved-"
"Why, Aunt Barby !" The blue
eyes of her listener opened wide, but
she silenced him with a stately ges.
| ture. ~ ems
"Please be quiet-I wish to speak.
/ have done my duty to you, john"
(there was little tremble in her
voice as she said this, bat she went
on grimly,l and now you are just
coming to m anhood John was just
twenty .six) and / had begun to trust
in you little, and now, you desert
me for doll. baby" OH 90
"She is not a doll-baby l" said
the young husband Indignantly. "Jf
you only knew her you would love
her dearly"
! "Nonsense ;" the black eyes
snapped decidedly. Gall girls are
fools nowadays, but no matter, you
have chosen between US. My will is
made and l shall not change.it, but
you will never be again to me what
you were before" -
F There was real distress in John
| Barton's heart as he rose and stood
up before her.
| "If you will only let me bring her
here to you," he pleaded 81 am
sorry you are so displeased. Aunt
Barby don't let this part u.s.
"You have chosen" The Sphynx
could not have looked more unmov-
ed. 81 ordered them not to admit
you-you need not come again."
off you will only hear me"
"But won't-good afternoon"
| 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 Snyder was wealthy.
Miss Barbara Snyder was fond of her
own way, but she was still a woman,
aud in her heart of hearts she loved
/ John Barton, her handsome nephew
dearly. His mother, her only sister,
had died when he was little child,
and his father dying soon after, Miss
Barbara had in a fashion adopted
him. She had indulged him from
the first day O., his entrance in her
house she had watched over him
and made him her one object in life.
He had been the gleam of sur shine
in her life, and to his honor be it said,
he had never bean unworthy of her
love and confidence which she gave
him. "Aunty Rarby" was to him
the only person in the world, and al.
though the people marveled at the
affection Of the bright-faced young
man for his grim old aunt, it was
genuine and true. He had gone
through college in thoroughly sat.
istaotory manner, and afterward had
settled down into as steady and
trust worthy young business man az
there was in the city /; and for three
years had behaved entirely accord
ing to his aunt's wish in every re.
spect.
! One day, however, the peace and
tranquility of Miss Barbara's house.
hold was broken up by a whisper
which came to her ears-John, her
John, W as "psying attention to some.
body She was at first lncredulous,
but as days went on she was forced
to believe it; for one night, John
! sitting at her feet, his yellow hail
shining in the freight, told hel
with much confusion and embarrss
ment that che was going to get mar
ried." 50 8.
Miss barbara was good woman
but she was very whimsical, little
selfish, and above all, very jealous
: of her own dignity, and the knowl
edge that John had asserted his in
| dependence and actually planned
t out his future without consulting hel
beforehand was very hard thine
for her to bear. She was not patien
or forgiving, and the result of John'l
confidence was very unpleasan
+. scene. She who had never epokeI
9 harshly to him before overwhelmed
him with hard, bitter words, anG
! when he was gone, wept herself t
sleep over his "ingratitude," as sh,
> called it. 1ssa = A.sAss '@s
Al When at last he was, really mar
ried, her anger knew bounds
r and his Erst viait attar that avon