Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-06-12

made Tom blue You want your wife tf
aaapt herself to your needs-to be youl
child, friend, sister, mother. What woulC
you do with a woman forever pullins
back from your leading hand, with abou
as much insight of you and your love as
lap-dog in ribbons? Why the manufac
| ture Of women without souls goes on,
know no., unless it be because there is
demand for them among the alnsupplied
| Ada's spirit lay bleeding ever. Be
| cause her dress wasn't founced like Mrs
! Smiths or was founced like Mrs Browns
because Toms paper sent him North
when he could see, if he were not utterly
selfish, that she needed trip South; be
| cause he scribbled until late at night, and
because he didn't scribble enough; be
| cause he didn't make a fortune, and be
cause he didn't lavish more on her
because she couldn't 90 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 10 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
Misfortunes gloomed around Tom His
paper changed hands, and instead of be
ing beckoned higher, he was put in q
tered Tom, This to the end of the chap
ter?"
you don't seem to care what becomes
Of your wifem whimpered Ada
Then he fell sick, and some clever fel
place. Tom was put to one make
shift and another. Had good
berth half promised to him here
and brilliant prospects opened tc
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
Tom walked the streets towards sunset,
gaunt and weak, yet watching to meet
something" Tom was imaginative; had
often enjoyed other peoples blessings by
his very sympathy with them. But sick
ness and Ada's 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. Il won
der,' thought Tom, ''if some woman could
not have endured what she has with me,
without making such row about it?'
He paused on 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
lom. FRIENDS haven't the trouble and
expense of a 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.
Il 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 ED now as ten or twenty
years hence I'm a failure and a fool
No use being sentimental and saving 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: a swing through the
air, natural gasp or two, then maybe 81
better chance at your next beginning, if
the Lords fair; or, long crawl ahead,
broken-backed snake fashion, and likely
rs not missing heaven at last. Ada'll be
comforted. Shell go home to her fathers
and carry black k-bordered handkerchiefs
for year, and then she'll do the charm
ing widow to some fellow, as she did the
charming girl to me, and he'U begin to
pay her bills and get ready for eternitym
Here dashed suddenly through his mem
ory sarcastic paragraph he had once
written concerning young man bent on
selt-destruction, who rushed to the brink
OF blut, 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 ofthe bridge
He braced his hands firmly on each side
of him, looked up at the fair twilight sky,
st the city beginning to twinkle with
lights, the smoke belching from tall chin
neys, people running like ants in the dis
tanCe-
Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all The world go free,
No; there's cross for every one,
And there's cross for mel"
Now there happened a diversion which
proves the ruling passion strong in death
Tom, quick with reporters instinct, as in
his palmiest days, turned his head and
saw a street-preacher standing on cask.
not many rods away, trying to gather
sailors and wharfmen by his voice. 1t
was thrilling voice There was ring
of JOY and power in it. As a general
thing Tom had never ken stock in street
preachers. He had heard them rant TOO
often in the crazy reform STYLE
But this man drew his eyes and ears
while the river still held his thnn chts and