Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-07-31
JOHNS WIFE.

straight.baeked chair before the fire,
her feet on the fender, her head droop-
ing, her eyes closed-to tell the truth,
although she would have Indignantly
denied it, Miss Barbara Snyder was
asleep. Her maid, q Manufactured,
middle-aged woman, who was moving
about the room putting it in order, as
she did fifty times day, at her mis-
tress's command. watched her fursively
to see that she did not fall into the
FIRE.
"Jane," said Miss Barbara, sudden
~ waking and sitting bolt upright with
unb]inking eyes, '<If he comes-an3 I
am sure he will-don't let him in
"No, ma'am," answered Jane, sub
missively.
"Tell him he has seen me for the
last time, the hypocrite to pretend
always to be 80 fond OF me, and then
go and marry an empty. headed doll
Jane"
"Yes, ma'am."
A sudden commotion in the lower
hall interrupted them few bars of a
popular air, whistled in a masterly
manner, q rapid clatter of boot heels
on the stairs, and then a young gen.
tlemau, who might have sat as model
for modern Hercules, rushed in, and
falling over an ottoman. upsetting a
chair, and making confusion worse
confounded in the quiet room, dashed
ut Miss Barbara and took her by storm.
"Congratulate me! he cried. after
imprinting q half dozen kisses on her
withered cheek. "Aunt Barbara, she
is the dearest-''
"You may 60, Jane" Miss Barbara
had recovered from the shock little,
md as Jane had retired, she folded hel
mittened hands tightly together, and
turned upon him.
"Nephew John"
There was = comical expression oi
despair on the young fellows face at
this unpropitious beginning, but he
said nothing.
"Nephew John, I'm disappointed in
you! I am not angry, but I am deeply
"Why, Aunt Barbys" The blue
eyes of her listener opened wide, but
she silenced him with a stately gesture.
"Please be quiet-I wish to speak.
have done my duty to you, John
(there was little tremble in her voice
a. she said this, but she went on
grimly), and now you are just coming
to manhood John was twenty-six), and
I lad just begun to trust in you a
little, and now you desert me for doll
baby"
"She is not doll-baby |" said the
young husband, Indignantly. "If you
only knew her you would love he1
dearly"
"Nonsense I" the black eyes snapped
decidedly. "All girls are fools nova.
days but no matter, you have chosen
between us. Ny will Is made, and I
will not change it, but you viii never
be again to me what you were before. ~
There was real distress in John
Baritone heart as he rose and stood be-
fore her.
IF You only let mo bring her here
to you," he pleaded: II am sorry
You are 80 displeased. Aunt Barby,
don't let this part u.s."
You have chosen" The Sphynx
could not have looked more unmoved,
II ordered them not to admit you
you need not come again."
"If you will only hear me-
"But / won't! good afternoon y
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 he,
own way. But she was still woman,
and in her heart of hearts she loved
John Barton, her handsome nephew.
dearly: His mother, her only sister
had died when he was a little child
and his father dying soon after, Miss
Barbara had, in a fashion, adopted
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 beer
the CLEAN of sunshine in her life
and to his honor be it said, he haf
never been unworthy of the love ant
confidence which she gave him. "Aun
Barby " was to him the only person i,
the world, and although people mar
yelled at the affection of the brigh
faced young man for his grim old Aunt
it was genuine and true. He had gon,
through college in a thoroughly salts
factory manner, and afterwards haC
settled down into as steady and trust
worthy young business man as ther,
was in the city, and for thre years hat
behaved entirely according to hi,
Aunt's wish in every respect.
Ono day, however, the peace ant
tranquility OF Miss Barbara's house
hold we're broken up by rumor hicl
came to her ears-John, he:' John. wa
paying attention to somebody Sb,
was at first incredulous, but as the dav
went by she was forced to believe it
for one night John, sitting at her feet
bis yellow hair shining in the freight
told her with much confusion and EN-
barrassment that "he was going to b
married."
Miss Barbara was a good woman, bu
she was very whimsical, little selfisl,
and above all, very jealous of her ow,
dignity, and the knowledge that job,
had asserted his own independence
and actually planned out his fntur
without consulting her beforehand, wa
hard thing for her to bear. She wa
not patient nor foreiving, and the re
snlt of Johns confidence was q yer,
unpleasant scene. She who had neve
)spokea harsAly to him before, over