River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-05
JOHNS WIFE.

Miss Barbara Snyder sat in her
stralg ht.backed 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, hard. featured,
middle-aged woman, who was moving
about the room putting il in order, as
she did fifty times day, at her mis-
tress's command, watched her furtiveIy
to SEQ that she did not fall into the
fire.
Jane, said Miss Barbara, sudden
~ waking and sitting bolt upright with
unblinking eyes, eff he comes-ana /
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 SO fond OF me. AMI then
90 and marry an empty headed doll
baby BE sure and send him away.
Jane
. Yes. ma'am.
A sudden cammotion in the lower
hall interrupted them a few bars of a
popular air, whistled i'm mastery
manner, rapid chatter of boot heels
on the stairs, and then young gen
tleman, who might have sat ms a model
for modern Hercules, rushed in, and
s,IIng over an ottoman, upsetting a
ch~ir, aud making confusion worse
confounded in the quiet room, dashed
ut Miss Barbara and took her by storm.
Congratulate me = he cried, after
lmprlntlng a half dozen kisses on her
wlthered cheek. Aunt Barbara, she
rs the dearest"
+" You may go, Jane" Miss Barbara
had recovered from the shock a little.
and ~ Jane had retired, she folded her
mlttcned hands tightly together, and
turned upon him
4" Nephew John.
There was a comical expression OF
despair on the young fellows face al
tins uupropltious beginning, but he
sud nothing.
" Ncpb w John, Im disappointed in
you | am not angry, but / am deeply
grieyed 1870
Why, Aunt Barby 4" The blue
eyes Of her listener opened wide, but
she silenced him with stately gesture
" Please be quiet-I wish TO speak.
| have done my duty to you, John
(thcre was a little tremble in her voice
as she said this, but she went on
grimly), and now you are Just coming
to manhood John was twenty-sixl. and
| had just begun 20 trust in you q
little, aud 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 her
dearly.
NONSENSE" the black eyes snapped
decidedly "All girls are fools now-a-
days but no matter, you have chosen
between us My will is made, aud |
will not change it, but you will never
be again 90 me what YOU were before. :"
There was real distress in John
Barton's 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 So displeased. Aunt Barby.
don't let this part MS
You have chosen. The Sphynx
could not have looked more unmoyed.
- ordered them not 10 admit YOU
y1n need not come again.
" You will only hear me-"
But ! won't good afternoon.
And 50 John Barton left her, with
her fac turned away from him
aud her hands still clasped before her.
Miss barbara Snyder was proud.
Miss Barbara Snyder was wealthy
Miss Barbara SNYDER was fond az her
own way. But she was still n woman.
amt ~ her heart of hearts she Lowell
John Barton, her handsome nephew
dearly. His mother. her only sister
had died when he was little child,
and ms father dying soon after. Miss
barbara had, ia fashion. adopted
MN, She had INDUCED him from the
hfst day Of his entrance into her house.
she had watched over HIM and made
HIM her one ohiecti IN life. lie had been
the CLEAN of sunshine in her life
amt 60 his honor he il said. ha hal
never been unworthy OF the love anil
confidence which she gave him. aunt
biarhy was to him the Only person in
the world. aud although people mar.
yelled NJ the affection Of the bright
laced Young man for his grim old Aunt.
II was genuine and true. He had gone
through college IN thoroughly salts