Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-01-28

her wants were large. She wasn't an in
tellectual woman; no blue was Ada, but
she made Tom blue. -.
You want your wife tt, adapt herself
to your 'needs-to be your child, friend,
sister, mother. What would you do
with woman forever pulling back
from your leading hand, with about
as much insight of your love as lap
dog in ribbons? Why does the manu-
facture of women without souls go on,
I know not, unless it be because there
is demand for them among the unsup-
piled. .. -..t...., liz, .s3ar,..s s.oss
Ada's spirit lay bleeding ever. Be
cause her dress wasn't hounced like
Mrs. Browns, or was hounced like
Mrs. Smith because Toms paper
sent him North, when he could see, if
he were not utterly selfish, that she
needed trip south because he scrib-
bled until late at night; and because
he didn't scr1bble enough; because he
didn't make fortune and because he
/ didn't lavish more on her; because she
couldn't go to Washington, and be-
cause she did go to Washington, but
, couldn't keep up with the Cabinet
/ ladies. -..g ........, .e5.... s.al
But in all her wailing, it never oc-
Cured to her to vail that she was no
fitting wife for the proud and sensitive
young man, who had such good fight
for the position he gave her. Neither
did she lift her voice and weepbecause
her disposition developed his bile and
made him desperate.
Misfortune gloomed around Tom.
His paper changed hands, and instead
of being beckoned higher he was put
in more subordinate place. 9, Jove -
muttered Tom, 'This to the end Of
the chapter?" 100
You don't seem to care what be-
comes of your wife - whimpered Ada.
Then he fell sick, and some, clever
fellow stepped into even this lower
place. f. ..rHfa.-.. u" il 81" OF
| Tom was put to one make-shift and
another. Had a good berth half prom
1sed him here, and Brilliant prospects
opened to him there; but when he put
out his hand they weren't there. @E
"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 dragged from
one cheap clearinghouse to another.
Tom walked the streets gaunt and
weak, yet watching to "meet some
thingn Tom was imaginative; he had
often enjoyed other peoples blessings
by bis very sympathy with them. But
sickness 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 81 WONDER" said Tom, " if some
woman couldn't have endured what she
has with me without making such row
| about it ~ ID ID as-a soa--a- st} aosa9s -
He paused on bridge. :. The, draw
was open. While waiting for it to be
closed he " atched the slow, fascinat-
ing current beneath him. He began
recalling all the suicides he had report
ed, and decided that Of all the indie
pendent routes to the next world pas
sage by water was the best. s'Soon
under and soon hld,," muttered Tom.
Friends haven't the trouble and ex-
I out they can't recognize you"
The draw was closed. People passed
4 over, but Tom fingered and watched
the evening star skip across the water.
! 81 suppose if [ scram BILE hard Z can
get through life in d make shaft
fashion but what's the use In making
the effort? It might as we'll end now as
ten or twelve years hence. I'm a
failure and a fool. No use of being
sentimental and saying I've had draw
backs. Most men have, but they come
out, while [ go under. [ couldn' have
been put up right IN the first place.
Here's your choice; swim through
the air, a natural gasp or two, then may
be o better chance at the next begin
! ming, If the Lord S fair or long era vi
] ahead, broken-backed snake fashion,
as zlkeIy as not missing heaven at last
Ada'H be com orted. She'll go home
to her fathers and carry a black
bordered handkerchief for year, and
then she'll do the charming widow to
some fellow, as she did the Charming
girl to me, and he'll begin to pay her
pills and get ready for eternity!''' -,
Here dashed through his memory a
sarcastic paragraph ne had once written
on young man bent on self destruc-
ton, who rushed to the brink of d bluff,
cast one long look below, and then-re.
turned home. "'~
glove - muttered Tom, 'tbefore I'd
make up my mind and then go back on
my word, I'd jump out of self-respect.
Better not be much longer thinking
about it, either" --
/ He was seated on the edge of the
bridge. He 7braced his hands firmly
on each side of him, looked at the fair
twilight sky, at the city beginning to
4 twinkle. with lights, at the smoke belch.
ing from tall chimneys, and people
running like ants in the distance 81
GO That consecrated cross I'll bear,
! Till death shall set me free; -
Il And then 60 home my cross to wear
| For there's crown for me-" .ueE a-
Now here happened a diversion
which proves the ruling passion, strong
in death. Tom, quick with reporters
instinct, as in his balmiest days, turned
bic baa1 an1 sow q ctroaf aoob O,