Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1877-12-21

the flash faded, and her face became NJ
most pale.
Maggy," said |, rising and drawing
my arm around her, come up stairs,
| have something very serious to say
to YOU
We walked up from the little dining
room and up to her chamber in silence.
then said
Maggy, want to tell about dear
friend of minc who made shipwreck Of
happiness and life. 1t is n sad story,
but am sure it will interest YOU deep
ly. She was my cousin and her name
| was
Maggy bent forward, and listened at-
tentively. "What?' she asked, rs |
hesitated on the name
/" Helen
Not Helen White, who married John
Harding, and was afterward deserted 10y
her husband?"
Yes; my poor, dear cousin Helen.
1t is of her | am going to tell you.
| never knew why her husband
went off as he did, said Maggy "Some
said he was to blame and some put all
the fault on her. How was it?"
Both were to blame, but she most. "
replied. John Harding, like your
husband, was one of the neatcst and
most orderly Of mon. Anything I'M
tidy in his homo or i'll the person of his
wife, annoyed and often put him ont of
humor; but he did not is he should
have done, speak plainly to his wife and
let her see exactly how he felt, and III
what he should like u change. If lie
had done 50, Hclen would have tried
us every good wife should-to conform
herself more to his taste and wishes.
But he was Il silent, moody sort of Il
man when things did not go just to suit
him; and, instead Of speaking out plain
ly, brooded over Helen's faults, and
worried himself into ill-humor. And
what was worse than all, grew ut length
indifferent to his home and wife, and
sought plcasanter surroundings and
more attractive company abroad.
Every man thus cstranged from his
home is in danger, and Harding was no
exception to the rule. Temptation lay
about his feet, and that commonest
temptation Of ali, the elegantly tittcd up
billiard and drinking saloon.
They had been married lust about
as long rs you and John have been
when the sad catastrophe of their lives
took place | had called to spend the
day with Helen, and found her in her
usual condition Of untidyness and dis
order. When her husband came home
ut dinner time, noticed with painful
concern that lie had been drinking
not very freely, but Just enough to show
itself in captious il-humor. Helen had
not dressed for dinner, but presented
herself ut the table without even Il clean
collar, and with an old faded shawl
drawn about her shoulders. She looked
anything but attractive.
saw her husbands eyes glance
toward her across the table with an OK
preston that chilled me. 1t was II hard,
angry, determined expression. lie was
scarcely civil to me, and snapped his
wife sharply two or three times during
the meal At the close, he left the table
without word, and went upstairs.
What's the matter with Johng |
asked
- Dear alone knows replied Helen.
He's been acting queer for good
while. ] can't imagine what's come
over him.
- Does he come home in this way
often?' asked
s. Yes he's moody and disagreeable
most Of the time. I'm getting dread
fully worried about it,
:" AS We talked we heard John moving
about with heavy footballs in the rooms
above. Presently he came down. and
stood for u little while i'll the hall at the
foot Of the stairs as # III hesitation.
Then he went to the street door, passed
out, and shut it hard after him.
Helen caught her breath with il start
and turned little pale
What's the natter asked, Sec
ing the strangcness Of her look.
s. don't know, she replied in
choking voice, laying her hand at the
same time on her breast, but feel as
if something dreadful were going to
happen.
She got up from the table, and
drew my arm around her too felt
sudden depression Of spirits. We
went slowly up to her chamber, where
we spent the afternoon; and took up
on myself the Office ofa friend, and talk
ed seriously 20 my cousin about her
neglect Of personal neatncss, limiting
that her husbands estrangement from
his home, and altered manner toward,
herself, might all spring from this cause
She was a little angry ut me AZ first, but
pressed the subject home with ten
der seriousness that did the work Of
conviction; and as evening drew on.she
Dire ed with care and neatness, with
fresh ribbon tied III lie hair. and color
a little raised by mental excitement
size locke charming and loyable L