Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-02-24
MY OWN STORY.


s.Iust a twelve-mOnth. and now I've
oot hahv as well as wife Oh, Jennie,
S;rl;e I'm the happiest man alive. Come
here and kiss me before I go. and tell
me- what you would like me to give you
ON the anniversary of our wedding day."
"What's the use, John?" I said, as
received his kiss. "You know we haven't
an extra shilling to spare"
lieve as the children do. What would
you like to have. provided you could
have it? Speak out, grille"
laughed, and fell to thinking.
"Let me see. There's so many tnings
l want, John. it's hard to decide; out i
think I'll take that pattern OF brown SILK
that we looked at down at Wilson'S Tue
other day."
aAll right, and what for babyg"
~Oh, a christening robe, OF course.
NV husbands brown eyes danced. ;.
"Poor Jennie," he said, I'm afrald
You'll not get 'em. unless we keep up on,
game of make-believe. By-py, take goou
care sof Blossom" And with announcer
kiss for us both he was gone.
/ got Eaby to sleep, ana leu 70 wo.n
cleaning my kitchen ami baking Iarls'
We could not afford to keep sSrvan !,
Johns wages being small, ana l nau az
the homework on my hands put oto
not mind it at all. l loved my huspanu
and he loved me, and q happier coupie
did not live.
In the midst of my busy work, In comes
Miss Dorcas Dent, an old friend OF my
mother's. An old maid, too, was MISS
DOrcas, great scOffer at malrinnohy anu
$50 vou're hard at it, Jennie" sne saiu'
sitting down and throwing back her Don-
NET strings, "a-drudging yourseu 10
death. and that child on your hands, TOO !!
Such a trim. handsome lass as you useu
m no. and look ut We now! A poor, Tag
.rod slatteru, What fool We was TO
marry. Jennie. Weren't ye. now :!
aNo' indeed, Miss Dorcas; I'd DO the
same thing over again tomorrow.
ePahi Such simpletons rs you lasses
are! Well, you'll open your eyes TO the
truth soon enough. A-worKing your
hands to the bone and spelling. your
good looks, as if any man that hau oreatn
sSss worth il. | say, why don't John
keep you hired girl!
ale can't afford it, Miss Dorcas.
~C,n'r he? Maybe not Has to squan-
der too much on his own pleasures, uoes
he?" ..a;u,nt,v
mo. indeed answered, Indignantly
SJohn never squanGers penny,
Miss Dorcas shook her ample SIDES
with sarcastic laughter. -,
.Never squanders penny she re
heated. And never stays out hlynI'
either, and goes gallivanting round en'
town with other women. and We a-sittins
mt home a-darning his stockings! Don
tell me about 'em, Jennle-these soo'
busban,ls-I know 'em. haven't 90
two ewes for nothing. Didn't see Johh
only night afore last, a-walkiDg dow
town, and another woman beside MN
.John,- 1 gasped-"my John! VI
you must be mistaken.
81 never mistake. Twas your JOnn.
"And who was the woman =
..Can't tell. Didn't see her face.
When John came home TO supper de
termined TO ask him; but a feellng o
shame kept me silent while we were a
table. and tn. minute he was done h'
arose and took down his hat.
"Why, john" asked, "are You COINS
out again? And it is raining, too"
$50 it is; but l must go to-nign1' Jeh
ME-"
.What for, John -
His ewes fell, and he turned from me IL
evident confusion.
"Well-you see-dont ask me, Jennie
I've promised to go, that's all; but shan
have to 90 again. maybe
Nv foolish, jealous heart rose In my
throat, and stood hurt and silent.
John kissed me, and kissed baby In he
crib. Then. he took OFF his cOaG ant
threw it on a chair.
aft Won don't feel too tired, little wife
you might fasten in that sleeve Inning
i'll wear my thick coat Tonight"
He was gone, and after clearing ava.
our small table sat down to think, AM
soon made myself miserable enough. A
last thought of Johns coat, and picked
il ND to mend it. 1t was his best coal
which he had only taken for commo
wear few days before. Brushing OIL tn
dust. heard the rustic OF paper III To
breast-pOcket.
Is there wife loyal enough, unfeminir
enough, to refrain from prylng lnto Go
secrets of her husbands pockets VINE
she has chance!
drew the rustling paper fortn. LII wa
note-a dainty, three-cornereu aiial
with a rosebud on the broken scar.
looked at the direction, "John Dahto!i
nv own nuSOanuS lldnCs "AA' - 49,
feminine characters.
A sharp pang pierced my heart, mi
dimmed my eyes. what woman was Ill
who dared to write to my nusoahu
must know. l had right to know.
tore open the tiny sheet.
MY DEAREST JOHS-DO not fan TO come u
night. i am alone, and shall look for you
/ could not read another word.
blindness like that of death filmed IN
ewes, faint, horrible sickness crept owe
me. Miss Dorcas had told me the trutl
John was untrue to me. And L ha
loved him so!
/ crushed the fatal note into my pool
ct. and caught up my cloak and hat.
aCome baby" / sObbed, driven out {
INV senses for the minute by my terrib
main. sswe will go. When he comes b
shall find US gone"
gathered up the little one, and wraI
nod her in heavy shawl; then we le
emr cheerful fireside, and set fort
through the pelting rain.
sWhv. what in the name OF wondt
has brought you out Tonight" erie
nav father. when we entered the sittin
room. .And you've brought the chill
too! What's out ?"
I shrank down beside my mother, an
began to sob out my fnisery,my head vi
on her breast. :,
"John untrue ?n repeated father. -
that what you're driving at? On, Dos
Jennie! You're jealous, that's all.
don't believe word OF it. A trucr, De
ter man than John don't breathe"
drew forth the crumpled note, an
held it toward him.
"He's gone every night" l sobDed
"and-and found that in his pocket"
Father pulled his spectacles over d
nose, and opened the note. A minut
perhaps, he peered at it curiously, an
then ne exploded with laughter.