Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-01-10
NOBODY BUT JOHN.


my ears, and / looked at Maggie's
soiled, untidy dress and tumbled hair.
Maggie started and glanced hastily
from the window; then sat down
again in careless way, remarking as
she did SO:
It's nobody but John
Nobody but John! And who do
you think that nobody was? Only
her husband.
Nobody but John.
A few moments afterwards John
Fairburn came into the room where
we were sitting and gave me one of
his frank, cordial greetings. / had
known him for many years, and long
before his marriage. | had noticed
that be gave an annoyed glance at his
wife but did not speak to her. The
meaning of his annoyance and indif-
ference was plain to me; for John had
come of neat and tidy family. His
mothers house keeping had always
been notable. She was poor; as time
and water are to be had tor nothing
this was one of her sayings---she al
ways managed to have things about
clean and orderly.
Maggie Lee had a pretty face,
bright eyes and charming little ways
that were very taking with the young
men, and so was quite belle before
she got out of her teens. She had
knack of fixing her ribbons, or tying
her scarf, or arranging her hair, shawl
or dress in way to give grace and
charm to her person. None but her
most intimate friends knew of her un-
tidyness that pervaded room and per-
son at home and away from common
observation.
Poor John Fairburn was taken in
when he married Maggy Lee. He
thought that he was getting the tidi-
est, neatest, sweetest and most order
ly girl in town, but discovered too
soon that he was united to careless
slattern. She would dress for other
peple's eyes, because she had natur-
al love of admiration ; but at home
and for her husband she put on her
old buds, and went, looking often like
'the old scratch as the saying is.
On the particular occasion of which
| am speaking-it was after she and
John had been married over a year
her appearance was almost disgusting.
She did not have on even a morning
dress only faded and tumbled
chintz sack above a skirt-no collar
slippers down on heels, and dirty
stockings. Her hair looked like hur-
rah's nest, if anybody knows what
that isl don't; but | suppose it is
the perfection of disorder. No one
could love such a looking creature.
That YVES simply impossible.
Nobody but john / looked at the
bright, handsome young man and
wondered. He ate his dinner almost
in silence, and then went back TO his
work. | had never seen him look so
moody.
what's come over John? / asked
as he went out.
'Oh, don't know his wife ans
wered. Something wrong at the chop
| suppose. He's had trouble with one
Of the men. He's foreman, you know
'Are you sure it's only that? /
asked, looking seriously.
That or something about his work.
There's nothing else to worry him.
| was silent for a while debating
with myself whether good or harm
could come of little plain talk with
Johns wife. She was rather quick
tempered, l knew and easy to take of
tense. AT last ventured to remark /:
May be things are not just to his
liking at home
'At home!' Maggy turned on me
with flash of surprise in her face.
What do you mean p
.Men like beauty, taste and neat
ness in their wives as well as in their
sweethearts,' l said.
The crimson mounted to her hair.
AT the same moment | saw her glance
at the looking glass that hung oppo-
site her on the wall. She sat very
still, yet with startled look in her
eyes until the flash faded and her face
became almost pale.
Maggie said I,rising and drawing
my arm around her, come up stairs,
l have something very serious to say
to YOU
We walked up from the little din
ing-room and up to her chamber in
sileuca than said.
Maggie, l want to tell you about a
dear friend of mine who made ship
wreck of happiness and life. 1t is a
sad story, but am sure it will inter-
est you deeply. She was my cousin ;
and her name was
Maggie bent forward, and listened
attentively. what p she asked, as
hesitated on the name.
Helen
Not Helen White, who married
John Harding, and was afterward de-
serted by her husband p
yes; my poor, dear cousin, Helen.
1t is of her | am going to tell YOU
Il 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 p
Both were TO blame, but she most,
l replied. 'John Harding, like your
husband, was one of the neatest and
most orderly of men. Anything UNI
tidy in his home or in the person OF
his wife, annoyed and often put him
out of humor; but he did not, as h~
should have done, speak nle;aiy 20 ms
wife and let her SEQ exactly how he
felt and in what he should like a
change. If he had done so, Helen
would have .rfed-as every good wife
shoula-to conform herself more 10
AIS taste and wishes. But he was 8
silent, moody sort of man when
things did not go just to suit him;
and, instead of speaking out plainly,
brooded over Helen's faults, and wor.
ried himself into ill-humor. And
what was worse than all, grew at
length indifferent to his home and
wife, and sought pleasanter surround
ings and more attractive company
abroad.
Every man thus estranged from his
hap,a - -, Iooror apJ uc~I:u