The Russellville Democrat., 1880-01-01
STEPHEN GRAY's WIFE.
BY K. L. TURNER.

BY K. L. TURNER.
 1 q "Yes, mother; that is one thing I am 1 quite certain about. When 1 marry, am not going to choose one of those
 pretty little dolls who cry for everything they want, and care for nothing but
 dressing and adorning themselves the whole day long. My wife must be q good, well-behaved, modest girl, who'll
 be content with one good, warm gown | for winter and a couple of calico ones for
 summer. And she must stay at home,
 minding her own business, looking after the work of the house, and not go gad-
 ding after her neighbors. Then she must hayeeducation enough to be able
 to sit down of an evening and read the newspaper, and talk it over with me, and to understand the kind of books I i like to read from the library. But for all that she must not be too learned, for then she would surely be one of the
 strong-minded sort, and be turning the ] house out of windows with her ideas of woman's rights. and all such trash; and as for looks, don't care if she's as home f ly as asquawp M f
 So spoke Stephen Gray, winding up a
 talk he and his mother had been having on Mrs. Stowe's book, Pink aud White i Tyranny. Mrs. drsy had beguiled him 1 into reading it, although he generally
 abhorred works of fiction, because she 1 was always afraid of his bringing home a little, frivolous doll of q wife. and
 wished him to take warning by "John's"
 example. But Stephen considerof this
 part of his mother, haSing already form
 ed his opinion of a isel on m uncfianee-
 able model, albeit it was purely ideal.
 HThis kind of wife sshallit beornone,' said this young sage -and so farshe had
 seen no girl approaching his paragon of excellence. eg
 However, there seemed to be no neces-
 sity for him to be in 2 hurry to marry.
 His mother lived with him, and. with the help of stout servant girl, kept
 everything in the house in the perfec- tion of order, and there was. no such word as failure known in the culinary department. In fact, there were few houses more comfortable in Sharklin than that of the Grays, although stephen
 was only a carpenter by trade. He l mght, have been book keeper to his l uncle, in the city, but he loved the coun- try and independence better than the 1 possible chance of riches i'll -sthe4 city. l Even his mother, whose ambition had
 been little wounded at first Lat his
 choice, was satisaed now, for Shanklin
 was thriving town, and growing fast,
 and he employed number of men, So
 he was well able to marry f.he chose to
 do SO. -5ssaaf,5 s.s ls.4as.s ..fsa II But it was all in vain that the girls in' \ vited him to their parties, made eyes, bestowed their sweetest smiles On him H when they met him on the street or tl called diligently on his mother. He was I proofagainst their wiles and they were N at last obliged to give up in despair, and I confess that, although only twoliand d thirty years of age, ste wasa confirmed N old bachelor. saf 7e{ r .sfinssa | Mrs. Gray had one ether child, a f daughter, who was married, and lived in \ Vermont, and soon after Stephen had so d plainly spoken his views on the matri- x monial question she was sent for togmake A her visit. Of course the house seemed
 very lonely to Stephen when his mother was gone. and, although Biddy was too
 well trained to neglect her duties, yet
 there was somethingi wanting in the
 household arrangements all the time, which made him hail with delight the
 news that, after a three weeks absence
 she was coming home. lA sAS
 "And,p wrote the old lady, II am go
 ing to bring with mo, just for company
 during the winter, young grl, whose \ -acquaintance have lately made, and oi
 whom think very highly. Her father
 is poor, but has given his daughter the
 best kind oflinheritanee, q weii-stored , mind" --- "Ah, mother thinks she has found { wife for me-" thought stephen, smiling , as he read the letter, land so maybe she , has. She understands my wishes pretty
 we'll" And he looked forward with {
 great deal of interest to the next morn ) A little before train-time he dressed himself with unusual care, unable to re , strain a thought, as he studied his tall broad form, his brown curly hair, hi, l ruddy compiexion and honest gray eye' f in the glass, that he was really not { , bad-looking fellow, and must not be teS
 ready to give himself away in matri , mony
 He went up to the depot in good tim, ? to meet the train, and as his mother looked proudly happy to sec him waiting
 on the platform, saluting him with ,
 hearty smack. She was followed by
 girl of medium height. and somewha sturdy build, with complexion of 1 a pinkiSh shade or ufaD, nur OI slnu, | color, neatly braided, and light biue- eyes !, with no perceptible eyebrows. He dress was of some woolen material, of { Q drab color, too nearly approaching th' ' tint of her face to be becoming, and sh' ' wore black cape and 4 brown straw 7, hat, trimmed with brown ribbon. N bright ribbon or necktie,to set of he , quiet dress, or attract the eye; all wa i perfect simplicity.
 z "This is Miss Annie Barlowe," sai' 7, Mrs. G1ay; land this, my dear, is m, |, son stephen"
 . Miss Annie hlushcd up to the roots Q n her hair (which was saying good dea Y for her forehead looked so high it al ' peared to occupy half her facel, an could find nothing to say, as she stiffl J, acknowled Stephens bow, and the thre V walked along in silence toward tll T. house, only broken when stephen dis
 covered that the young lady was drag q ging along a clumsy carpet-bag. whic l. She was endeavoring, meanwhile, t e screen from observation behind he a dress. Of course he immediately ofiere
 to relieve her of its burden, whereupo