Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-07-23

me, and you were not II the reception,
Why i'll the world didn't YOU come"
Well, really, Mrs. WiekiflG, To tell
The truth | had nothing suitable Il
wear,
Mrs. Wioklitie stared
Why my dear, where is your Navy
Blue silk? You've surely had il madc
up ere this
II haven't any Nayy-Rluc silk Mrs.
Wicklitlr
Why my dear child where is that
handsome silk that saw Your husband
buy"
You must hc mistaken" | faltered.
con, indeed. hut there's no mistake
about it, my dear. SAW him pay for
i, and have il cut of: it was ut Drav-
tons some three weeks ago; the hand
soonest Navy-Bluc-threc dollars Il
yard.
The words Of the torn letter flashed
across my howildered mind, The
dresses are allrradv, and the Navy Blue
i exquisite.
\ sudden suspicion--a Suspicion
sharp rs death itself possessed my
soul; a suspicion that some other wo-
man had como between me and my
husband, The room and its occupant
seemed TO reel before my ewes. hut
| controlled myself with desperate
effort.
My husband must have bought the
articles for another party | said. All,
there is habv'S voice Pray excuse me
for one moment, Mrs. Wickltle."
Never mind my dear, since you
won't call on the bride. I'll 90 Good
morning; do come in soon.
She went, smiling pity in her eyes.
that drove me frantic | rushed up
stairs. and caught my baby to my
breast, my baby with his fathers hand
some eyes.
Baby baby, what shall do He is
false to us both, and my heart i sadly
broken
A day begun rarely ever ends we'll
All sorts efworrics hcsct me that day;
baby was cross the huthcr's bill came.
and there was no money to pay; and |
burned my bread, tarts and ries
black.
The afternoon came nj last lowering
and stormy, and had made my mind
| would see the end of the mystery.
About half-past three gave baby
sound dose Of soothing syrup, and tuck
ed him away in his crib: then locked
NJ the house, aud arrayed III my rusty
alpaca. sailed forth must know
the truth
! went to my husbands office first.
He had Just left. With the terrible sus-
plcion III my soul, growing iutoa tortur-
ing certainty, bent my steps, through
wind and rain, toward the railway sta
ton, There was but one in our little
country town, d as the afternoon
train was due nj our, tludged ON. and
reached the depot Just as the train
came stcamlng in. The very first man
| saw was Charlie, his hat pushed back,
his handsome face in II glow of eager
expectations
What | felt at that moment, no word
can describe; only woman's foolish
fond Jealous heart may know. Ishrunll
out of sight and concealed myself be-
hind some bales of cotton
In came the train. aud in two min
utcs n little lady, all hclrillcd, and close
" yelled, appeared on the platform.
"Oh, Charlie
All, my dear. here you are"
And he took her in his arms, and kiss
ed her, and carried her off 70 waiting
carriage. A porter followed with her
trunk, and then thcy whirled away to-
gethcr.
Standing ike a guilty creature, in
the wind and rain with my womans
pride and my woman'S love both out
ragged and insulted. | looked down to-
wards the sullcn waters of the river
below the town There was Il cure for
all my pain. But | remembered baby.
All. how the tender little hands hold il
Woman's heart. A woman may be
brought to relinquish all she holds dear,
even life itself, but never her child
! resolved to live and endure for
baby's sake turned my back upon
the sullcn water, and my face home
ward; and CROPPED ON through the mud
and rain, blind and almost unconscious
in my misery
The cottage was all alight when ]
came IN sight Of it--everv window III
blaze What if il had taken fire. The
thought winged my weary feet | hur--
ried on breathlcs6ly
Charlie confronted me rs | burst open
the kitchen door with baby in his arms.
We'll, bless my soul, Jennie, whore
under the sun have YOU been? ] found
the house all locked up, and the poor
child screaming itself 70 death; and |
had to break open the window to get IN.
What happened jennie Good heav-
nnsl You are ILL.,
caught glimpse of face beyond
lin--a woman's sweet face, and us
her, my oyerstrune nerves
ave way.
Charlie caught me ~ fell, and
Shcn | woke 10 life again. his arms still Z
leld me-his dear, faithful arms.
Kitty-my sister Kitty who had !
pccn off i'll Europe for years, stood
1ear by, with baby in'her arms.
With my head on Charities shoulder,
II pain and humiliation, / made my
.onfession His handsome eyes looked
It me, full Of grave tenderness, when
lc understood ALL
How you have suffered he said. =
And tremble to think how ii might ;
i - |