The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-09-09

flashed into my mind that Beth long ago |
told me about her new home being only |
fifty miles from there. We made inquir- |
les, found it was 80, and coaxed Joe |
until he agreed to stop over and run up |
for the day.
We reached that town, q quiet pretty |
little place, at about ten, and obtaining
a horse and full directions as to where
she lived, we sailed forth. The drive
was a beautiful one, mainly through
the woods, which were just leafing out,
and the air was sweet with the bios
SONS of clover and wild flowers. 1t was
an unfrequented road. the houses being
few and far apart, and we met but one
team. Though beautiful then, yet l
wondered if Beth never wearitd in win
ter of the cold lonesome drive, under
the leafless branches. What a change
from the gay, noisy, city life. Dear
girl, she had not written to me for over
a year, but l knew from her mother
that she now had an extra care in the
form of big strong boy. Would she
not be surprised at this visit, and how l
should enjoy seeing her and talking
over old times. Then there was the
house, we had so often talked about, to
see, and that baby. How l would hug
him! Then her husband-had he proved
all her fond heart had pictured him as
being, and was she in her new house as
perfectly happy as [?
At last we neared the place, which,
according to all directions. must be the
Rose Farm. Yes, there was the house,
large old-fashioned franz. knew 1t,
from the big porch across the front,
supported by the immense white pillars
so often described to me by my friend.
But what a disappointment! That
house brown for want OF paint, one or
two of the blinds gone. and others just
hanging, its fine old yard overgrown
with weeds and grasses, was not the
Eden had pictured as Beth's. AS we
drove up the lane, shaded on either
side by fine old elms, Joe called my at
tention to the tence, which in some
places was leaning nearly to the ground,
with more than one picket missing.
81 don't like the look of that" he
said. 81 am afraid it too much resem.
bles the man who lives here. A house
and its surroundings tell more of the
occupants character than is at first re-
allied"
As the horse stopped could hear a
woman's voice humming lullaby, and
so, springing from the carriage, ran
lightly up the steps and peeped in at
the open door.
Shall ever forget that scene? The
large old-fashioned room, with its low.
dark ceiling, high windows, and gaudy
papering, | can see vet, and how out OF
place Evangeline and the other choice
eneravings looked upon its walls, and
the sharp contrast between the dingy
rag carpet and Beth exquisitely carved
piano. There, by the window, sat a
woman lulling the baby to sleep.
Was it possible? Could that thin,
careworn woman, arrayed in a faded
calico, minus collar and cuffs, with hair
combed back and twisted into an ugly
tight knot on the back of the head, be
the beautiful girl had seen for the last
time only two years ago? Yes, 1t was
Beth, but so thin and changed! The
hands, once white and soft, were now
brown and stained, telling the story OF
hard work and ceaseless care, better
than words. stood spellbound for d
moment, dismayed at the change before
ME, and then, as heard my husband
feet on the walk, stepped into the room
Beth glanced up, dropped her baby into
its crib, and with one wild cry sprans
into my arms, sobbing as if her heart
would break.
motioned Joe back, and after she
had become quiet tended baby while
, she went to change her clothes.
He was dear little fellow. combining
Beth's hair and complexion with the
dark velvety eyes which had SO wor
her heart when a girl.
Joe and were having a big frolit
. with baby, when its mother once more
made her appearance, looking more
like the Beth of olden times. But al
r though she was pleasant, and tried t
appear cheerful and at ease, we coult
, both see that it was an effort, so, afte
. lunch, Joe. rightly Judging that W,
should visit better alone, strolled OF
/, down to the river, with the ostensibl'
e purpose of hunting geological specl
, mems.
When baby was asleep and full direc
r tiohs about dinner had been given t.
UuS glEl Ill Vic hllCuCus We othoAaSN uO''
t into the orchard, fragrant with apple
Y blooms, and there, under a canopA Q
blossoms, her head in my lap, Beth tol
!! me all her troubles.
: Flo" she said, when l was mar
:. ried and came here, the future locke
u very bright to me, and my heart wa
|, full of love for the man had wed. Nc
|. not for him! what did know of Egbel
Roses character? Nothing except tn
bits gathered from his sisters talks
and from The letters received. all {
l which were in his praise. OF course. An
;! from these went to work erecting
: beautiful idol, possessing all manly VII
IS tues which l loved, called by his name
II and almost worshiped.
"But the awakening from my drea1
g of happiness came soon, and L find my
J. self united for life to one whom l ca
l neither respect nor love. Do not loo
n so shocked, Flo, for know you coul
s not respect a man who spends his Ell
n tire time in trading horses, hunting
" fishing and loating, while everythin
e here is falling to pieces and the farl
running to waste. If it were not for tn