Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-06-24
WINIFRED'S SECRET.

There's only one thing wanting now
Arnold dear, to make our little house
perfect said Winifred Moreton, as she
chung coaxingly to her young husbands
arm; and that il q conservatory
wee conservatory to keep us IN flowers
all the year round. Look here, in this
corner now, there are really three sides
Of it ready built, we should only want
roof, and that old door we took from
between the lower rooms and the
shelves inside
And the apparatus to warm it, and
the plants to stock it" added Arnold,
with smile.
ooh, as for those, my friend, Mrs.
Wodehouse, has promised. to send me
hers; she is going abroad shortly, and
doesn't care about them, she SAYS; and
she appears anxious that ! should have
them"
50 50 You are jealous Of you dear
friends conservatory, is that it? You
forget, little woman, that the Wode-
houses are rich folks, while you have
been foolish enough to marry a poor
young fellow in 4 government Office.
However, have your conservatory, my
Winnie, only don't be extravagant
about it. !"
A month later the conservatory is
finished, and Winnie is experimenting
the arrangement of cargo of fine
plants just sent by Mrs. Wodehouse.
All have rs usual d label affixed to a
little peg ut the side Of the pot, on
which the botanical name Of the flower
n IL
that this, III the case Of the finest plant,
is not label merely, but carefully
folded and sealed note directed to her
self.
She opens il, and her blue eyes grow
first round with astonishment, then
moist with pity rs she reads. Finally
she sits down among the flower pots,
and looks ut them AZ they stand just
where the men have left them, and
there is sort Of superstltious awe de-
picted on her face, as if she fears lest
the arrival Of these pots Of flowers is
also the arrival Of Il great misery IN her
home. All her pleasure, her almost
lnfantine delight over the new conserv-
atory is gone; ii seems to have passed
away us rapidly rs the short exclama-
ton of Joy with which she had hailed
the advent Of these floral treasures.
In her hand she still holds the note
containing the cloud which, wrcathing
itself about her mind, is already begin
ming to dim the clear horizon Of Wini-
fred Moreton's bright young life. She
il reading it once again with much in
tentness, when she hears her husband
open the outer door with q latch-key.
She thrusts il into her pocket with hur-
ried eagerness, and then strives, but
rather vainly, TO compose her face into
nj appearance of creditable tranquility.
The first secret has sprung up between
her and Arnold, and the keeping of it
then and III the future will prove
heavy tax on Wnifred's candid nature.
lie cannot avoid noticing that some
thing is amiss, and exclaims:
why, little wife, how grave you
look over your new toy You have
got your conservatory; you have some
lovely flowers TO put in it-very kind of
Mrs. Wodehouse to send them-and
still you look rs if you had some heavy
care on your mind What is the mat
ter, my dear Winnie"
please, Arnold, let me send for old
Rofiey, thescarpenter, to put up some
shutters and bar across here, and II
couple Of bolts To the door,
Foolish Winnie, do you think your
plants so very precious that MI the
burglars III town will be after them?
However, have your way. Send for that
old carpenter with face like a battered
halfpenny, and make your floral treas
ures quite secure. Meanwhile, perhaps
you will treat me to smile and
kiss"
Days passed into weeks, and the con-
servatory was never out Of Winifred's
thoughts. Her plaything had become
her bcte norie, nor could all the care and
sollcitude of her husband, whom she
loved to alteration, lay the ghost which
seemed to be wandering about her
heart
Arnold had some thoughts of sending
for physician, rs he positively was be-
ginning to fear that Winifred had some
mental disease, which was developing
into phase which he was pleased to
call "plantomania," and not little de-
lighted was he to receive telegram
from his brother-in-law, who had been
for some time absent, saying that he
Is coming home rs fast as ship and rails
can bring HIM. and that he may be eN-
pected any day
He win perhaps be able to throw
some light, he thinks, /" on this extra
ordinary infautuation Of Winnie's' not
only for watching and tending her
plants, but for locking them up and
thinking about them ceaselessly."
But Captain Nerschoyl is not more
able TO account for his sisters peculiar
mania than is her perplexed husband,
and after many conversations between
them on the subject and much confanu-
lation they agree to consult the family
doctor. DIR. Jones, however, laughs at
their surmises and pooh-poohs their
fears.
He has known Winnie since she was
a BABY, he'll guarantee his reputation
that there is nothing mad about her.
SO he says; but when he comes TO see
her, At her husbands suggestion, the
panied, anxious expression Of her face,
once so bright and smiling, the restraint
OF her manner, once so lively and gay,
staggers even the belief of the faithful
old Hippocrates. WHAT can it possibly
mean2
look here, Mrs. Winifred"- had
always called her Mrs. Winifred since
she married-"look here, Mrs. Wini-
fred believe the odor OF. these flowers is
making You look thin and wan. / shall
tell your husband TO have them all
carried away and that little ugly con-
servatorv pulled down."
No. DIR. Jones, no. / wish TO heaven
that it had never been built, but to
take it down would be worse than death
TO me-"
Ill I do not understand" said he watch
ing her keenly as he spoke.
4 mo, perhaps not; but plants are such
worry; they always tiie when you