Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-01-05
JOHNS WIFE.

My bachelor quarters began 10 look
cheerless enough as the holiday season
approached. and / WAS all the more
ready TO accept the kind invitation of
my friend John and his young wife.
the mention Of whose name always
caused him 10 Ny into raptures Sure
ly no man ever possessed such a para
gOn befOrei To believe his story. she
was lovely. amiable, virtuOus, beautiful.
and everything else complimentary that
could be applied 10 woman.
had only Johns story for this-was
inclined 10 believe IL but in part; and
yet, as the time approached for my
visit, found myself waiting the day
with interest. IL not something like ex-
citement, especially as he had informed
me that his sister.in.law. Kitty Man
v,rs. was to make one Of the party.
even pictured her being more beauti-
ful and charming than Johns wife,
and indulged In various other bachelor
fancies.
arrived in the city Of Boston on
the day preceding Christmas, as 1 had
some business To transact prior to visit
ing Johns house. But. as I stepped
out Of the cars. saw his carriage wait.
ing and bidding farewell To final
rushing up at a hotel. took my place
A.,Y on my gloves. gave an additional
o TO my mustache, and was quickly
hASs He'd tO the Eden John was accus.
Toned TO call home.
A pretty little woman, not certainly
the angel my friend had described. met
me cordially. apOlOgiZed for her hus.
bands absence. informed me that he had
suddenly been called away upon busi-
ness, but would return early I'm the
morning. and pleasantly added that he
had consigned me 10 the care of her
sister and herself.
"And this l. my sister Kitty, Of whom
you have without doubt heard" she
said. by way OF introduction.
Miss Kitty. who had been coyly keep.
lag herself In the background. stepped
forward. and for a moment her soft
hand lay like rose leaf in mine. As
the light of the cheerful sea-cOal fire
and blazing chandelier fell upon her. /
invOluntarily uttered "a whistle. which
i awkwardly turned into cough. The
fact was Johns wife was but a foil TO
set OF the beauty Of her sister. Such
gold.brOnEe, ripping hair above brow
OF alabaster whiteness, and such liquid.
oiue. speaSIng eyes a naa never seen
before. Ana the tail. graceful Bgure
was In perfect keeping with the lovely
face-there was nothing 20 mar the
picture.
She received me with ladylike self
possession, such as Is only TO be acquired
by those who mtngle i'm the best society.
and added her welcome To that already
received from her sister. The dinner.
such a one N had long been a strang-
or 10. IA well as the evening. passed
pleasantly. Johns wife was charmingly
social. and discoursed elOquently upon
the subject OF her husband. or course
/ endorsed all she said upon the sub.
iect-said John was n lucky fellow,
told how much envied him his hap
piness, and caused her TO blush pretti-
~.
But for all my words. had no eye
except for Kitty Manvers. She was
crOcheting n smoking-cap for John
(hOw wished II had been for mel and
"a the scarlet wool twined in, and out.
and around her swift, snowy little fing-
ers, thanked Heaven that John had
married his wife and not her sister.
The evening came 10 an end long be-
fore had wished 10 TO do so. / had
never seen time fly upon such swift
wings. and regretted extremely when
the hour for retiring was announced.
bade my hostess goodnight, and look.
ed at Kitty with eyes that spoke volumes
OF admiration, and caused the rich
blood to fly In her cheeks like damask
roses. Then, after lingering as long as
politeness would admit, went up to
my room, and lighting a cigar. sat
dreamily smoking for an hour. And
my cogitations ended in this: that I
Fred DorSon, was at last in love, and
that at arst sight, and that 1 would do
my best TO win the charming Kitty
MAnvers tt not already engaged to be
my wife ~
The thought another might have
been before me in the matter soma
what oanished the castles l had been
building In Spain. However. I could
but Try; so to assist the perfection of
my plans, lsmoked another "Partagas -
wound my watch as the bell in a neigb-
boring steeple was tolling midnight
lad II upon the table, placed valusbIe
and cherished diamond pin uDon
ne cushion beside II, and Speedi-
~ was In bed. Very soon
began to browse, and an underlined eg.
are OF Kitty, with wings like those 81
an angel. was beginning to fIoat
through my brain. when 1 was recalled
nom my wanderings to the stern reali-
ties Of life. 1 was certain that l heard
the creaking Of door, and, raising nv
self cautiously upon my elbow. looked
around. The hre was burning dlmlv !:
10 Wn8 iust the awlfohluo honr ,-,hs.,