The Hazlehurst signal., 1883-12-13
HIS WIFE.


Mt Somerset Station. A whole mile tC
walk in the plcasantcst part of the
plcasantcst country in the world. Soft
hills bathcd in the suns parting glow
dotted the landscape ON every side, and
over all smiled tender. broodlnG sky.
What keen enjoyment the anticipation
of n summer all alone with my best
friend had afforded mc-and now i wa
almost there. There was the house; old,
many-roomcd. and most of the rooms
OH the ground lloor Grandmother her
self had been the architect of the estab-
liShmcnt.
Il told your grandfather" said she
ON one occasion, "that no man was 90
ing To plan house for me tn live in.
What does n man know, lshould like "a
he told, of n woman's needs? III he'd
built IL according Ia his notion there
would have been three or four flights
of stairs. and then. with baby ON each
arm and two or three hanging To my
pct,icoatS. might have spent most oi
my time ON 'cm-but knew Got;af."
As events proved, grandmother va
correct in her predictions. An cnthusi'
astic lover of nature was this old lady
of seventy wears. Yes, there she Was.
caught u glimpse OF her white sleeve
an the window-sill. How exquisite the
taste of this presiding genius. Hello
trope, mignoncttc and white roses.
Grandmother's rose bushes were the en-
W of the whole nc'ghborhood. Shy
little yiolets bordercd the gravel walks
leading 10 the low door-stonc. and over
beyond in grandmother's pet field mil.
lions Of yellow hearted daisies nodded
and bcckOned tO the soft evening breeze.
Avoiding treachcrOus pebbles, cut
quietly across to the front door, steal
ing with cat-likc tread through the LONG
narrow hallway, and entered the sit
ting-room on my tip-tocS. Wonderful
victory. Twice before had tried thi,
wonderful dodge. and each time had
the old turkey-gobbler betrayed me.
Where was he ON this occasion. and
why. when really needed his services,
did he not prove my fricnd2 Softly.
Only u step or two more. The scnsa'
ton of the next minute wasn't ANYTHING
To speak of-I mean by that il was indie
scribable. The back OF grandmother $
biz armchair quite hid the occupant,
and. nothing doubting. / made with
great dcxtcrity for grandmother eyes.
! found the eyes. but they didn't belong
to grandmother. | knew that before
their saucy owner had imprisoned my
hands.
"who is it?'' said he. like one first
awakening from sleep. LET me
guess. The fingers are too little for
Madgc, and too long to belong to Sa-
rah.'
found my tongue then. would not
wrench ms hands away; that would be-
rudcness; for he evidently supposed
them TO be the property OF some init
mate friend
Please release me-" l said; and
then, as he rose quickly. apparently SUR
priscd by the voice Of stranger. /
added. rather ludicrously. lsuppose, for
the tall fellow in the shirt sleeves laughed
right heartily. II thought YOU were
grandmother.
"Never was taken for an old lady be-
fore, he answered, with provoking nom
chalance, and then added. as he hastily
drew on drcssing-down: "What do you
think about il now"
- think should like to know where
grandmother j., and -"
And what am doing here?' he in
terrupted. with another laugh. "Your
grandmother has gone to spend the
evening with u sick neighbour. belong
10 the next housc-or rather am visit
Ing my sister. She was unexpectedly
,elcgramed away. and rs have been
i'll aud am not quite well enough TO
take care OF myself in the absence of a
housckecper. your blessed grandmother
offered to look out for me until my
sisters return. My name is David Al
colt, and yours, l take it, is Miss Susan
Ellis" And then we shook hands.
The evening marked new era in my
life. was comfortable. rs was always
the case at grandnother's. and was
happy, too-happier than i had ever
been before. What il meaut was of no
sort OF consequence TO me then. did
not stop TO analyze my sensations, but
enjoyed TO the utmost the strange enter
tainment fate had placed before me.
Mr.. Alcott showed where grandmother
had left the strawberries after tea, and
then i skinned pan of mornings milk
and prepared my supper.
"You have been to tea, of course?"
j inquired of the gentleman. who had
again taken up his book.
"Yes. but / should like few straw
berries IL YOU can spare me some" So
il CHANGED that he drew a chair up TO
the little round table, proving a most
interesting companion.
In an hour more. after our little meal
was over, I sat upon the door.stone
alone. watching for grandmother. Then
he came 10 the door and said:
"You needn't expect her before nine
O'Clock. ] wish could sit here with
you"
"And why not'" asked.
Because am still in quarantine.
Perhaps ] might make II pleasant for
you indoors. u you are fond Of being
read to viii do my best"
"And there Is nothing ! am fonder
Of" answered. and followed him into
the house.
Make your selection" he said.
pointing to a table quito covered with
books.
Something ofhers." Ireplied, pick
ing up an edition OF Mrs. Browning.
"AQright. Now. to please me. open
at rad pm and will stay here"
] laashingly resented, and placed my