Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09
AN IDEAL.


An IDEAL. ~
Ago comnsto some people only Ike
The wider opening of the rose. the gen
tie dropping of the creamy outer petal:
aud ono must needs think of this i'm
looking ut Mrs. Fernalde. 81 have had
my thrcescore and ton. - she used TO
say. III have had all that nature has
10 give, anil now I am living on grace. I"
IL was a sunny spirit that informed her.
lightsOmeness that never let the sub
stance Of tear penetrate beneath the
surface that could endure nothing hut
happiness. Her unfalmg rood nature
was like n fairy wand that smoothed
every trouble out Of her way and out
OF the way of every ono about her. IN
her hair was white. no great sorrow had
made IL so; aud its contrast with the
soft brilliancy II black eve and the
velvet Hush of cheek unwrittcn by
many lines. made her perhaps Ms lovely
Ne one standing In all the full radianco
Ut youth. As for Mr.. Fernalde-tall.
dark, sparo-he was by NO means unat-
tractivc. aud his courtly manners had n
unique elegance. He loved his ease;
and annoyanccs, when they CHANGED To-
break through the magic circle his wife
drew about him, teXed him, a they
usually dO nervous person. For the
rest, he was one Of those men who.
having led n siugularly fortunate life.
maintain to themselves n fancy that
they have Just missed the last stroke To
mako the crystal complete. who have n
vanishing ideal always just beyond sight
and reach.
Tho fernaldes were neighbors of ours.
Wealth required no exertion Of them.
and advancing age secluded them in
some measure from general society;
their homo was always cheerful: they
were always in L.; and If there had
been no such person rs grabbed old
Mrs. Talliafero. who had spent the last
six months with them. IL would have
been hard Co sec how Heaven itself
could be much improvement on IL.
However, she was going nj once, and
then where would be- the crumple i'm the
rOse-lcafP
They loved young people. ''rhe new
generation lends US part of its frcSh-
ness" they used To- say. They alwavs
welcomed any Of Us, and indeed made
me SO particularly conscious of their
flattering favor that spent n good Dor
ton Of my time with item, threaded
the sweet little lady's needles. read and
wrote moro or less for Mr.. FernaIdr.
and was gradually taken into their con-
hdcncc I'm n way did not desire. since 4
am about to violate il.
Gould imagine happier old a0e
than this, my child, with my wife. NV
health, my flowers, our birds and pets
and fricndsg' he said once, REPEATING
my question. "lNhy. YES. my dear. N
was much happier before my wife
brought Mrs. Talliafcro to STAY with us.
Some old schOolmata or girl friend Of
hers, don't quite know whom. for the
fact Is she ncttlcd me So the first day
she came that I wouldn't ask Rosalie a
word about her, for fear | should show
my displeasure nc her having brought
her home when she turned up. IL Is
astonishing how an invisibly small
thorn will destroy your cquanimity.
And then this woman has n quSlity than
would turn honey INTO vinegar, I DO be-
lievo. She has changed our quiet,
peaceful. sunshiny life. that seemed
like one long day b juno. into n sharp.
raw day In November. There Is some
thing very raspinq about her. I don't
see what my wife fnviled her 20 s,end
such season with us for wonder II
she thought that nc the end II the time
should prcssifor n continuanceP NV
dear. have counted the days it sounds
sadly against all hospitablc rites-f
have counted the DAYS till should see
her consult railway timo table, as sh q
did Yesterday, about going home TO-
uay. L believe she Is not In Afiuhnt
circumstances now. | would be- dad
lO meet the oNpcnsc Of boarding her az
Buckingham Palace II that would Keen
her away! i am speaking strongly.
Yes. Rosalie." hooking At his laughing
wife, Il know you say too strongly.
But Il Is argument, assertion, contra
uictiOn, differing. pickering. finding
fault with the servants who have suited
us half n lifetime, questioning the ex-
ponditure, disorderng the arrange.
monts from one day To the next Think
OF II. when she comes into nv study
and declares that my wife has the pa
thence II the play 10 endure snch den
OF disorder In her house. She wonders
that do NOT wear aScratch. She warns
me OF indigestions. she threatens me
WIN nightmares ano FtIninus me OF
my age. she intorferes with my pipol
And then she wants so much fresh airl
Thank Heavef her time Is up to-day,
and my wife will not invite
another guest for a half year without
giving me time 10 arrange a residence
slsewhorel And such voice. too!
Whom one hears Il. one longs for the
proper infrmities Of age that dull the
bearing sharp as q file, piercing as a
ocust's whirrf What are you laughing
AZ. RosalieP.'
"Ah, you are not quite Just. my love, y
yaid the sweet little old lady. Mrs.
ralliafero has n fine mind. she Is really
waking ms up. She prevents our sink
ing down into a jelly-like existence. as
20 many q our age do. She keeps US
bubbling.' II ~ Il
.'T'hero. there. there. my dearl Don't
say another word about your Mrs.
ralliaferol Go and spend a season with
her at Saratoga. II you ever want to see
Der any more. I'll go to Richield.
Bubblei She'd make sulphuric acid
bubble out Of the sands OF the DESERT
I've no doubt she worried Talliafero,
Door man, into the gravel But there,
I've said too much. he added. directly.
II beg your pardon, my sweet, II I
hurt your feelings about an old friend.
Out really No. Rosalie, my love. II