The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-09
AN IDEAL.

AN tDEALs
Age comes to some people only like
che wider opening of the rose, the gen,
tie dropping of the creamy outer petal
and one must needs think of this in
looking at Mrs. Fernalde. Il have had
my threescore and ten" she used &c
say. Il have had all that nature has
to give, and now / am living on grace. =
1t was a sunny spirit that informed her,
a lightSomeness that never let the sub
stance of tear penetrate beneath the
surface that could endure nothing but
happiness. Her unfailing good nature
was like fairy wand that smoothed
every trouble out of her way and out
of the way of every one about her. II
Eher hair was white, no great sorrow had
made il so; and its contrast with the
soft brilliancy of black eye and the
velvet flush of cheek unwritten by
many lines, made her perhaps as lovely
as one standing in all the full radiance
of youth. As for Mr.. Fernalde-tall,
dark, spare-he was by no means unat-
;tractive, and his courtly manners had q
unique elegance. He loved his ease:
and annoyances, when they CHANGED to
break through the magic circle his wife
drew about him, veXed him, as they
susually do nervous person. For the
rest. he was one of those men who.
having led a singularly fortunate life,
maintain to themselves a fancy that
they have Just missed the last stroke to
make the crystal complete, who have =
vanishing ideal always just beyond sight
and reach.
The ternaldes were neighbors of ours.
Wealth required no eXertion of them,
and advancing age secluded them in
some measure from general society:
their home was always cheerful; they
were always in it: and if there had
been no such person as grabbed old
Mrs. TalIiafero, who had spent the last
six months with them, it would have
been hard to see how Heaven itself
could be much improvement on it.
However. she was going at once, and
then where would be the crumple in the
uose-leaf?
They loved young people. "The new
generation lends US part of its fresh
ness" they used TO say. They always
welcomed any of US. and indeed made
me so particularly conscious of their
fattering favor that spent good por.
ftion of my time with them, threaded
the sweet little lady's needles, read and
wrote more or less for Mr.. Fernalde.
and was gradually taken into their con-
,tidence in way did not desire, since !
am about to violate it.
Gould l imagine happier old age
than this, my child, with my wife, my
hs,-lz
and friendse" he said once, repeating
my question. 'Why, yes, my dear, it
was much happier before my wife
brought Mrs. Talliafero to stay with us.
Some old schoolmate or girl friend of
.hers, don't quite know whom, for the
fact is she nettled me so the first day
she came that wouldn't ask Resale a
word about her, for fear | should show
my displeasure at her having brought
her home when she turned up. 1t is
astonishing how an invisibly small
Hhorn will destroy your equanimity.
And then this woman has quality that
would turn honey into vinegar, | do be-
lieve. She has changed our quiet,
peaceful, sunshiny life. that seemed
like one long day in June, into a sharp,
raw day in November. There is some
thing very rasping about her. l don't
see what my wife invited her to spend
such a season with US for. l wonder if
she thought that at the end of the time
4 should press for a continuance? My
dear, have counted the days-it sounds
sadly against all hoSpitable rites-I
shave counted the days till l should see
her consult railway time table, as sh e
did yesterday, about going home TO-
day. / believe she is not in affiuent
circumstances now. l would be glad
20 meet the expense of boarding her at
Buckingham Palace if that would keep
iner away. l am speaking strongly.
Yes, Rosalie," looking at his laughing
wife, 81 know you say too strongly
But it is argument, assertion, contra
'iiction, differing, pickering, finding
fault with the servants who have suited
rs half lifetime, questioning the ex-
penditure, disordering the arrange
Of it. when she comes into my study
and declares that my wife has the pa
4ienee of the play to endure such den
Of disorder in her house. She wonders
that do not wear scratch. She warns
me of indigestions, she threatens me
with Nightmares, she reminds me of
my age, she interferes with my pipe.
And then she wants so much fresh air!
Thank Heaven. her time is up to-day,
and my wife Will not invite
another guest for aAalf year without
giving me time to arrange a residence
elsewhere! And such a voice. too.
When one hears it, one longs for the
proper infirmities of age that dull the
bearing sharp as file, piercing as a
iocust's whirr! What are you laughing
at, Rosalie?''
'.Ah, you are not quite Just, my love-"
said the sweet little cid lady. airs.
Talliafero has a fine mind. she is really