Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-12-14
HIS WIFE.


nj Somerset Station. whole mile To
walk In the plcastntc.t part Of the
pleasantcst country IN the world. Soft
hills bathcd In the sun parting glow
dotted the landscape ON every side. and
over all smiled tender. broodinc SKY.
What keen enjoyment the authorization
OF n summer an alone with my best
friend had afforded mc-and now | was
almost there. There was the house; old.
many-rOOmrd, and most of the rooms
on the ground lOOr. Grandmother her
self had ben the architect OF the cstab-
lishmcnt.
I'll told your grandfather" said she
on one occasion, THAT mo- man was go-
ing To plan house for me Ia live in.
What does man know. should like to
he told, Of awOman's needs? II he'd
built u according Ia his notion there
would have been three or four niphts
OF stairs, and then. with baby ON each
arm and two or three hanging To my
petticOats, / might have spent most Of
my time ON 'cm but knew better"
9 As events proved. grandmother was
correct In her predictions. An cnthu,i-
astic lover of nature was this old lady
OF seventy years. Yes, there she was.
i caught u glimpse of her white sleeve
ON the windOw-sill. II wv exquisite the
TASTE OF this presiding genius. Hello
trOpo, mignOnettc and white roses.
Irandmothcr's rose bushes were the en-
w OF the whole neighborhoOd. Shy
little viOlets bOrdered the gravel walks
leading To- the low dOOr-stOnc, and over
beyond I'm grandmother pet field mil
Hons Of yellOw-hcartcd daisies nodded
and bcckoned to the soft evening breeze.
Avoiding trCachcruus pebbles. | cut
quietly across tO the front door. steal
ing with cat-likc tread through the long
narrow hallway, and entered the sit
ung-room ON my tip-tucs. Wonderful
victory. Twice before had | tried this
wonderful dodge. and each time had
The old turkry-gubblrr BETRAYED me.
where was he un this occasion. and
why, when really needed his services,
Gid he not prove my friend? softly.
Only step 81 two more. The srnSa-
ton at the next minute wasn't ANYTHING
To speak IT mean by that IL was indie.
scrihahlc. The back of grandmother :
big armchair quite hid the occupant.
and, nothing doubling. I made with
great dcNtCrity for grandmother eyes.
i found the eyes, but they didn't belong
Co grandmother. know that before
their saucy owner had imprisoned my
hands.
"Who Is it?'' said he. like one first
awakening from u sleep. LET me
guess. The tngcrs are too little for
Madgc. aud too long to belong to Sa-
rah.
found my tongue then | would not
wrench my hands away; that would be-
rudcncss; for he evidently supposed
them To be- the prop rty of some init
mate friend
"Plcase release me" said: and
thcn, rs he rose quickly. apparently sur.
priscd by the vO.cc 1T u stranger.
added, rather ludiCrou~ly. suppose, for
the tall fellow in the shirt sleeves laughed
right heartily. II thought you were
grandmother
"Ncvcr was taken for nm old lady be-
fore, he answered. with provoking non
chalancr. and then added, rs he hastily
drew ON n drcssing-dOwn: what do YOU
think about IL now?''
81 think | should like To know where
grandmother j., and ---"
And what am doing hcre?' he in
terruptcd, with another laugh. Your
grandmother has gone To spend the
evening with u sick ncighbor. lifelong
tO the next huusc-Or rather am visit
ing my sister. She was UNEXPECTEDLY
telcgramcd away. and rs have been
ill and am not quite we'll enough TO
take care of myself in the absence of a
housekCCpcr. your blessed grnndmothor
offered 10 look out for me until NV
sisters return. NV name j. David Al.
colt, aud yours, take il. i Miss Susan
Ellis And then we shook hands.
The cvsning marked new era in my
life. | was comfortable. ~ was ALWAYS
the case at grandmother and was
happy, too happier than | had ever
been before. What 4 meant was of no
sort of consequence to me then. | did
not stop tO analyZc my sensations, hut
enjoyed To the utmost the strange enter
tainment fate had placed before me.
MIR. Alcott showed whcrc grandmother
had left the strawberries after tea, and
then ! skinned n pan of mornings milk
and prepared my supper.
You have been to tea, uf course?'
i inquired of the gentleman. who had
again taken up his book.
Yes, but I should like n few straw
berries II YOU can spare me some" So
Il CHANGED that he drew chair I'M 10
the little round table. proving a most
interesting companion.
Ia an hour more, after our little meal
was over, / sat upon the doOr-stone
alone. watching for grandmother. Then
he came To the door and said:
You needn't expect her before nine
O'Clock. | wish / could sit here with
you"
And why not?" asked.
because I am still in quarantine.
Perhaps might make Il pleasant for
you indoors. II YOU are fond of being
read 10 | will do my best"
"And there Is nothing I am fonder
OF. ANSWERED. and followed him into
the house.
MAKE your selection" he said.
pointing 10 table quite covered with
books.
Something others" Ireplicd. pick
ing up an edition of Mrs. Browning.
"All right Now. to please rue. open
At random and will stay here"
laughingly resented. and placed my
forohnger plump on Lord Walters
wife
" But Why do you CO." said tho lady. AZ both
sat under the rev,
And her eyes were olive tn their depths as
the krRken beneath tho sea blue.
Because fear you" he answered; you are
too fair.
And able 20 stgangle my soul In a mesh Of
your golden hair"
please don't 60 on" I interrupted
"I like the poem, but some way IL isn't
pleasant now.
Hardly appropriate" he answered.
closing the volume dreamily, and then
added
Il suppose you think Lord Walters
friend loolP"
"He is the type Of large class but,