Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-07-14
HIS WIFE.

The sun had Just set when l arrived at
Somerset station. A whole mile to walk
in the pleasantest part of the pieasantest
country in the world! Soft hills, bathed
in the suns parting glow, dotted the land
scapc on every side, and over all smiled
tender, brooding sky. What keen enjoy
ment the anticipation Of a summer all
alone with my best friend had afforded mo
and now was almost there. There was
the house; old, brown and many roomed,
and most OF the rooms on the ground floor
Grandmother herself had been the archt-
tect Of the establishment.
81 told your grandfather, " said she, on
one occasion, "that no man was going 10
plan n house for me to live In. What does
n man know, should like to be told, of a
woman's needs? "If he'd built it accord
ing to 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 pctticoats, l might have
spent most of my time on 'em-but knew
better!'
Asevents proved, grandmother was cor
rect in her predictions. An enthusiastic
lover of nature was this old lady Of sew
enty wears. Yes, there she was Icaught
a glimpse of her white sleeves on the win
dow sill. would walk softly In and sur
prise her. How exquisite the taste Of this
presiding genius! Hcliotrope, mignon-
cite, and white roses Grandmother's
rose bushes were the envy of tho whole
neighborhood Shy little violcts bordercd
the graveled walk leading to the low door
stone, and over beyond, in grandmother's
pet field, millions of yellow-hearted daises
nodded and bcckoncd to the soft evening
breeze. Avoiding the treacherous peb-
bles, cut quietly across to the front door,
stealing with cat-like tread through the
long, morrow hallway, and entering the
sitting room on my tip toes. Wonderful
victory! Twice before had l tried this
wonderful dodge, and each time had the
old turkey gobler betrayed me. Where
was ho on this occasion; and why, when
I really need his services, did ho not prove
my friend? Softly, softly, only a step or
two more. The sensation Of the next min
ute wasn't anything to speak Of; | mean
by that it was indescribablo. The back of
grandmother's big arm chair quite hid
the occupant, ard, nothing doubling,
made with great dexterity Tor grandmoth-
er's eyes. found the eyes, but they didn't
belong to grandmother. l knew that be-
fore their saucy owner had imprisoned my
hands.
"Who Is itl' said he, like one first
awakening from sleep. "Let me guess.
The finers are too little for Madge, and too
long to belong to Sarah!"
found my tongue then. would not
wrench my hands away. That would be
rudeness for he evidently supposed them
the property of some intimate friend.
"Please release me-" l said; and then,
as he rose quickly-apparcntly surprised
by the voice of stranger-I added, rather
lucicrously, / suppose, for the tall fellow
in the shirt sleeves laughed right heartily,
al thought you were grandmother z"
"Ncver was taken for an old lady be-
FORE" he answered, with provoking nom
chalence; and then added, as he hastily
threw on dressing-gown, "what do you
think about it now?"
'T think should like to know where
grandmother is, and"
"And what am doing here2" he inter-
rupted, with another laugh. "Your grand
mother has gone to spend the evening with
q sick neighbor. l belong to the next
house-or rather am visiting my sister.
She was unexpectedly telegramed away,
and rs have been i'll, and am not quite
well enough to take care Of myself in the
absence of housekeeper, your blessed
grandmother offered to look out for me
until my sisters return. My name Is
David Alcott, and yours, l take it, is Miss
Susan Ellis" And then we shook hands.
lHdt cfCHIuS HidihSu " ~" " VI" iH any
life. l was comfortable, as was always
the case at grandmother and was hap
py too-happier than had ever been be-
fore. What it meant was of fnosort OF con-
sequence to me then. 1 did not stop to
analyze my sensations, but enjoyed to the
utmost the strange entertainment fate had
placed before me. Mr.. Alcott showed
where grandmother had left the strawber-
ries after tea, and then skinned pan Of
mornings milk, and prepared my supper.
"You have been to tea, of course?" l
inquired of the gentleman, who had again
taken up his BOOK.
'Yes, but should like few strawber-
ries, if you can spare me some" so it
chsnced that he drew a chair up to the
little round table, proving most interest
ing companion.
In an hour or more after our little meal
was over, sat on the door-stone alone,
watching for grandmother. Then he ecame
to the door and said: