River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-10-04
THE WIFE'S STORY.
From the Wayerlv Magazine.


"What could John Everett have seen
to admire in me2" have often since
asked myself. Bnt he did love me truly,
and after my childish fashion loved
him.
John, the Morgans and Miss White
are going to Saratoga for month-cant
l go too?"
NV husband looked up - IN his papers
.fTo Saratoga, Belle? 1 thought we had
concluded to spend such quiet sum
mer together here?"
l shrugged my shoulders. =,
ats so awiully stupid here, all by our
selves" said /, ''like modern edItloh OF
Darby and JOAN"
"But Darby and Joan enjoyed them
f'They must have found it horribly
wearisome after while, love. Jehn,
don't be sentimental! Let us 30 to Sar-
atoga."
little wife2" he asked gravely, fixing his
large, serious eyes on my face.
"Of course | do"
Then we will go"
clapped my hands in gleeful sort of
way and ran off to send a note to my
dressmaker. Then, on second thought,
| ran back to Johns study.
Chow nNch money are you going to
give me for dresses and thiAgst"
dresses and things?"he repeated, in
some surpriEe. why, it isn't six
months since you had your wedding
outfit"
That's just mans reasoning. As ii
/ ha Int worn every one Of my dresses
al least halfa dozen times. l would
rather stay at home than go like
dowdy."
A panied look came over Johns pale,
intellectual face.
Chow much money do you want?'
81 could make hundred and fifty
dollars do, suppose.
He drew his check-hook out of his
desk and filed out the slip of paper.
"There," said he, 81 don't ask you to
be saving of this, for | am sure you will
be that at any event. We are not rich,
dear"
81 know, l know" | retorted hurry
ing away, not over pleased with my hue
bands last words. 1t was scarcely three
DAYS after having this conversation that
John found me crying in my room.
"Belel crying?" he exclaimed IN sur
prise. 81 thought you were perfectly
happy at the prospect OF month Mt
Saratoga
~ can't help it"' l sobbed ar know
its very ridiculous, but it's only because
of Aunt Whites diamond cross. My lit
tie one looks so cheap, by the side OF
hers.
But, Belle, poor authors wife
can't expect TO wear diamonds"
Eyes, | know; and that's exactly what
am crying about
He looked at me with troubled eyes,
and then left the room.
Belle" said Lulu Elwell, my hue
bands cousin, who CHANGED to be 81.
ting with me, you have hurt John
deeply" "If you are 50 very consider
ate of John it's pity y'u hadn't mar
ried him Yourself | won't be lectured,"
/ retorted pettishly.
Luln recoiled as if something had
stung her.
''That is neither logical nor generous,
Belle" she said; and rising she went
quickly away.
fhe next day she started for saratoga,
but at the last moment John changed
his mind and concluded to stay at home.
II have some work tn 1t ought TO be
finished, and dare say you will enjoy
it Just as we'll in the company OF the
Morgans and Miss White"
i pouted little
"Of course You n do as you please,
but alter all my preparations ! shall
most certainly 90" said /.
He bent his face to mine.
"DO not let us part in unkindness
dearest" he whispered.
I turned my head away.
"Good- by" said 1 lightly, and we
separated.
Saratoga was very gay that season,
and for the first few days all was a whirl
of happy excitement very eongenial to
my gid ly brain. Sometimes, as thought
of John all alone in the study at homo q
little thrill of homesickness came over
me; but | was just at the aye to enjoy
every passing incident and every revolv-
ing day, until old Mrs. Stanton came
with trunks innumerable.
"Oh," said she, regarding me through
her eye glass THAT is the wife of the hand
some young author, isn't it?"
yes it is, Mrs. Stanton" | said, with
a flush of wifely pride.
He Is in town, isn't he?" said Mrs.
Stanton. malici0usly.
Gle still remains in" l answered
inditferently.
$50 does his cousir. Lulu Elwell, don't
sheY' the old woman went Oh
Really" | answered, trying 10
speak as lightly MS possible, 81 am not
aware of Lula EIwell's movements this
summer"
ooh, indeed! Well, young lady.
don't wish tie be prophet of evil, but
it's a dangerous thing to leave these
young husbands too much to the mercy
of their old sweethearts. Ha, ha, ha!"
laughed the old wretch, as she turned
away.
pretended to take no notice of her
malicious insinuation, but they sank into
my heart, nevertheless, lik poisoned ar
rows. Saratoga lost all its attractions
for me. There was ~masked ball the
next evening, but ! countermanded the
order for my dress, and aslouished An
ME White by declining to take part in a
picnic to the lake.
why, Belle, what ails your" de-
manded Annie
Nothing except nat am homesick
and want to go to"
ooh" said Annie, with a meaning
laugh; chose husbands are terrible
magnets. Pm glad Pm not married"
How glad / WAS when at last she left
me to myself, free to examine the mys-
teries Of my heartl / could not believe
it. John false and tickle? John sun
ming himself in the light OF his old loves
smiles while / was away2 And vet how
strongly all the circumstances seem to
point to i'll ] flung my things into my
trunk with reckless haste, determined
to return home at once and accuse John
Of his wickedness.
Again and again as the train flew over
the rails rehearsed TO myselfthe scorn-
iul speeches | would make, the cutting
contempt with which ] would tell him
that hencefOrth we could he nothing
more than strangers To each other. But
it all ended III burst Of tears If John
was faithless, my love, my demtg0d in
whom could i believer
1t was 8 o'clock at night when at last
! stood on the steps at my own door
The servant stared at me in u Devil
dered way.
Master wasn't exDectin' of you,
ma am, she said, "and-"
81 know; let me pass" J uttered
boarsely, and the next moment stood
in Johns study. DONE know whether
or not had expected to see Lulu FL
well sitting beside him, but it certainly
was q relief to find that he WAS aloue,
bending over his desk intentlv coniem-
plating some small bright object in
velvet case. He started to his feet at
the sight OF me.
"Bell!' he cried
Exactly | retorted with hard
laugh ''You were not expecting TO see
me? May ask where Miss Ewell is?"
lilu?" he looked al me in genuine
8, enlistment. ain the mountains /
oppose. She went off the day after