The Northern Pacific farmer., 1883-10-04
THE WIFE'S STORY.
From the Waverly Magazine.

At eighteen was married, and my
husband was an author. / wonder il all
the readers who linger entranced over
the pages Of books and the columns OF
newspapers have any idea ofthe thought,
the toll, with which these creations ofthe
brain are wrought out? I never had be-
fore became Johns wife.
p ''What could John Everett haye seen
to admire in me?" I 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 q month-can't
I go too?"
Ny husband looked up - m his papers
in surprise.
concluded to spend; such quiet sum-
mer together here"
"Its so awfully stupid here, all by our.
selves" said I, ''like modern edition OF
Darby and JOAN"
"But Darby and Joan enjoyed them
selves, Supposed" -,
"They must have found it horribly
wearisome after a while, love. John,
don't be sentimental Let us go to Sar-
atoga."
little wife?" he asked gravely, fixing his
large, serious eyes on my face.
''Of course do"
''Then we will 90"
I clapped my hands in gleeful sort OF
way and ran off to send note to my
dressmaker. Then, on second thought,
ran back to Johns study.
"How mech money are you going to
give me for dresses and thiHgs?"
"Dresses and thinss?"he repeated, in
some surpriEe. ''Why, it isn't six
months since you had your wedding
| outfit"
''That's just mans reasoning. AS if
I hadn't worn every one of my dresses
at least half dozen times. would
rather stay at home than go like
dowdy."
A panied look came over Johns pale,
intellectual face.
"How much money do you want?"
Il 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, II don't ask you to
| be saving of this, tor am sure you will
be that at any event. We are not rich,
! dear"
81 know, I know" retorted hurry
ing away, not over pleased with my hu5-
bands last words. It was scarcely three
days after having this conversation that
John found me crying in my room.
"Belle! crying" he exclaimed IN sur
prise. II thought you were perfectly
| ok r0rt 0f q nN0nfh
Saratoga"
81 can't help IT," I sobbed. II know
ITS very ridiculous. but it's cnlv 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
I am crying about"
| He looked at me with troubled eyes,
and then left the room.
"Belle," said Lulu Elwell, my hus-
bands cousin, who CHANGED to be 81:
ting with me, ''you have hurt John
deeply" eff you are 80 very consider
ate Of John it's a pity you hadn't mar,
ried him yourself. won't be lectured,' -
l 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.
Ihe 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 It ought to be
finished, and dare say you will enjoy
it Just as we'll in the company OF the
| MOrgans and Miss White"
pouted a little
"Of course you c. do as you please
but after all my preparations shall
most certainly co." said 1.
He bent his face to mine.
"Do not let us part in unkindness,
dearest" he whispered.
1 turned my head away:
"Good-by," said l lightly, and We
separated.
Saratoga was very gay that season,
and for the first few days all was whir
of happy excitement very congenial to
my gid ly brain. Som metimes, as thought
of John all alone in the study at home a
little thrill of homesickness came over
me; but was just at the age 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?"
Eyes, it is, Mrs. Stanton" I said, with
flush Of wifely pride.
! 'He Is in town, isn't he?" said Mrs.
Stanton. maliciously.
"He still remains in" answered
indifferently.
$50 does his cousi'. Lulu Elwell, don'I
she?" the old woman went on.
In
speak as lightly as possible, ~ am not
aware of Lula ElwelPs movements this
summer"
| "Oh, indeed! Well, young lady, l
don't wish te be a prophet of evil. but
it's dangerous thing to leave these
young husbands too much to the mercy
of their old sweethearts. Ha, ha, hap
laughed the old wretch, as she turned
away.
pretended to take no notice of he1
malicious insinuation, but they sank into
my heart, nevertheless, lik poisoned ar
rows. Saratoga lost all its attractions
for me. There was .1nasked ball the
next evening, but / countermanded the
order for my dress. and astonished An.
ME White by declining to take part in a
picnic to the lake.
"Why, Belle, what ails your" de.
|
'.Nothing except that am homesick,
and want to go to-"
"Oh," said Annie, with a meaning
laugh; "those husbands are terrible
magnets. Pm glad I'm not married"
How glad WAS when at last she len
me to myself, free to examine the mys
teries of my heart! I could not believe
it. John false and tickle? John sun.
ming himself in the light of his old loves
smiles while l was away? Aad vet how
strongly all the circumstances seem tc
point to it! l flung my things into my
trunk with reckless haste, determined
to return home at once and accuse John
Of his wirkedness.
Again and again as the train flew ovel
!. the rails Irehearsed to myself the scorn
1ul speeches I would make, the cutting
contempt with which would tell hin
! that henceforth we could he nothins
more than strangers to each other. But
it all ended in hurst of tears. 1fJohl
was faithless, my love, my demi.god ii
whom could believe?
It was 9 o'clock at night when at las
I stood on the steps at my own door
The servant stared at me in beWil
dered way.
master wasn't expectin' of you
, ma'am," she said, sand"
II know; let me pass" I uttered
hoarse)y, and the next moment l stood
, in Johns study. don't know whether
|. or not had expected to see Lulu Ell
well sitting beside him, but it certainly
, was relief to find that he was aloue
bending over his desk intently conten
\ 60