The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-08-23
geIseteA Storp.
WIFE.

When Donald McKeon married
his ward, Jessie Sumner, many of
his friends said he had made a mis-
take.
She was merry, laughing girl
Of eighteen, fresh from school; and
he, her fathers old friend, quiet,
self-contained man of thirty-fve,
and it can scarcely be wondered
at that many wise heads were shak-
en- over the ill.assorted match.
Jessie had always stood a little
in awe of the quiet, stern man, who
had been q frequent visitor at her
fathers house during his lifetime.
But she was quite unprovided
for and Donald Nc Keon was
wealthy; and when he asked her to
be his wife in matter.of.fact way,
very much as he might have asked
her to be his house-keeper, it seemed
the easiest way to solve the trouble
some problem of her life; and be-
sides this, she knew her father to
have been under obligations to him,
and more than suspected that the
three years she had spent at a fash.
ionable school since her fathers
death had been at his expense.
And SO they were married, and
he took her to the old home that
his family had owned and occupied
for generations.
1t was quite stately house, sur
surrounded by handsome, old-fash-
ioned grounds. But a little time
ago it had been quite on the su-
burbs, but the city had reached out
ever-encroaching arms until now it
was surrounded by stately rows of
brown stone and glaring new
bricks.
But in spite Of its great, hand
somely-furnished rooms, it's stores
of plate and fine linen, and the
bright, old-fashioned garden at the
back, it seemed dreary prison to
the laughter-loving girl-wife.
Mr.. McKeon had done what he
could to brighten the old rooms,
and had built a large conservatory,
knowing that Jessie was fond of
flowers, and she might have been
quite happy had he known more of
the ways and needs of women.
But he had always been devoted
to business, caring little for the
society of women, and knowing lit
tie of them, except the grim, old
spinster aunt who had presided.
over his house since his mothers
death, until he brought his young
wife home.
It never occurred to him that it
was s dreary sort of life for girl
like Jessie, alone in the gloomy old
house all day, with only the SER
wants and the ghosts of bygone
generations for company.
And when she grew pale and
listless, and lost her old elasticity
of spirits, a fear that had haunted
him since his wedding day took
possession of him and poisoned his
life-a fear that she had married
him for home and position and al
ready regretted her choice.
Gladly would he have given her
back her liberty had that been pos
sible. But being q sensitive, un.
demonstative man, he let her see
nothing of this, but rather shrank
from her because of the wrong he
felt he had done her, and came and
went and made no sign.
And then people began to dis
cover that Mrs. KcKeon was q very
charming woman, and her husband
wealthy and influential man, and
invitations began to pour in upon
her.
And Jessie plunged into this
new life of fashionable dissipation
with q zest that was the natural
reaction from the gloom and lone
illness of the past year.
At first her husband accompanied
her wherever she went, for he had
somewhat old.fashioned notions as
to what was right and fitting for
women to do.
But it was a life he utterly de.
tested. 1t interfered with his busi-
ness, and he looked below the sur
face and saw the hollow falsehood
it was after all, and it grated on his
fine ideas of truth and sincerity.
Perhaps he was somewhat dicta-
torial in his manner of telling her
this; perhaps she imagined so. But
when he urged the point she re-
belled against his assumption of au.
thority.
It was their first quarrel and their