Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-09-16
HIS WIFE.

NaAA III viz
~pleasantest country in the world! Soft
hills, bathed in the suns parting glow,
dotted the landscape On every side, and
over all smiled o tender, brooding sky.
What keen enjoyment the anticipation
ola summer all alone with my best
friend had afforded me-and now / was
almost there. There was the house;
old, brown and many roomed, and the
most Of the rooms on the ground floor.
Grandmother herself had been the
arcl iteet Of the establishment.
'I told your grandfather" said she.
on one occasion, shat no man was go
ing to plan q house for me to live IN.
What does . man know, / should like
10 be told, of . woman's needs? II he'd
built according to his notion there
would have been three or four flights OF
stairs, and then with q baby on each
arm and two OF three hanging at my
petticoats, / might have spent most OF
nv time on 'em-but / know better"!
AS events proved, grandmother was
correct in her prediction. An enthus-
iastic lover Of nature was this old lady
Of 20 years. Yes there she was! |
caught a glimpse Of her white sleeve on
the windOw-sill. How exquisite the
taste of this presiding genius! Hello
trOpe. mignonette aud white roses!
GrandmOther's rose bushes were the
envy of the whole neighborhood. shy
little violets bOrdered the graveled
walls leading to the low door-stone,
and over beyond, in grandmothers pet
- -.sns--. v,llnur haarka1 daisies
nodded and beekOned to the soft even
ing breeze. Avoiding treacherouS peb-
bles, / cut quietly across to the front
door, stealing with cat-like tread
through the long, narrow hallway and
entered the sitting room on my tiptoes.
Wonderful victory! Twice before had
i tried this wonderful dodge, and each
time had the old turkey gobbler betray-
ed me. Where was he on this occas-
ior, and why, when | really need his
services, did he not prove my friend?
Softly, only q step or two more. The
sensation Of the next minute wasn't
anything to speak OIL mea by that
il was indescribable. fine back Of
grandmother's big armchair quite hid
the occupant, aud, nothing doubling,
/ made with great dexterity for grand
mothers eyes. / found the eyes, but
they didn't belong to grandmother. l
knew that before their sauey owner had
imprisoned my hands.
"WhO is t?" said he, like n first
awakening from q sleep. Let me
guess. The fingers are too little for
Madge, and too long to Sarah"
L found my tongue then. l wouldn't
wrench my hands away. That would
be rudeness; for he evidently supposed
them to be the property Of some init
mate friend.
"Please release me- | said; and, as
he rose quickly-apparently surprised
by the voice OF strangeT-l added,
rather ~IudicrOusly / suppose, for the tall
fellow in the shirt sleeves laughed right
heartily, al thought you were grand
mother"
"Never was taken for an old lady be-
FORE" he answered, with provoking
nonchalance; and then added as he
hastily drew on q dressing gown, "what
do you think about it nOwp
al think | should like to know where
grandmother Is, and"
"And what am / doing here" he in
teIrupted, with another laugh. "Ysur
grandmother has gone to spend the
evening with q sick neighbor. | 5elOng
to the next hOuSe-Or rather am visit
ing my sister. She was Unexpectedly
telegramed away, and rs | have been
i'll, and am o quite well enough TO
take care Of myself, in the absence ola
housekeeper, your blessed grandmother
offered to look out for me until my sis
ter's return. My name is Dayitt AlcOtt
and yours, / take it, is Miss Susan
Ellis" And then we shook hands.
That evening marked 3 new era in
my life. l was comfortable, as was al
ways the case at grandmother's, and l
was happy, tOO-happier than | had
ever been before. What it meant was
of no sort Of consequence to me then. /
did not stop to analyze my sensations,
but enjoyed to the utmost the strange
entertainment fate had placed before
NE. Mr.. Alcott showed where grand
mother had left the strawberries after
tea and then | skinned a pan Of norm
iTg's milk and prepared my supper.
"EOu have been to tea, Of course" /
inquired of the gentleman, who had
again taken up his book.
''Ges, but l should like a few straw
berries il you can spare me some" So
il CHANGED he drew a chair up to the lit
tie 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 came to the door and said:
"YOu needn't expect her before 9
O'Clock. / wish l could sit her with
you"
because / am still in quarantine.
Perhaps | might make it pleasant for
YOU indoors. II you are fond Of being
read to / will do my best"
"And there is nothing / am fonder
of" l answered, and followed him
into the house.
Make your selection" he said, point
ing TO q table quite OVERLAND with books
0Something Of hers,"I replied, pick
ing up an edition Of Mrs. Browning.
"All right now to please me, open at
random, and / will read there"
l lauRhingly assented. and placed
my fore finger plump on Lord Walters
wife
But why do you goF" said the lady, IS both
sat under the yew.
And her eyes were olive In their depths, as
the kraken beneath the sea blue,
Because | fear youS" he answered; because
you are too fair,
And able g %stI%ngie my soul in a mesh of
49,
"Please don't CO." / interrupted.
"Ilike the poem, but someway itisn't
pleasant now"
Hardly appropriate he aswered,
closing the volume dreamily, and then
added:
al suppose you think Lord Walters
friend q fool?"
He is the type Of 3 large class; but,
Mr.. Aleott, are We not trsSding on dan
gerous ground? Do you know what
lies just beyOnd?"
"Ies, that most exaspersting question
of 'woman's rights Aurora Lego set
ties that for me-"
at takes a soul to move 8 bOdy,'n he
repeated slowly. "'It takes 8 high
souled man to move the masses, even to
q cleaner style. It takes the ideal to
blow a hairs breath of the dust of the
actual. All! your Fouriers fsiled-be-