West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-12-14
HIS WIFE.

HIS WIFE.
The sun had just set when | arrived
at Somerset Station. A whole mile TO
walk in the pleasantest part of the
plcasantcst country in the world. Soft
hills bathed in the suns parting glow
dotted the landscape on every side, and
over all smiled a tender, brooding sky.
What keen enjoyment the anticipation
of summer all alone with my best
friend had afforded me-aud now | was
almost there. There was the house: old.
many-roomcd, and most of the rooms
ON the ground floor. Grandmother her
self had been the architect of the estab-
lShmcnt.
IL told your grandfather" said she
ON one occasion, "that no man was 90
ing to plan house for me TO live in.
What does man know, should ike to
lie told, of a woman's needs? If he'd
built il according to his notion there
would have been three or four hights
of stairs, and then, with baby on each
arm and two or three hanging TO nv
pettcoats. | might have spent most of
my time on 'em-but / knew BETTER
As events proved, grandmother was
correct in her predictions. An cnthusi-
asuc lover OF nature was this old lady
OF seventy years. Yes, there she was.
L caught q glimpse OF her white sleeve
on the window-sill. How exquisite the
taste of this presiding genius. Hello
trope. mignonette and white roses
Grandmother rose bushes were the en-
Wy of the whole nc'ghborhood Shy
little violets bordered the gravel walks
leading to the low door-stone, and over
beyond in grandmOther's pet field mil
lions of yellow-hearted daisies nodded
and beckoned 10 the soft evening breeze.
Avoiding treacherous pebbles, | cut
quietly across to the front door, steal
ing with cat-like tread through the long
narrow hallway, and entered the sit
ung-room on my tip-toes. Wonderful
victory. Twice before had tried this
wonderful dodge. and each time had
the old turkey-gobbler betrayed me.
Where was he on this occasion. and
why, when / really needed his services.
dld he not prove my friend? Softly.
Only step or two more. The sensa-
ton OF the next minute wasn't anything.
TO speak OF I mean by that it was indie
scribable. The back OF grandmother's
big armchair quite hid the occupant.
and, nothing doubting. | made with
great deXterity for grandmother ewes.
found the eyes, but they ddn belong
TO grandmother. | knew that before
Their saucy owner had imprisoned my
hands.
"Who is it?' said he, like one first
awakening from sleep. LET me
guess. ne fingers are too little Tor
Madge, and too long to belong to Sa-
rah.
found my tongue then. / would not
wrench my hands away; that would be
rudenes,; for he evidently supposed
them TO be the property Of some init
Dsate friend
Please release me-" / said: and
then, as he rose quickly, apparently sur
pused by the vO Gee Of q stranger. I
added. rather ludcrousIy, suppose, for
the tall fellow I'M the shirt sleeves laughed
right heartily 81 thought YOU were
grandmother.
'Neycr was taken for an old lady be-
fore, he answered. with provoking non
chalance. and then added, as he hastily
drew ON % dre,-ing-down: "What doyou
think ahoutit uoW2'
thinks ] should like 10 know where
grandmother f., and "
And what am doing hcrc9' he in
tcrrupted, vs. OBJ another laugh "Your
grandmother has gone 10 spend the
evening with % sick ueighbOr belong
10 Tine next hDu-o--Or rather am visit
lng my sister. She wa. unexuccfcdly
tel grained away. and as have been
Dr. and ann not quite well enough to
take care OF myself I'm the absence Of n
hyusohccpcr. your blessed grandmother
offered tO look out for me until my
ster return. Ny nam - David All
c1tt and yours, ] take 30, i- Miss Susan
Ellis. and then wc shook hands
DC evening marked new era iu my