The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-21

SuuucuN iOOAOo up. ACh hStiCoS oN
preston gave place to one of animated
interest. Father Somers," she began,
timidly, lido You suppose-do you
think-I could get up a reading?"
"A WHAT" and Deacon Somers
turned surprised and puzzled face
upon his daughter-in-law. 1t was so
new for her to betray any interest in
anything.
"A reading. You know I took the
prize for elocution when L graduated.
I know ever so many things l could re-
cite, and it might draw a crowd just
from its being something new. We
could charge twenty-five cents admis-
sion, and it would give the impression
of something good at least. After they
had heard me once they could decide
for themselves if I am worth hearing
again"
Deacon Somers looked upon the
glowing face and animated mien of
Dave wife with increasing wonder.
Was this the list!ess girl he had seen
few minutes before?
"'Pon my SOUL" he calculated, 81
don't know but it might draw crowd,
just from curiosity. Everybody would
60 to see Dawes wife. Not that hev
much of a opinion of readin's; never
heard any but once, and then l went
to sleep. But it mig ht draw, seem
it's you. You can try if you want to"
Dawes wife did try it. 1t was an
nounced before service Sunday morn
ing that Mrs David SomerS would give
reading in the church editice on
Thursday evening; admission twenty
five cents. Proceeds to be applied to-
ward the church debt.
Again there was breezy stir in the
congregation, and scores of eyes were
turned upon Dawes wife, who sat in her
silent, white composure, with her dark
eyes lifted to the face of the clergy
man.
But Sarah Jane Graves could not
help noticing as she had not before the
marked change in the young wife's
face since the day she entered that
church a bride.
"How she is fading! wonder if she
is unhappy" she thought.
Thursday night came fair and clear.
As Deacon Somers had predicted, the
announcement that Dawes wife was
to give reading had drawn house;
the church was literally packed. Dawes
wife rose before her audience with no
words of apology or introduction, and
began the recitation of the old, hack
neyed, yet ever beautiful
"Curfew shall not ring tonight
1t was new to most of the audience,
and certainly the manner of its delivery
was new to them. They forgot them
selves, they forgot their Surroundings,
they forgot that it was Dave wife who
stood before them. They were alone
in the belfry tower clinging with bleed
ing hands to the brazen tongue of the
bell as it swung to and fro above the
deaf old Janitor's head. When the
recitation was finished two or three of
the audience found themselves on their
feet. How they came there they never
knew, and they sat down with shame
faced expression.
Sarah Jane Graves was in tears, and
one or two others wiped their eyes fur
lively, and then the old church walls
rang with cheers. So soon as they sub
sided Dawes wife arose, and, with
sudden change of expression and voice,
began to give 4 recital of IAN Evening
at the Quarters" 1t was negro dia-
lect, and introduced one or two snatches
of song and a violin air. To the as
constituent of her audience Dawes wife
picked up violin at the appropriate
time, and played the air through in
perfect time and tune; and then the
house resounded to another round of
cheers, and the entire audience was
convulsed with laughter. Everything
which followed. grave or gay, pathetic
or absurd, was met with mods of ap-
prevail, or the clapping of hands and
the drumming of feet. Somerville had
never known such an entertainment be-
fore. The receipts for the evening
proved to be over forty dollars.
"We've been married fifteen months
now" he said, land you've never been
away. 1 think change will do you
good. You seem to be running down
every day."
So she went. After an absence of
ten days she wrote to Dave to send her
paintings to her by express. She had
need of them; would explain when she
returned. Dave packed them careful
ly, and sent them with sigh.
Poor Dave! He had come to realize
that his marriage was a great mistake.
To be sure, he loved Madge yet, but
the romance of his youthful attach
ment had all passed away in the dull
commonplace routine of his domestic
life, where Madge had proved such an
inefficient helpmeet.
He had been blindly in love with his
divinity; elated with the fact that he
had won her away from two or three
other suitors. Madge was brilliant
scholar and belle, and with the blind
faith of young love, Dave had believed
that she would excel in domestic duties
as in intellectual pursuits. Her igno-
minious failures, her utter useleSsness,
and his mothers constant and indis-
putable references to her inelficiency
about the farm work, had presented her
to his eyes in new light. The bril-
liant girl who was the pride of the col
lege, and the helpless, thriftless wife
whose husband was regarded with pity
by sympathetic neighbour BOD, were
two distinct individuals as were also
the young elocutionist carrying off the
honors of her class, and the tired, tear
full woman weeping over her soggy
bread and melted butter.
The success in her readings had re-
vived his old pride in her for a time.
But her consequent illness and listness-
ness had discouraged him.
Mrs. SOmers svy the express pack
age. and inquired what it was. Dave
told her, remarking a. the same time
that he did not know what use she in
tended to make of them.
"Maybe she's going to give 'em away
to those who will appreciate EN-" sug-