Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-05

''For being such stupid brute as to
bring home company without know
i1g whether you were Ill or well, was
the reply. ''But you see, my darling.
I net her unexpectedly on the boat,
and what could [ do? To tell the
plain truth, my dear, she invited her
self here to tea, but of course couldn't
explain to you al the bedroom door.
while she was standing ia the hail be-
low. And all through the evening I
was looking and longing for the
whistle of that city train. l knew
you must be suffering tortures. YOU
were so pale and still, and entertain
ed her, in your place, to the best of
my ability; but, by Geergel it was
hard work. Poor Mildred, she used to
be nice, pretty, supplemented, in
nocent little girl, and | loved her as a
sister in our young days. But now.
between her Partisan dress and Paris
ian affections, her paint and powder,
and patches and false hair, she does
not seem like the same person to me at
all. In fact, little wife, you are the
pest company can have in this world,
and I sometimes think don't care if
I never have any other till / die. How
is the poor little head now? Lean it
on my shoulder-so."
He drew her nearer and pressed his
lips fondly upon her forehead.
81 am so thankful, dear, that YOU
are just what you are" he went on.
''This hiding the advance of years is a
false and terrible thing to me. Poor
Mildred! she was gray many year
ago, and yet she fancles that she can
cheat every one into believing her
young again by the arts of her toilet"
"Paint-powder-false hair!' muir
INJURED Lizzie, wonderingly. walter.
are you sure?"
"Why, where were you eyes that
you could not see them?" said he,
laughing. "But I forgot that you
have not known Mildred from her
earliest years, as I have. To me the
change is plain enough. Thank
Heaven you will never degrade your
self, my dear"
"Then don't object to-you
don't dislike gray hair, Walter?" ask
ed Lizzie, anxiously.
what question! Wait till your
hair turns white, my love, and you
will see that 1t is as dear to me as
when it is as black as now. E"
"But, oh, it is white already" said
poor Lizzie, almost Historically. And
she was SO beautiful and graceful ard
accomplished - so perfectly dressed,
too-and she sang so beautiful. and
YOU listened, Walter. and YOU talked
to her, and L was only poor, pale,
silent creature, and, oh, dear, only
look at this"
She lifted the dark tresses aside,
showed MIN the gray locks upon her
temples, and burst into tears. It was
just one of those utterly absurd,
hysterical, nonsensicaI outbreaks that
a woman now and then must give
way to or die, and that man can
never check in better or more kindly
way than Walter Hazledean did, by a
silent embrace and kiss.
Gradually the wife grew calm.
Laying there upon his faithful heart,
and listening to his whispered words,
| she said how unWarranted all her
Jealous suspicion and suffering had
been.
"You will be wiser another time,
my love-" said her husband, as they
turned to enter the house together.
''But in case you should ever, through
illness. or from any other reason,
distrust me again, let me have tails
man to carry with me that will recall
to you all that we have talked about
tonight"
Lifting the dark tresses aside, he
took g small penknife from his pocket
and severed a whitened lock.
There, Lizzie, love, I'll wear that
next my heart forever" he said, rails
ing it to his lips.
He led her in, and the door of their
home closed between them and all
the folly and suffering of the outer
world.