Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-10-07
DIR. HOYT'S WIFE.
The Peculiar Circumstances Under
Which He Found Her.

winch He Found Her.
DIR. Philip Hoyt was annoyed when
he saw Alice Bayard's name upon the
wedding cards which he received from
Boston. To be sure he had never
definitely asked her to be his wife, but
he had never expected her to definitely
marry anybody else; not, at least, while
he remained an indefinite bachelor.
He was one of Dakota's multitude of
''rising young physicians and when
he considered that he had not visited
his home for three years, that his let
tiers, from the first intermittent. had,
after SIX months, become altogether re-
mittent, he had to acknowledge that
circumstances did not warrant even an
noyance.
Her image had been constantly en-
gagged in pouring imaginary tea for his
imaginary family, until the coming of
these cards; but it was one of the attri-
butes of DR.. Hoyt's beautiful, sunny
disposition that his future plans were
Always too vague to admit of severe dis
appointment.
Half an hour out of office hours Is not
much for even rising physician to de-
vote to amatory obsequies, and DR..
Hoyt was still engaged upon line of
memories, which began with "seeings
home when they were both in their
teens and ended with that last letter,
which he remembered as vapid affair,
not worth the answer il had never re-
ccived, when the Jingle of the Office bell
and the entrance of farmer from
ncighboring town reused him to reality.
well now, Doctor" said that indi-
vidual, Il calculate that You re wanted
considerable smart up Hellersvlle way.
One of the Roosians is nigh about done
for. lie fell off hay wagon fust, then
the hay wagon fell on to him. and, as
near as | can make out, the horses and
wagon took turns finishing him up by
rubbing him in the ground till the re-
mains want of much count / made
out about. that from their heathenish
jibSer. l was riding by, and the girl
that does their talking for them ran out,
and asked me to send you over. It's
that fourteen-year-old that brings in hay
often, / reckon's the one."
DIR. Hoyt had keen professional in
stlncts, and his preparations for de.
parture were completed with the old
mans story, and few moments later
he was driving rapidly toward tho
"Roosians, as the colony of Menno-
n to settlers was commonly called.
These are a peculiar people, who unite
the principles of the modern Quaker
with the practice of the ancient lshmael-
lite. EXiled from Russia, because OF re-
llgious scruple against military service,
they are still bit OF Old-World, old
time barharianism, planted in the new
est New-World civilization, because of
its newness equally savage. They are
fiercely content with their own manners
and customs; apart from their own poo
pie. fierce enemies and reluctant friends.
Their long, uncompromising coats and
their long, uncut boards (fOr the Men,
MONTE is Nazarene in that matter)
give nit expression to their characters.
SO far as the payment of taxes and the
cultivation of the soil goes, they are
good citizens; but socially they arc
Asatics and Mennonites still, and with
America and the world unacquainted.
Among all nations arc born-more
often, too, than is supposed -women
who are best described by the word de-
voted. They are the Jephthas, the Iphi-
genias, the Joans of Arc of history; de-
MED individual life, and destined TO be
objective, they are more frequently, If
less gloriously, found in the old maids
who care for other peoples children;
the leaven OF others Jumps, who, fill
ing out the measure OF lives not their
own, are themselves destitute. They
are beautiful or ugly as it happens;
they wear no mark on their foreheads,
unless it be the sign of a high and holy
purpose; nothing distinguishing, unless
it be an expression of the eye which
seems always to see outward, never to
look within.
OF such was Marie Won Sulevitch,
also a trial and puzzle to the orthodox
members of the simple community.
Without excuse she had refused to
marry Ivan in Russia, and when her
father foolishly INDUCED her, and would
again have permitted her to marry, this
time in America, Alexis, who was rich
in land and cattle, she refused as be-
fore; some quality in the girl, which the
rest found it-difficult to appreciate, ena-
bled her again to have her own way.
That had been years before, when she
was manageable; now she was twenty
three, and no longer counted among
the girls. She had never really been
counted among the girls; to dance with
her had never been so much fun as with
those who laughed more. Only Ivan
and Alexis had wished to worship her
rs saint. Ii was therefore fortunate,
perhaps, that neither had married her.
II they had continued to worship, the
other women might have become exact
Ing and forgotten that IL is honor
enough to work and rear children for n
good man, and reward enough to re-
ceive bread in return.
But the Mennonites, like other Pro-
Icstants, have not yet solved the prob |
lem of unmarried womanhood and they |
looked with suspicion upon Marie Won
Snlcvitch, who was twenty-three and had |
never cared for lover; not, at. least. |
until he had fever; for her delight and |
occupation WAS sickness of all kinds.
As the colony increased In sire she
'amc to be constantly busy. Babies |