The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-12-17
HoWIWoN MY WIFE.

enjoying the little breath of air that was
playing idly with the dense sluggish
foliage overhead, when l came unex-
pectedly upon a little cottage situated a
little way from the road.
The grounds were tastefully laid out,
and there was q dainty bit of yelvety
lawn in front and at one side of the /
house.
Involuntarily I paused to take in the
pretty picture, and as I stood leaning |
against the lawn fence, caught the |
sound of female voices. Then I dis
covered that they proceeded from a |
small grove at the side of the cottage. |
There were four persons in the chat |
tering group. seated almost out of sight /
from where had first stopped. There |
was an elderly lady, and young girl of |
probably sixteen, and two young ladies |
of about eighteen and twenty-five re-
spectively.
The elder of the two was blonde, |
and though possessed of a fair face and |
good figure, dismissed her from my |
scrutiny almost instantly as l caught
sight of the other. This one was a
study upon which my mind as well as
my gaze dwelt, to the exclusion of the
rest of the group.
She was of medium height-she was
the only one of the fair quartet standing
perfect figure, rather inclined to slen-
derness, and with a face that would
always command more than q casual
glance.
It was the work of but few moments
to take mental picture of this charm
ing girl, and I also added to this crime
the theft of bouquet of the odorous
honeysuckle.
Casting glance at the pretty cottage,
saw a small piece of paper tackled to
verandah pillar, upon which I deci-
phered, with the aid of glass, the fol-
lowing legend, written in small fe-
male hand:
"To let; enquire within"
: Immediately I wanted to hire that
cottage Not that I needed it, or had
any earthly use for it; but sort of in
sane desire seized me to get possession
of the nest that held the beautiful bird,
under the ridiculous and Illogical rea-
soning, or rather lack of reason, that
the bird, of course, went with the nest,
in business way.
had put my hand upon the garden
gate, when l suddenly discovered, lying
upon the verandah, large Newfound-
land dog, who raised his massive head
and looked at me inquiringly, and
fancied, a little belligerently.
have mortal horror of dogs-that
is, other peoples dogs and particularly
loose dogs. So l hesitated, and as l
saw no way of attracting the attention
of the group without shouting to them,
retreated like coward. There was
Cave Canem written all over the house
for me, and even for a closer view of
the fair creature in the garden, would
not take the risk of the dog.
No; would stroll out that way again
the next day, and would get Jenny,
my married sister, to come with me.
ITO look at cottage!'' said Jenny in
establishment, when 1 asked her COM
pany for this purpose. ''What in the
world do you nleang"
s'Oh, it's such a lovely little nest,
thought I'd secure it in case l should
get married, or anything of that kind.
Don't you think it would be more in
the line of variety to secure the wife
firstp'' she asked, knowing that / had
none in view as yet.
at is a sort of Toodles idea," adj
mitted; 'but I'd like you to see it. y
So we went; we saw, and l was con-
quered. We enquired within. Jenny
was captivated with the cottage and
grounds, and There was only one soli-
.tary object in the whole premises that l
saw sufficiently well to be able to de-
scribe it intelIigently afterwards.
'.Did you notice, Ned, how admirably
the rooms connected, and how space
was economical everywhere"
81 didn't notice particularly" said
rather abruptly, thinking only of the
rooms as connected with the superb
central figure-Mary Anderson, as we
learned her name was-and of the
economy of space only in the light of
| the immense space that there was at
present between us-Mary and me, /
| mean.
s.And what a beautiful tint of brown
the cottage was paintedr' she added.
Beautiful, beautiful said, looking
| dreamingly out of the window, and
thinking of the exquisitely lustrous
brown eyes.
'tNed!' said Jenny suddenly, starting
me out of dream in which l was pic
turing myself and Mary as the occupants
of the cottage, without knowing actually
whether the house was painted brown OF
green, or painted at all, for that matter.
ftNed, do YOU know don't believe you
have the faintest notion of hiring the
house; nor do I believe you know
whether the cottage contains two rooms
or ten, or whether there was front OF
back door or windows to it.
/ met her concentrated gaze of incred
J ulity and her provoking smile with 8
look which was meant for an injured
and indignant one; but felt that my
hot face betrayed me, SO said nothing
more about it then.
A few DAYS only had elapsed sinct
Jenny and had looked over the prem
ises to let; or, rather, since Jenny haC
] looked them over, while had-but NJ
matter; few days after 1 was at thu
cottage again, this time alone.
The entire group of female ianitresse
showed me over the house again, tn
elder lady, the mother, pointing out t.
me the conveniences and praising them
: and /. looking ALWAYS at Mary. VIII
seemed averse to parting with the home
+ assented to all the old lady said abou
the rooms. etc, while my eyes took il
nothing, and my wounded heart assent
! ed TO nothing except Mary and her love
her heart.
E "How much of family have YOU
, Mr.. Barton?" said Mrs. Anderson Incl
dentally, while showing the nest bed
chambers.
! 1 stood m the upper hall surrounded
by the three young ladies, and tn,
, mother stood at the door of the from
chamber.
None at all. y replied thoughtlessly
Four pairs of astonished eyes of var
/ ious hues were focused upon me in
: stantly.
The grey eyes of the elder woman
seemed to pierce my subterfuge, but
turned to the liquid brown eyes for re
lief to find in them puzzled expression
; only.
Then you are contemplating mar
+ rage? questioned Mrs Anderson
ayes | said boldly, still staring al
pretty Mary, who turned away her ewes.
II think the place viii suit me very
well, added mechanically. And then
, to myself: 1T would be paradise for me,
with that girl to share iti''
s.And could you decide the matter
soon?" asked Mrs. Anderson. ut is
so many people running in to look il
over
1T must be, indeed. . I replied. ..She
includes me, of course, in the annoy
anee, y mentally added. Il win take
the place. said ! suddenly, with the
fooihardy reservation wildly in my
mInd-s.f Mary viii remain and be its
mistress
The latter had turned away from the
little group, but not before 1 had seen
the miserable tears start into the dear
eyes. She was evidently panied at the
thought Of leaving the pretty nest
What should do2 ssGod knovs /
don't want her to leave Il, I thought.
would take the wise sister into full
confidence. and she would undoubtedly
pilot me through the trouble
BEFORE leaving had managed to add