Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-12
"Mv huSbandf'

my husband!'
Husband Peter, isn't that a
child?"
Eyes, ma'am, said Jane, ''but he's
sick. [ don't know what ails him.
He sEivered, and then he was hot, and
he seems so strange. And our farm
didn't come up-I mean the corn and
the beans-and it rained yesterday
and came through the house and wet
ted us all over. Oh, please come over
and see what is the matter with my
husbandi"
1.-The Lord preserve us!' cried the
good old lady; lis that child crszy9
Come, Peter, let's see what she
means"
wherever they came from we must
take 'em home tonight" said Mrs.
Morton. Poor babiesl You carry
the boy, Peter: I'll fetch the little gal"
Jane looked up thankfully lnto the
old lady's face and said: "Wait, please,
till I get the chlldr'
''The child!" cried Mrs. Morton.
Land sakesl'
Then Jane dived into the hut and
brought forth her doll, with it's scorch-
ed face and yellow robe, at the sight
of which the old lady laughed so
heartily that she had much ado to get
into the gig again.
The children were comfortably
housed that day, and the whole truth
vas coaxed from them at last but no
one had the heart to return them to
the poohouse. Jane stayed with Mrs.
Morton to be brought up as help"
and Tom was apprentlced to carpen>
ter. The innocent little family was
brought up, and ''tne child" carefully
treasured in James trunk-for soon
she had trunk Of her own and clothes
to fill twas only n4emento of the
past.
So the years glided on. Jane grew
tall slim girl; Tom, big brown
young man. There was no sign of be :
ing town poor about either of them.
They were wholesome, well-fed,
bright young people as you would
wish to see. But one Saturday after
noon Jane, was washing the dishes
beside the kitchen window, an looking
up saw Tom gazing at her, and blush
ed a rosy red which certainly
was odd in a wife of so many years
standing.
"Come to ask you to walk little,
if you will, said Tom.
Jane promised to come as soon as
''the chores" were done; and this i'm,
portant act being duly accomplished,
put on her round hat and a clean
white apron, joined Tom, and the
two saying very little, sauntered
down into the woods and along the
wagon path to the edge of the little
brock that with all the changes that
had come to them sobbed and gurgl~
ed just as it did long ago.
Remember this place2'
eyes, "said Jane, shyly.
"And how when we were town
poor we ran away and thought we
were married and had our house and
farm, Jane?"
EYES," more shyly than before.
LISA long time ago." said Tom.
But this place doesn't alter much !;
seems Just the same. You haven't
altered either, Jane. You were very
very sweet then"
No answer.
Jane" said Tom, I'm going to
have another little house, something
bigger than we built then-not much
and little garden where our beans
will grow. Will you run away with
me again, Jane, and call husband"
for good? I'll try to make you more
comfortable than I did then, my
dear"
There was hand laid softly on the
young girls shoulder and Tom look
ed down into the blushing face. Sud
denly the tender eyes were lifted and
their lips met.
Land sakes!" exclaimed good Mrs.
Morton, wiping Der eyes as she kissed
the girl, who had become as daugh-
ter to her old age. "Land sakes Co
ing to be real man and wife after
ala"