Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-04-23
THAT WOMAN

Yes. WinOna, the less you have TO
do with that woman the better pleas
ed l will be-" said Frank Bennett to
his wife as they stood together on The
ver8nda Of the Mountain house.
''At any rate, replied Winona. you
might at least designate her by her
proper title-'that woman is scarcely
term for a gentleman to use n
speaking of q lady"
Bertha Roland, the woman Of whom
they were speaking, was widow,
eight and twenty years Of age. Her
hair was deep gold, which suggested
hours of patience spent under the
dyer's hands. Her complexion was
beautiful by the best Of cosmetics, but
even without those artificial additions
she would have been a handsome
woman. WinOna was just the Oppo-
site-dark, petite and only pretty.
'EWell, then" said her husband,
Mrs. Roland is not . fit companion
for my wife, and I want your friend
ship with her 10 come to an end at
once"
'"Then you will want in vain, re
piled his wife L arn not going TO
insult her just on account Of your
silly prejudice, which is caused by
your begrudging me- the little pleasure
get in her society"
you are wrong, WInOna; you are
at liberty TO enjoy yourself IS much as
you please, but not by putting your
self under obligations to that W0na-
an"
There you are, that woman again.
Mrs. Roland, my dear husband, con
siders me no obligation because ] ride
out with her on the back of one of
her horses, CT play lawn tennis on
her premises. She is nay confidential
friend, and am not going to be IN
grateful"
Every well, . Frank sadly said, 'do
as you please, Winona. I shall say
no more, no matter how much | feel
that Mrs. Roland is not a fit associate
for q respectable woman" Then he
walked away.
Winona was too angry TO speak.
This was their first quarrel, and she
felt it keenly- They had just been
married six months, and until sum-
mer had brought them to the Cats
kills all had been pecce and happi-
ness.
No more was said in regard to Mrs.
Roland until after supper, when Wi
mona said:
Frank, as you have promised to
play cards with Mr. Jackson. / think
I will Just run over TO Mrs. RQlands !:
| promised her I would"
1'That woman again" exclaimed
Frank; but he said no more, and Wi
noua went.
Her husband watched her enter the
gate OF the magnificent villa, and
then turned away with a sigh. Mr..
Jackson was beside him.
''You don't seem to like Mrs. Rol-
and" said he.
81 do not dislike her." returned
Frank; but we know nothing about
her or her antec1dents. Ny wife is
infatuated with her, and all [ say will
not keep her from that house"
''I agree with you; come take q
turn in the park, and will tell you
the best cure IN the world for your
wife's infaiuation."
In the meantime WinOna fastened
to her friends house, and found it
alive with mirth aud music. Mrs.
LOOlaEQ y laCS pGdl0S0 Will SLi4-1CS 1S
she Welcomed Winona, and until 10
o'clock the merriment was unbound
ed: then, to winona's utter surprise
and displeasure. her husband was
ushered iatO tha parI0r.
He spoke TO the hostess, politely but
coldly, and received her introduction
20 the other guests in a like manner.
Then he advanced to his wife, say
ing: ''Winona, [ have come TO escort
yeu home as soon as you are ready to
go. You need not be ii any particular
hurry though"
Winona was pleased with his words,
and followed her own inclination as to
fastening her departure.
Music and wine followed. and
while Winona played on the grand
piano her husband talked to Mrs. Ro>
land.
On the way home he said to Wi
mona: your friend is nicer woman
than I thought her to be.
The young wife's face beamed with
sniles. ''Oh, Frankr she cried, 81
knew you wouldco me TO my way Of