The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-12-16
"HOPE l DON'T INTRUDE.o

"HOPE 1 DON'T INTRUDE.. :.
Mr.. Andrew Frosty chanced to reside
in one OF long straight row of houses,
no one OF which bore any special mark
| on It's front by which it could be dis
| tinguished from another. Such row
of buildings it would be very hard
matter TO find anywhere else in the
| world; or even so alike; all with seven
steps; all with porticoes; one as alike
any other as could possibly be.
Tack on another item. Mr.. Frosty
was as jealous a man OF his wife as any
person need be. He was terribly ieaI-
Ous-and that is quite enough for the
happiness or comfort of any family
Now it is an awful thing for man to
be jealous of his wife at ali; if he have
| reason for it, it most certainly is; and if
! without cause then 1t is vastly more So
When either man or wife falls into such
wretched habit as that, they may as
| well draw their cotton caps over their
eyes and say good night to the world.
Living is no sort of an object to them.
But whether Mr.. Frosty had any
reason to be Jealous of his wife is not
we never thought he could have; for a
kinder, gentier, sweeter, more amiable
and devoted wife than she made him,
it would be difficult to put your finger
upon anywhere in the street. But Mrs
Frosty was young and had a good deal
of beauty, too, and was remarkably at
tractive in her manners. 1t would not
be at all strange if there were reasons
sufficient to excite Mr. Frosty against
! her; though, if there were, he ought 10
have been heartily ashamed of himself
and gone and got palmer wife to be-
Gin with.
Not many doors of, in the same row
of undistinguishable dwellings, lived
Col. Sawyer. Now the colonel rather
prided himself OH being esteemed a
gentleman. Without assuming to be
what is popularity termed a ladies
man. he nevertheless was extremely
particular in his carriage toward them,
aiming always to impress them with a
sense of his perfect purity and chivalry
and truth.
No one in the neighborhood, OF in the
wile-wOrld either, that | know of, ever
suspected him of being capable of in
suitng any one-ieast of all lady
Mothers along the street held him up
before the eyes OF their sprouting sons
as an example of the loIty and true.
and fathers spoke of MIN now and then
10 their eldest daughters. and hoped
that if they ever thought of marriage
! aud il is Just possible that some of
rhcm did-lhey would be satisfied with
nothing less than character like his.
This certainly would seem TO be praise
enough.
Coming home musingly, and with his
head down, one evening, the colonel
| thought no such accident was possible
as that he should mistake his own house,
especially as he had been in and out
that way so many times.
Perhaps the very fact that he felt such
a confidence was the greatest reason
why he should make a mistake at all.
! Bat n he was very much occupied with
his reflections. he abandoned himseli
entirely to what he knew of the way
home. and thought, of course, he should
reach that pleasant spot all in proper
time
The consequence was, on this parti-
cuiar occasion, at least, that he slipped
himself quietly in through Mr.. Frosty
! front door, hung up his hat and coat
in the hall, and started for the dining
/ room.
As all the houses in the row were SO
much alike on the outside. their internal
arrangements We're pretty much after the
same fashion likewise. so that the hall
or Mr.. Frosty seemed exactly like his
hnn ~
opened just where his own did.
The instant he opened the door, how
ever, he began TO awaken TO his error.
The table was spread in the middle OF
the room, and the pretty Mrs. Frosty
sat near the CRATE, just glancing over
! the newspaper.
''Ah," exclaimed be, bowing and
scraplng confusedIy; Il beg pardon.
Really Mrs. Frosty, | beg pardon"
In 4 moment the astonished lady was
on her feet, her face flushed with the
/ natural excitement of so unlooked-for a
| visit. She knew not what TO say.
! This is ludicrous mistake, l de,
/ clare, Mrs. Frosty" said the colonel.
Here | am invading and taking pos.
/ session of your house, when thought
| was safe and snug in my own. Ha
/ ha! ha! All this comes of these houses
I wearing such similar faces. But it's
| the first mistake of the kind | ever
made, and | trust you'll excuse it,.
Mrs Frosty comprehended it instant
! ly, and began good laugh over his in
nocent adventure.
If l should ever happen to get
caught so myself" said she; and the
thought of the consequences made heI
put her white hand before her face that
she might have her laugh out unseen.
1--WE are always grateful for call from
/ you, Col. SAWYER added Mrs. Frosty.
Now you are here, and dinner viii
/ soon be on the table, why don't you
stop and sit down with us? My husband
viii be in soon. | am expecting him
every minute"
The colonel began to thank her fol
her polite invitation and to excuse
himself by reason OF urgent engage.