Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
HOPE DON'T INTRUDE."

on It's 'front.' by which 1t could be dlStln
guished from another. Such a row OF
of buildings would be a very hard matter
to find anywhere else in the world; OF
even so alike; all with seven steps; al
with pOrticoes; one as alike any other as
could possibly be.
Tack on another item. Mr.. Frosty was
as Jealous man of his wife as any per
son need be. He was terribly Jealous
and that is quite enough for the happin
ess or comfort of any family. Now it is
an awful thing to be jealous of his wife
at all; if he has reason for it, it most GER
tainly is; and if without cause it is vastly
more SO. When either man or woman
falls into such a wretched condition as
that. they may as well draw their cotton
caps over their eyes and say good night
to the world. Living is nc sort of an OBJ
iect TO them.
But whether Mr.. Frosty had any reason
to be jealous of his wife is not what we
are going to settle. And yet we never
thought he could have; for kinder, gent
Ter sweeter, more amiable and devoted
wife than she made him, it would be diff
fcult to put your finger upon anywhere
In the street. But Mrs. Frosty was young
and great deal of beauty, too, and was
1t would not be at all strange if there
were reasons sufficient to excite Mr.. Frosty
against her though, if there were he
ought to have been heartily ashamed of
himself and gone and got palmer wife
to begin with.
Not many doors of in the same row of
undistinguishable dwellings,, lived Col.
Sawyer. Now the Colonel rather prided
himself on being esteemed a gentleman.
Without assuming to be what is popularity
termed 'ladies man." he nevertheless
was extremely particular in his carriage
towards them, aiming always to impress
them with sense of his perfect purity
and chiValry and truth
No one in the neighborhood or in the
wide world either, that know of, ever
suspected him of being capable of insult
ing any One-least of all a lady. Mothers
along the street held him up to the eyes
of their sprOuting sons as an example of
the lofty and true. And fathers spoke of
him now and then to their eldest daugh-
tiers, and hoped that if they ever thought
of marriage-and it is just possible that
sOmo of them did-they would be salts
fed with nothing else than a 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, es-
pecially 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 such a mistake at all.
But as he was very much occupied with
his reflections, he abandoned himself en-
tirely 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 particular
occasion at least, that he slipped himself
quietly in through Mr.. Frosty's front
door, hung up his hat and coat in the hall
and started for the dining room.
As all the houses in the row we're so
much alike on the outside, their internal
arrangements were pretty much after the
same fashion likewise, so that the hall of
Mr.. Frosty seemed exactly like mis- own
hall, and the dining-room door opeped
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.
"AhH' exclaimed he, bowling and scrap
ing confusedly; II beg pardon. Really,
Mrs. Frosty, beg pardon!'
In 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 ludierous mistake, | declare,
Mrs. Frosty" said the Colonel. ''Here l
am invading and taking possession of
your house, when thought I was safe
and snug in my own. Ha! ha! ha! All
this comes of these houses wearing such
similar faces. But it's the first mistake
of the kind I ever made, and trust you'll
excuse it,
Mrs. Frosty comprehended it instantly,
and began good laugh over his limo
cent adventure.
"If / should ever happen to get caught
so myself" said she; and the thought of
the consequences made her put her white
hand before her face that she might have
her laugh out unseen. "We are always
grateful for call from you Col. Sawyer
added Mrs. Frosty, Now you are here
and dinner will soon be on the table, why
won't you stop and sit down with us? MY
husband will be in soon. 1 am expecting
him every minute
The Colonel began to thank her for hel
polite invitation and to excuse himself BY
reason of urgent engagements for the
evening, and even while he was thus oc
cupied the outer door opened and IL
came the veritable proprietor, Mr.. Frost,
himself.
"Therew exclaimed his wife: my hus
band is coming now. You'll not be de
tanned any longer than you would a
home. Come, think you had better sto]
with u.s.
Along came Mr.. Frosty through tn
hall, looking cross and sour enough. Hi
face would have turned sweet milk in
twinkling.
The instant he caught the sound of
male voice in the dinning-room his oil
suspicion began to flame up again, an
as soon as he could creep along as far a
the door in his stealthy way, and look i
through the crevice and see who was there
his rage burst all bounds and made him
momentary mailman. Col Sawyer an,
his wife were in the room alone! That wa
enough!