The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20
TOM MIDDLETON's WIFE.
lie sT0RY OF A PLUCKY CALIFORNIA
WOMAN

<flora naincs Loughcad In the Argonant
" Kate Mitchell was one OF those unfortu- |
[nate women whose surplus physical ener-
gies distinguish them from Others OF their |
sex. AS q child, she was known as a |
"tomboy," and prim mothers held her up |
as an awful warning to their little daugh-
tiers while in her own home the question
Of how TO subdue her buoyant spirits was
wrestled over with true maternal solicit |
tude. When she grew up society frowned
upon her as "hoyden, and her way was
beset with thorns.
At eighteen she could row, and swim,
and ride and play lawn tennis like boy.
She was great walker, and upon one oc-
casion she walked to Mount 'Diabo and
back in two days, with her brother and
couple Of friends, feat which alone would
have sufliced TO place her under ban in
San Franciscos best society. That she
sang like bird, danced like slyph, and
was, altogether very amiable, pure
minded girl, was small offset for the sum
OF her iniquities, and although she was ex-
ceedingly popular among q set OF young
and irresistible boys, conservative circles
frowned upon her, and ii was generally
understood that she was a young person OF
most radical and dangerous tendencies.
II was, therefore, a matter OF polite re-
grot when the announcement of her COM
ing nuptials with one of the same conserv-
alive circle was received. Tom Middleton
was promising young lawyer, Of excel
lent family and irreproachable manners. II
had been generally understood that Toms
ideal was OF n different type and more
after the pattern OF the elegant society
women with whom he had been accus-
toned 10 associate. His intimate friend
and boon companion, Jack Spencer, who
had always disapproyed OF Kate, under
took TO pose as the mouthpiece Of society,
and echoed its sentiments in Toms UNI
willing ear Tom stood sianchly by his
colors, but his friends words sank deep
into his soul, nevertheless. lie secretly
resolved that for his sake and her own,
Kate must bo toned down"
He succeeded even beyond his hopes.
Nine years after her marriage, few would
have recognized in the quiet, rcprcssed
woman, the gay and spirited girl OF former
days. Kate was fond OF her husband, and
the alchemy Of love had wrought the
change; but il is a dangerous thing 10
with spiritual chemistry as well MS
tic tQrneA OF the material world, and II
Tom had known Shat pent-up longings
and rebellious inclinations ragged beneath
his wifes quiet exterior, he might have
repented his success. But he went on
calously and blindly, Us men will when
dealing with delicate forces which they
cannot understand, and Kate kept her
grievances 10 herself Two children came
the elder girl, fiery, untamed little
creature, who made the mothers heart
ache, as she saw in the child reflex Of
herself the other, boy, sturdy, deliber-
ate, like his father. When the children
grew larger and needed room Tor exercise
and outdoor air which their city home
would not afford, they took up their resi-
dencc in q little country home, not so far
away but that ION could travel BACK ana
forth daily and attend to his business, and
IL Il here that our story hnds them.
One gray December day, Nate STOOD NJ
her window gazing out upon the landscape.
il had been dull, tiresome week. Sew
eral days before Tom had started OF on n
long-promised vacation, which was TO be
dedicated TO a hunt in the mountains, in
company with party OF friends. She was
thinking, with envy, OF this huntingparty,
and wondering half bitterly, why amuse-
ments that were conceded TO DO proper
and healthful for men should not be
healthiul aud proper Tor women. How
she would have enjoyed the long uainps
over the bills, the excitement OF the hunt,
the 10y Of holding a good gun ON her
shoulder. and knowing that she could
sight and shoot with tho best OF theml
She felt wicked solace as she thought OF
the showers that had fallen In the valley
and the clouds that had hung. constantly
over the mountains. She was lonely, dull
and cross, and chafcd against her hedged-
In life, with It's narrow boundaries, its
senscloss restraints.
There was rush OF feet through the
hosse. The door Of her room opened, and
the children burst In.
mamma, the creek Is upl Take us
down 10 see III"
The childish longing for novelty aud ex.
element found an instant echo In her
heart They had run in from. outdoor
play, and were bonncted aud eloaked, with
rubber oyenhoes 10 protect their feet from
the damp earth. As for her, Il was re-
freshing TO eyade Bndgets yiglant eye
and 10 steal out OF tho front door IN hei
loose house dress, bareheaded, and VIII
woBted slippers ON her ieet They FOL
lowed garden path Tor niue distance
and then entered n narrow lane leading tf
aplace where they were. accustomed I,
ford In the summer time, but over which
now swept seething, tempestuous Hood
AS they looked and listened, Kate real cal