Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-06-07
~MIDDLETON'S WIFE.
Tho Story OF a Piucky California
Woman.

Woman.
Kate Mitchell was one Of those unfort-
unat women whose surplus physical en-
ergies distinguish them from others Of
their sex. A. a child, she was known as n
'~'tomboy." and prim mothers held her up
~ an awful warning to their little daugh-
tiers, while in her own home the question
81 how to subdue her buoyant spirits was
wrestled over with true maternal solicit
tuds. When she grew up, society frowued
upon her as a "hoydeu." and her way was
beset with thorns.
At eighteen she could row. and swim.
and ride. and play lawn-tennis ike a boy.
She was "A great walker. and upon one oc-
casion had walked to Mt. Diablo and back
IN two days, with her brother and a couple
of friends. a feat which alon. would have
sufficed 10 place her under n ban in san
Francisco's best society. That she sang
like a bird. danced like a sylph, and was.
altogether. a very amiable, p~ure-minded
girl, was u small offset for the sum Of her
iniquities. and although she was exceed
ingly popular among n set ~ young and
irresponsible boys, conservative circles
rownsd upon her, and IL was generally
understood that she was a young person Of
most radical and dangerous tendencies.
1t was, therefore, a matter Of polite re-
gret when the announcement Of her APP
preaching nuptials with one IF his same
conservative circle WAS received. Tom
Middleton was n promising young lawyer,
OF excellent family and irreproachable
manners. II had been generally under
stood that Toms ideal was ~ a very
different type, and more after the pattern
of the elegant society women with whom
be had been accustomed To associate. His
intimate friend and boon companion,
Jack Spencer, who had always disap-
proved OF Kate, undertook 10 pose as the
mouth-piece 1T society, and echoed it,
sentiments IN Toms unwilling ear. Ton
stood stauchly by his eoIors, bat his
friends words sank deep into his soul.
nevertheless. He secretly resolved that
for his sake and her own, Kate must b,
''toned down"
He succeeded evenbeyond his hopes. Min,
years after her marriage. few would hav,
recognized in the quiet. repressed woman
the gay and spirited girl OF former DAYS
Kate WAS fond Of her husband. and tn,
alchemy II love had wrought the change
but it Is a dangerous thing TO NEEDLE witt
spiritual chemistry A. well as the force
~ hA@ AAAAAfA a ~ ~ aAA'A "A I1slA Hlt
known what pent-up ~longings and rebel
rus t-nclinations ragged beneath hi
wife's quiet exterior, he might have re-
p:nted his succrss. But he went 81
eailously and blindly. A. men will whei
dealing with delicate forces which they cal
not understand, and Kate kept her griev
unees 10 herself. Two children eame-th
elder a girl, a fiery, untamed little Great
ure, who made the mothers heart ache. a
she saw in the child a reflex ~ herself: tn,
other, a boy, sturdy. deliberate. like h.
father. When the children grew larger
and needed room FOR exercise and out
door air. which their city home would no
afford, they took up their residence in
little country home, Not So far away bu
that Tom could travel back and fortl
daily and attend 20 his business, and il !,
here that our story finds them.
One gray, December day, Kate stood a
her window, gazing out upon the land
seape. II had been a dull, tiresome week
Several DAYS before, Tom had started Of
on a long promised vacation. which wa.
To be dedicated to a aunt in the mount
aims. IN company with a party OF friends
She was thinking, with envy, ~ this M. r
~ huntIng-party, and wondering. half
bitterly, why amusements tina were con
coded to be proper and healthful for mel
should not be healthfuI and proper 90
women. How she would have enioyed III.
long tramps over the hills, the excitemen
Of the hunt, the joy of holding a good rui
upo her shoulder, and knowing that "a,
could sight and shoot with the best o
them She felt a wicked solace a. sh,
thought Of the showers that had fallen i,
the valley and the clouds that had hun,
constantly over the mountains. She wa
lonely. dull and cross, and chafed ayains
her hedsed-in life, with its narrow boun
carries, it, seuseless restraints.
There was a rush Of feet through N,
house, the door Of her room opened. an,
the children burst in.
Mamma, the creek Is up, Take Il
down 20 sseitt,"
The childish longing for novelty and *
element found an instant echo in he
heart. They had run in from out-doo
play, and were bouneted and cIeake1
with rubber overshoes 10 protect their fee
from the damp earth. As for her. il WA
refreshing to eyade Br1dget's v~igilant eve
and to steal out u the front door in he
loose house dress, bare-headed. and will
worsted slippers on her feet. They fol
lowed a garden path for a little distance
andthen entered marrow lane Ieadingt5 ,
place where they were accustomed to FOR,
- the summer time. but over which nov
Ivept a seething. tempestuOus food.
- they looked and listened, Kate real
q That this was no ordinary freshet. hp
hprodact of a heavy rainfall over III
vast watershed. which had aecu
ID It's forces in the thousands q
91le~S and. joining issue with IN,
strssiS plunged down it's mar
-, = mighty ard irresisrabl,
they IoosSd she say a wall o
1ly rear up above and raUy
hem hke a miniature tids
b. the new wate- com.