Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-02
Rouse the wild ding-dong Of the cymbal and


Il wonder why he stays so late?"
The woman who uttered these words
had repeated them a hundred times
since the bright Autumn sunset in
which she first sat down beside the
window to watch and listen for her
husbands coming, and it was quite
dark now, and still she pressed her
soft check to the easement and peered
into the shadows with her clear, blue
eyes.
She was very beautiful and very
young. But for the Wedding ring up
on her hand you would have called
her girl, and have believed her to be
waiting for lovers and not 4 hus-
bands coming. Yet she had been
married three long years, and he. to
whom she had given all her heart
when she stood beside him at the altar,
already neglected her, and left her to
watch evening after evening, night
after night, for his tardy footstep
which, in the old days of courtship,
had been the very echo of her own.
Something akin to regret was in her
heart Tonight rs She remembered, az
only Il neglected wife can, the love and
tenderness Of those past hours. How
he used 70 -y.zc lnto her eyes, and sing
TO her, ami bring her flowers and
books and music!
Why had he changed? Was it her
fault? The tears would come to the
blue ewes now, and she was wiping
them away when the light of lamp
fell upon the ceiling through the half
open door, and in another moment q
20 oh
want, evidently, entered the room.
in the dark again" she muttered,
land crying, too. It's a Shame-thats
what it is-a burning shame! Such a
pretty young crtter. and he used to
make an idol of herr And then,
setting down the lamp, she added,
aloud: Come ma am, come to dinner.
You know rs well as / do that Mr..
Powell won't be here for hours and
hours, and its wrong OF you to in
jure your health in this way. Do come
down.
The young wife arose, in obedience
to the summons of the old servant
for Hepsiba had been her nurse when
she was child, and was privileged
person, and not without some influence
and followed her conductoresS to the
dining-room, where the snowy cloth
was spread with every tempting
delicacy of the season, and where
everything, from the oval mirror be-
tween the windows to the ample coal
seuttle standing near the fire glittered
like polished silver.
1t is not because his home is cheer
less" she said, again and the thought
gave her q little comfort.
She sat down, and as she ate she
listened to every sound in the street
without. The wind was rising, and
every now and then some area gate, or
unfastened shutter was flung to with a
violent clang. But through all she
soon heard light quick step upon the
pavement.
''Ah, nurse, you were wrong" she
said, with bri CHIT smile, Here he is. :"
Nurse shook her head and choked
down the words, The first time in
three MONTHS" which she felt COM
PEELED to utter.
The door opened and handsome,
well-built man, with soft, brown
whiskers and hair that had a golden
CLEAN upon its darkness when it
caught the light, came into the dining
room.
I'm so sorry I did not wait for YOU,
Harry" began his wife, ..but nothing
is cold vet, hope, and"
"Oh, it's all right I'm glad YOU
didn't wait" said the husband in a
careless, off-handed manner, which
was peculiarly his own, and which
had singular charm about it. Go
on with your dinner, Rose. I'll help
myself"
And so he did, eating with hearty
appetite, and talking, all the while,
more merrily than he had done for 4
long time.
It was like old times, Rose thought
and her eyes sparkled. and her cheeks
caught soft glow in the freight as
she caught her husband looking at her
tenderly and admiringly.
He loves me still, she said to her.
self. Oh, 1 am sure of it! Dear
Harry! he loves me STILL"
And SO, when they were in the par
Tor, alone together, she put ner hand
unon his arm, as he stood before the