The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-01-23
TOM MlDDLETONS WIFE.
The Story of PIucky Califor-
MIA Woman.
BY rLoaA nAlNs LoransAn.

Kate Mitchell was one Of those unfor-
tuuaie women whose surplus physieal en-
ersies distinguish them from others Of
their sex As child she was known as
a tomboy,n and prim mothers held her
up as an awful warning to their little
daughters, while in her own house the
question Of how 70 subdae her buoyant
spirits was wrestled over with true ma
ternal solicitude. When she grew Up, So
cieiy frownei upon her as a hoyden,"
and her way was continually beset with
thons.
AZ eighteen she could row. and swim,
and ride, and play lavn-;ennis Ike a
bay. she was a great walker, and upon one
OCCASION had walked To AIt. DiabIo and
back IN tvo days, with her brother and
a couple of friends, feat which alone
would have suihced to place her under a
ban in san FrAncisco's best society. That
she sang like a bird, danced like a sylph,
and was, altogether, a very amiable pure
minded girl, was small Offset for the
sum Of her iniquities, and although she
vas exceedingly popular among set of
young and irresponsible boys, conserya-
tive circles frowned upon her, and it was
generally understood that she wasa young
person Of most radical and dangerous ten
deneies
L was, therefore, i matter Of polite re-
gret when the announcement of her com
ing nultials with one II this same conser-
yAtiye circle was received Tom Middle
ton was a promising lawyer, ofexoellent
family aud irreproaehahie manners. It
bad been generally understood that Toms
ideal was ola different type, and more
after the pattern Of the elegant society
women with whom he had been accps-
toned 90 associate. His intimate friend
and boon companion. Jack spencer, who
bad always disapproyed Of Kate, under
took 10 pose rs the mouthpiece Of society
and echoed its sentiment in Toms unwil-
ling ear. Tom stood siannchly by his
celors, bul bis friends words sank deep
into bis soui, nevertheless. lie secretly
res9iyea that FOR his sake and her own,
Kate must by ali means be toned
down
He succeeded even beyond his hopes
nine years after her marriage. few would
have recognized in the quiet, repressed
woman. the gay aud spirited girl Of form
~ DAYS. Kate was fond of her husband,
and the alchemy Of love had wrought
the change but it is a dangerous thingto
me,idle with spiritual chemistry as well
as the forces Of the material world. aud If
Tom had known shat pent-up iongings
snd rebellious inciinations ragged beneath
his Wife's quiet exterior. he might have
repented his success. But he went on
callously and hlindiy, as men viii when
dealing with delicate forces which they
cannot understand. and Kate kept her
grievances 20 herself Two children came
-ihe elder a girl. siery. unnamed little
creature. who made ;he mothers heart
ache as She saw q boy, s;nrdy, deiiber-
ate. Ike his father.-W hen the children
grew Larger and needed room for exercise
and outdoor air which their city home
would not afford, they took up their resi-
denee in a little country home, not 50
far away bat that Tom could travel back
aua forth daily and attend to his bnsi-
ness, and il is here that our story finds
jhem.
One gray. December day, Kate stood ct
her window, gazing out upon the land
scar.e. L had been dnil, tiresome week. +
several DAYS before, Ton had started of
on q long-promised vacation, which w2s
TO be Dedicated to hunt in the mount
aims. in company with a party Of friends
She was thinking, with envy, Of this
houting party, and wondering, halfbit-
terlv. why snusementsth that were cohced-
e3 to be proper and healthfal for men,
should not be healthful and proper for
women. How she would have enjoyed
the long tramps overthe hills, theexcite-
nlent of The hunt the JOY Of holding
good gun on her shoulder and knowing
that she could sight and shoot with the
rest of them She felt wicked solace as
she thought Of the showers that had fai-
len IN the valley the night before and the
clouds that had hung constantly over the
mountains. She was lonely, duh and
eross, and chsfed sgsins; her hedged-in
life. with it narrow boundaries and sense
less restraints
There was rush Of feet through the
house, the door of her room opened. and
the children burst in.
Mamma, the creek is up Take US
down 10 see it,
The childish longing for novelty and
excitement found an instant echo 10 her
heart. They had run in from outdoor
play, and were bonneted and cloaked,
With rubber oveTshoes TO protect their
feet from the damp earth. As for her. it
was refreshing TO evads Brideetss vigilant
ege, and to steal out of the front door in
her loose honse-dress, bare-headed, and
with worsted slippers on her feet They