River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-01-24

pass, and overheard the request made.
They had sent for Sally. Shades of Plato
aud Socrates, endOw me with endurance
commensurate with coming trials.
The old lady came in and sat down by
the door, taking particular care TO avoid
noise and hustle. / expected she would
open a conversation, but was doomed to
disappointment. The small boy also came
in and hung over the fOotbOard of the
bed, cracking hazelnuts with his teeth
and slyly swapping the shells at his good
old grandmother. / lay with the pillow
over my head, and groaned every breath.
The clock struck eleven. just one hour
more and l would be relieved from my
somewhat tiresome predicament. only
sixty short minutes, but, all
Suddenly the half-strangled squall OF an
infant was heard at the front gate.
"Thar's Sallyw said the old lady,
speaking for the first time; and she added
something else which failed TO hear, for
The youngster had suddenly swooped
down on me with an aggressive demand
for my pocket-knife.
II want yer knife, daddy! Daddy, I
want yer knife!"
had hung my coat on the bedpost, and
tie knife was in one OF the pockets. /
told him so, as the quickest way Of getting
rid of him. and then turned to get a view
of my anxious wife. The first glance was
quite prepossessing. She seemed to be
rather a nice little woman and II really
seemed cruel to practice such a deception
upon her, even in sport l was waiting
anxiOusly for her first words, when that
blessed boy was heard from again.
"Oh, nanny! See what a purity
pickshur"
In rummaging around in my pockets he
had struck veritable bonanza, and, with
that generous pertinacity for which child
hood is remarkable, was determined to
share his discovery with the whole fam
lily.
The '.pickshur' he offered for inspec-
ton was a photograph of a younger sis
ter and myself, grouped" in a manner
that was highly suggestive OF brotherly
and sister'y affection.
'Oh, my" shrieked sister Kate. "That's
Dick"
LET me see that 2" exclaimed Mrs. Mil
Ter. excitedly. "Give me that photograph
this minute have right to see it," and.
wOman-like. she retreated to the darkest
corner of the apartment to investigate the
matter all 70 herself.
Presently she returned TO the bedside.
could not see her, but heard her firm,
decisive footballs, and in my dire appre-
hension Of what was coming l forgot, for
a time, TO groan.
Richard Richard Miller !"-She pro-
nounced the first name Cree char-r-rd"
in her anxiety TO let me know which one of
the Millers" she was addressing Whose
likeness is this:"
Mime" said I, with Washingtonian
love for yeracity that bodily fear could
not entirely Danish.
"Hear him, mother! he owns that this is
his picture"
The old lady had by this time secured
her specs" and was examining the pho
tograph with care and deliberation.
sally" said she. ''This hyar is Deck"
''Of course it is. know it-and he owns
it." said her daughter, bitterly. And
now, sir, will you tell me who that-that
woman is"
Certainly! 1t is my sister,"
What a chort.i OF denials went up at
this statement. Even kind hearted little
MOllie Joined in with the rest, and in
formed me that I ought to be ashamed Of
myself; to which humbly assented.
just then the old lady made discOv-
cry.
hyar;"
"'ETer thus through life, January 20th,
1879" chorused three feminine voices.
''Why, Sally" added Kate, solemnly
and slowly. "You had only been married
a little over two years"
/ glanced at the clock again. Twenty
minutes after eleven. Oh, for the power
of a Joshua! not to make the sun stand
90, Il,
january twenty, seventy nine" unused
the old lady. "Sally, whar's yer memmy-
randy"
Yes, your diary" put in sister Kate,
get it, quick"
Let me save YOU the trouble" said |,
resolved to confess all, and then throw
myself ON her mercy. Il can not bear to
witness your distress when | can explain
all with a word"-but she wouldn't listen
To me at all, aud l had to sit on the bed
side in silence and watch her turn the
leaves of hat COMPOUNDED diary.
"September-Oc t0ber-NOv-Ch, here il
is! January the 19th-Jan. 10Th. 'Rained
all day. Made a pair of pillow slips, and
slammed my new delaiu dress with tho
old one. l hope dear Dick will come to
see me tonight Oh, pshaw, that il
1877. Let me see. Here is '79, Jan. 10th.
Baby had the Group last night. Mother
thinks he is bad off. Wish Dick was here"
and here the little woman threw the
book down. and burst out sobbing as
though her heart would break.
"Oh, Dick-Dick, To think that-strug-
CLING on alOne-here by myself-and our
little darling baby at deaths doOr-every
thing to see after-and you off there with
her!"
The last word was scream which
brought me to my feet in alarm. Mrs.
Miller was evidently approaching hys-
terics.
"Oh-h-h dear" she continued. II had
only died before | saw that picture
standing there with his ar-r-rm around"
BY this time had reached the middle
of the room. where, coatless, in my stock
ing feet, and my head swathed in red
| was vainly striving for
hearing Finally Molly took pity on me
and interceded in my behalf.
1T is only just to hear what he has to
say, Sally"
Nothing that he can say will have the
effect now" sighed Mrs. Miller,
now totally exhausted, and reclining CA
rug with her head supported IA Hates
lap. speak on, sir"
Il am sincerely sorry that this has ever
occurred" 1 began. at IS all the result
of a very natural mistake. 1 am not your
husband. as you suppose"
could not continue, for my voice was
drowned in a scream.
And you have the hardihood to tell me
this before my mother and my child! Oh,
You unnatural monster"
could see that another paroxysm was
coming on and | fed. Not through the
hall. for she was between me aud the
door. but the entrance To side-room was
handy, and made use Of it.
found myself in a little apartment,
about eight feet by ten, evidently used as
a sleeping-roOm by the hired help, when
such was required in the busy crop season.
The only articles were "a bedstead and
chair. but in one corner sat a pair OF gum
boots, probably left by the last occupant,
and over the bed hung an Anticipated
specimen Of an army revolver. This last
l took from its nail and mechanically
turned in my hand, much as blind man
might have handled a book, not knowing
it was Shakespeare or the Bible.
Suddenly heard the voice of that awful
boy again.
"Goody, Cioody! We're going to have
chickin for dinner.
No attention was paid to his clamor,
aud he proceeded to explain at the top of
his voice
"'Cause daddy's got the 'volver and
he's goin' TO shoot our old rooster, | know
he is"
Oh. what a wealth Of undying love was
expressed in the Mortified cry that burst