Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-28

Il IL explain some udN. business Is
business. Now, be quiet and comfort
able, like a good girl. Goodnight"
He tried to kiss her, but she pushed
him away. Then he took his hat and
overcoat and left the house with little
laugh not like his own.
Hardly had he passed the threshold
when his wife sprung to her feet, slipped
on an ulster that hung in closet in
the diningroom hall, donned little
round cap and gray veil, and sneaked
out of the basement door-sneak was
the word.
''She's following him this time, :" said
Rosa to the cook.
jealous again, said cook.
Il guess he's giving her reason, said
Rosa.
Its something dreadful, = said cook,
''the way married men 90 on"
Meanwhile Mrs. Elicit Iurked in the
shadow Of the stone balustrades and
saw that her husband stoop under the
gas-lamp at the corner examining the
note which he had received.
Well, wherever he went there also
she would 90. WhosOever he might
meet should also meet her. This was
the end Of everything, the finale. But
she would not weep-she would have
long years for that. She would behave
as an insulted wife should.
He was about to enter a car; she
also hailed it. An ulster and thick
veil reduce all women to one level. He
would not know her even if he saw her.
She sat in her corner and saw that he
stood on the platform smoking. Which
way the car was going she scarcely
noticed. He left it at last and entered
another; so did she. Again he smoked
on the platform, but at last Fort Ice
ferryi' shouted the conductor and she
followed her husband into ferry-boat.
1t was dark, and though it did not rain
the air was full of moisture. There
were very few people upon the boat
but several of them were brutal-look-
ing men, and they stared at her, SEEM
ing to wonder at her thick veil. She
had forgotten her gloves and her SMALL
white hands glistened with rings, some
of them very valuable.
As she left the ferry and, following
her husbands figure, crossed the great
track of a railroad she trembled with
terror. As he assembled the bluff she
killed her skirts and followed.
Who could Clara be? What manner
of woman was she to appoint a rem
devious like this? 1t was a nasty, slip
perry, unpleasant place. There was a
drinking saloon hard by which seemed
to be full of rough men. She drew so
near to her husband that she could
have touched his coat as they passed
this place. but he did not look around.
And now it began to rain in earnest,
and the road they had turned into
seemed to be two feet deep with mud,
and still Mr.. Elliot marched on. At
last frightful thing occurred to Lizzie.
She wore upon her feet pair Of patent
leather ties, and with all this climbing
and straining of the shoes the ribbons
had come undone. Suddenly the mud
caught at them with that curious power
of suction which mud seems to have at
times, and the shoes came off. In vain
she felt around for them; they seemed
to have vanished. Just then;
''Halloo! said voice near her;
''what's the matter with you, young
woman?"
'I-nothingr' gasped Mrs. Elliot A
This ant no place for a young
woman to be kiting alone" said the
policeman. ITS dangerous if you're
a decent girl. What's happenedP Lost
yourself?'
NO" said Mrs. Elliot, I'm not
alone; there's my husband! Frank!
Frank! Frankr'
Mr.. Elliot turned and walked back.
Left you behind, did l, Lizzie?" he
said.
You're a mighty careful husband, !"
said the policeman, Il do think" and
strobe away.
Then Mr.. Elliot, who was large
man, simply picked his little wife up
in his arms and carried her back to the
grounds which encircled the tavern.
Here he sat her down upon a wooden
platform. Then for a moment he
vanished and returned with glass of
wine, which he made Mrs. Elliot drink.
I've hired a cab he said; well
drive back to the ferry. It's too stor-
my night to 90 looking for Clara; be-
sides, she's thousands of miles away"
Clara cried Mrs. Elliot Don't
speak of Clara-how dare you?"
''She very nearly ruined me, my
dear. | threw away lots of money on
her. said Mr.. Elliot, 'but she is look
ing up now. My dear, [ know you've
been rummaging my pockets and read
ing my letters for two years, but [ only
found out what you suspected when
my mother told me that you had asked
her if | had ever known a lady named
| Clara before met you"
"Oh, Frank, don't try to deceive men'
! sobbed Lizzie. L read the note the
woman left tonight-I-n
''Oh, | knew it," said Mr.. Elliot; cit
was fixed for you to read. | wrote it
to myself, and my mother left it at the
| door at dinner time. / gave her a
| signal from the window that she might
know you were coming downstairs, and
I've kept an eye on you've watched
you ever since you left the door Ny
/ dear child, [ never knew a Clara in my
| life; never had doubtful love affair
even as a boy. The note YOU saw
about an oil-well in which | had shares
the Clara. She was a tickle creature,
/ | admit. and made me anxious, but
since you were bound to be jealous s."
Carriage. sir?n said the driver.
Mr.. Elliot lifted his shoeless wife into
the vehicle, and half way home she
vowed that she would never forgive
him, but the other half she wept upon
I his vest.
4 felt so helpless without my shoes, :"
she declares, THAT my spirit was
| fairly broken"
But all events she was never Jealous
of Clara again.-Fireside Companion.