Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-04

Clarence?"
"a stout young woman who had
heard that you wanted girl"
'Oh, Clarence" with a face of re-
lief ''where is sheP Did you tell her
-D
81 sent her about her business. The
fact is, Joanna, you don't need SER
vant-Tm always willing to pay for a
washerwoman-and that last novel of
mine hasn't seemed to bring in much
money as yet. We must really econo-
mise! OF late have been puzzled to
account for how the money goes"
Joanna redeemed and closed her lips
firmly.
IF say one word, l shall say too
much" she thought with an odd sensa-
ton, as if her veins were filled with
boiled hot water.
She pushed past her husband to an
swer the inarticulate summons of the
wailing baby.
There is a limit to all endurance, ."
she thought; sand mine is reach ed at
last"
Mr.. EYebright spent the evening
with a friend, two or three days after
wards. When he came back ne found
the house empty, with the sole excep-
ton of Bridget, the washerwoman,
who sat, half asleep, over the kitchen
fire.
''Hallor said the author. "Where
is Mrs. Eyebright?"
"Gone home to her MOTHER" said
Bridget, rubbing her eyes. can TUX
the childher with her. If We phase,
here's the kays."
"What has she gone home to her
mother for!''
can it's me that don't know" said
the woman imperturbably. can if ye
phase, here's the kaysr'
Mr.. Eyebright went to Miss Ballen-
tyne.
Jessie is her friend" said he to him.
self with feeling of dismay-"Jessie
will know"
"Well," said Miss Ballantyne, who
was sewing at spangled costume for
the approaching masquerade, ''Im not
at all surprised. only wonder that
she hasn't done it before. Poor dear!
And such an oVerworked drudge as she
has beenh'
"A-drudge! My wifeP"
''Why, were have your eyes been,
Clarence, that you haven't discovered
it before?" said Jessie composedly.
ain a family like yours there ought to
be at least two servants kept. and poor
Joanna has done the work of both.
She has never had any recreation, for
she hadn't decent clothes to 90 any
where. Her nights have been broken
by sick children, her days devoted to
the insoluble problem of how to make
something out of nothing. Oh yes-I
can't blame her for leaving youp'
And Miss Ballantyne went on to give
her friends husband a very compre-
hensive apiece of her mind" on more
subjects than one.
81 shall never forgive Joanna for
this!' said Mr.. Eyebright with resent
ment.
''Better say you will never forgive
yourselfr' retorted Miss Ballantyne
with spirit. ''For it is all your own
doing"
Mr.. Eyebright went home to the
solitary hearthstone. There was no
wife to ask him for money. There
were no children to disturb the flow of
his ideas. yet the sixth chapter in his
novel was not written according to his
plans.
He did not go to bed that night, but
sat up, staring at the dying Goals of
fire. Mentally he arraigned himself
before the bar of evenhanded justice,
with Joanna and Miss Ballantyne for
witnesses. Mentally he tried, con-
demned, and sentenced himself.
Il have been a bruter' he thought.
He took the earliest train to Cedar
Vale. where Joanna's youthful years
had been spent. and went straight to
the old homestead, fully expecting to
be received with the frozen GOODNESS he
deserved.
Joanna was out in the orchard, help
ing Guy and Johnny to gather red
striped apples.
At the first sight of her husbands
face she ran ioyfully to meet him.
Clarence! Have you come for me
yourself? Oh, how good of you-and
with all that you have to do!' she
cried.
Joanna! Dear wife! How was it
that you could find it in your heart to
leave me?n he exclaimed with some
emotion.
ITO leave you, Clarence? Why,
never thought of such a thingw ex-
claimed Joanna. Didn't you get my
note, telling you that mother was taken
suddenly i'll, and had sent for me? l
told Bridget
Hang Bridgetr' said Mr.. Eyebright.
''She told me nothing. She gave me
nothing but a bunch of keys. and a
strong impression that she had been at
the brandy-bottle. And then | went to
Jessie Ballantyne, and got lecture
three-quarters of an hour long. And
the worst of it was, dear, that l felt |
deserved every word of it!n
Clarence! How dared she?" cried
, indignant Joanna.
''She had the courage of her convic-
tons, my dear. She merely held up
the looking-glass before my eyes,
wherein | saw myself-a selfish.
thoughtless wretch! No, Joanna, don't
| look so appealingly at me. I'll say no
! more, but I'll prove to you by nv
future actions that mean to turn over
a new leaf. Do you remember the
! old lines:
Evil is wrought by want of thought
As oft as want or heart!
And since YOU are willing to trust me
| yet little longer"
| But his words were checked by her
| hand on his lips.
| Clarence Eyebright kept his word.
! After the lesson of that day, he not
/ only loved and honored his wife, but
he went to the full extent of the mar
/ riage-vow, and cherished her with a