The Iola register., 1889-02-22

to Germany for four or five months, ant
thus let him escape some of the annoy
ances and notifications incident upoi
settling up the business.
81 hate to go. Jeannie," he said Il
his wife when telling her of the offer
land leave you to the task Of breaking
up and moving, and, as you see, VIZ
must leave this house as soon as pos
sible; but there seems to be no Other
opening for me just now, and at least
will be getting my living out of it."
.'Of course you will accept this offer.
she had said quickly. '.As for me,
can get on. / have been thinking that
for the present at any rate. we had bet
ter move into that little house of min.
on Laurel street; it is idle now."
Way out there' 1t is almost out int
the country; none of your friends viii
know where to find YOU"
My butterfly acquaintances will not
but those whose friendship is worth any
thing can see me whenever they wan,
to; horse-cars go within half a block.
But seriously, Oliver, what else is there
for us to do? The rent will be nothing,
the furnishing mere trifle, and my
housekeeping bills for myself alone will
not be enormous. If our prospects
brighten, when you return we car
easily make another change"
Poor girl" said he to himself, "she
4 W tn %h.x
bubble has burst Well. can't blame
her. l wish though, she was not sc
icily indifferent about my going away
for the whole autumn. What mistake
our marriage was! She took me for my
money, and well. did love her then.
but somehow things are different from
what | hoped they would be; perhaps il
we had child she would be more do
mestic." But he gave no expression to
his thoughts; did not even show his
gratified surprise at the grief she ex-
hibited when the hour at last came for
him to sail.
As his was business trip, he had lit
| tie time for sightseeing; so he made
the mistake of thinking that he had
nothing worth writing about. and his
| letters home were of the briefest. as
We're also hers to him. and he really
knew nothing at all about her house
hold arrangements except that she was
trying TO make the new house habita-
BILE on a pitifully small sum of money
At last. after remarkably short pas
sage from Liverpool, Oliver found him.
self in his native city twenty-four hours
before any one could reasonably have
expected him. Giving his luggage to
an eXpressman, he took the horse-cars
for the little house in Laurel street,
wondering if Jeanette would be sur
prised to see him, or whether she
would take his return as pacidly as she
had taken the news of his projected de-
parture. Of course he had no latch
key to this house, so he had to ring the
bell. He was admitted by girl who
had once lived with his mother.
"Hullo! Norah, do you live here?"
he exclaimed.
III
self! Oh, but it's pity that the mis-
thress isn't in yet! No. sir. l don't live
here, Mrs. Sawtelle don't keep n girl;
but she gets me to come in once week
an do the scrubbin' for her, an whiles
I'm here she takes the chance to 60 out
to do her arrants"
Don't tell her I've come. want to
surprise her." said he, as he entered
the room nearest the front door,
Setting his bag down on the floor, he
struck a match, for it was quite late in
the afternoon, and as he lighted the gas
he emitted soft whistle.
'.Whew! This isn't at all what / ex-
pected. Why, this room makes me
think of the sitting-room at grand
mothers! 1t looks as if tired fellow
might rest and be happy here"
While thus meditating, half aloud. he
had been glancing about the pretty
apartment: he now went up to the bird
cages, and whistling to their occupants
received in answer a burst of song
which made him almost imagine that
the tiny creatures recognized him.
Then he examined the plants in the
windows, smelling with appreciation
the odor of the carnations and gerani-
ums, and finally drew the big easy chair
up to the CHEEKY grate-fire. and leaning
his head on the cushioned back, was in
two minutes in the land of Nod.
He had queer dream. He thought
the door opened quietly, and Jeanette
entered the room. stepped silently up to
his chair, bent over and kissed him on
the forehead. saying: You dear old
fellow, how glad am to see you again!
Oh, if you only cared as much for me
as l do for you. how happy we might
be in this cosy little nest!"
Drowsily opening his eyes he found
himself alone, so he calmly returned to
his nap. In short time, however. he
was thoroughly aroused by hearing the
front door shut Rising. he saw his
wife come in looking rosy and bloom
ing, prettier, he thought, than ever be-
fore.
'.Why Oliver! is this really you and
not your ghost9" she exclaimed. How
long have you been here? Why didn't
you tell me you were coming, so that
could have the house in festive array"
Il wanted to catch you unawares. so
as to see what sort of a housekeeper
you are" was his laughing reioinder.
''As if you were any judge of such
matters! i have your grandmother's |