Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-12-27
My Husbands "Wifc."


conduct u great Law snit. aud hc,us both
talented aud handsome hc not only won
MS ease. but his way into the best soeiety.
Nu one knew aurht or b. private his
tory. bui hi uecc.G sdti fed the mascH-
line portion OF thc community a' the $50.
men had uo cause tor complaint lie Sas
invited everywhere and in time became a
visitor al our house.
His attentions were marked from, the
first, and ere | had known him si4 months
| had married him
had no father to counsel me. and was
too headstrong TO heed mothers eutreaty
TO wait until knew more Of the man. ere |
linked my life with his.
was twenty-five, and had never been
IN love before aud he was about thirty
and said was his "only love" So We
married ON an equal basis, at least
thought SO then.
His business in Erie was long since con
cluded, 50 we were married in the morn
ing and took and took an early train for
Rochester, ~ Y, where his home was.
What that home was like was question
with me. for he would tell me nothing
about it. | enjoyed the ride. for he paid
me all sorts Of loverlike atte ntions. aud
seemed wonderfully happy at having won
me But be never called me his wife, and
it was not long ere | discovered the reason
why.
When We reached home, l found il one
Of the handsomest residences in the city,
and elegantly and beautifully furnished.
\ sweet faced. white haired little old
lady met us in the hall, and was introduc-
ed as ''mother" She kissed me affection
ately and bade me welcome put my
arms around her neck and returned the
kiss, saying knew should love her dear
ly.
| Happening to glance up. l saw Cyrus
face wore an expression of strong disap
proval. His mother saw the look also, and
and it affected her strangely. \ painful
! flush sulfesed her dear old face, and ! saw
| her hands were trembling as she turned
away. | was SO surprised that ! stood
stock still, staring at my husband
DO not be rude Esma, he said impa
/ ticntly
Il beg your patdcn,' 1 answered, and
followed his mother into the parlor Won
dering what it meant
The remainder of the day paused pleas
antly. Cyrus showed me over the house
and exerted himself To he entertaining.
| In the evening great many of his
friends called was pleased with them
all, for they were people of culture and re
| finement. Cyrus was pleased with the
way | had acquitted myself and told me
/ so, as we mounted the stairs to our room
I after they were all gone "Truly my lot is
| east in pleasant places was my thought,
I II must tell her how little cause she has
| for misgiying"
] had seen onr chamber before, but in
| dusky, half light Now it was brilliantly
| illuminated, and the first thing that at
| tTacted my attention was the portrait of Il
/ beautiful woman, hanging on the wall ut
| the foot Of the bed.
l stood aud scanned il curiously, its
cold, proud, stately beauty chilling me
most maccountablg. ''Who IS this wo-
man, Cyrus}' / asked at length
That is my wife
lie was busy rummaging trunk for
something, and has since owned he an
swered unthinkingly.
do not know how long | stood there.
| filled with Mortified amazement.
III you have looked at that picture long
enough, Esma, wish you would come
and unite this knot"
turned and mechanically did his bid
ding
whats the matter Your hands are
| like ice
''Do you think your mother has retiredf"
l asked, disregarding his question
II think not heard her voice a mo
ment ago
II am going to see her moment then,
and turned toward the door.
Nonsense. At this hour. Ny wife never
did such thing"
had hesitated, but the last words de
cided me
''Your can console yoursefwith thoughts
Of your wife during my absence" and ]
darted away.
| Mrs. Howe's room was on the opposite
side of the hall. and u cheerful "come in"
answered my knock She looked surpris-
ed when she saw who her visitor was, but
! bade me n smiling welcome. | closed aud
locked the door, then standing before her
asked the question which was maddening
me.
"lf that women, whose portrait hangs in
our chamber. is Cyrus wife what am l'''
"You are his wife, my dear. for that
poor woman has been dead for three
years, there was an infinite pity in the
kind voice, and tears in the dear old eyes.
"Why did he not tell me he had been
marriedf'
my dear, it i'll bchooyes a mother 10
speak i'll of her son, but you will find he
does as he pleascs with little regard for
right. am truly sorry for you my dear
Do you love him, my childi'
II did | answered gloomily.
''Do not speak SO despairingly, dear
You are his wife, and must make the best
of it, lie will not beat you for he is kind
ness Itself He will only harrow your soul
night and day with assertions Of what
my wife" did or did not do. He has cx-
aggerated ideas as to how a woman should
deport herself at home or abroad, and has
an annoying habit Of remarking on what
one does contrary to his code.
Was his wife uncommonly perfect
..No more so than thousand others
Mother, can never live under such a
condition of things
II wish could devise some way 10
break him of it.
sat silent, busily thinking for some
time Then | sprang up laughing merrily
over the idea [ had just conceived.
'.You darling little mother | said, kiss
ing her tenderly, II shall cure him, never
you fear" and away 1 sped.
found Cyrus reading paper, and it
was rather a discontentcd face he turned
TO me.
"a must say, Esma, my wife never did
such a silly thing rs this in all her life.
II dare say not" ! answered cheeriully,
as waltzed across the room to the dress
ing table and began removing my jewels,
"And II AIRY never did SO foolish thing
! =. -. .r.l ,f~,;t f.r IN. ff | aIaunaI