The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-11-12

ulOrulnR Mr. bentllo came TO my desk
again and sat down.
"How would do?" he said, without
any preface.
comprehended in an instant
| you mean"
That if you think would answer
the purpose I would like to apply for
the position of husband, which you
mentioned yesterday"
He spoke with his accustomed grim
ness; l was making hieroglyphics with
my pencil on the sheet of proof was
correcting.
II can't think you are in earnest" l
| said.
~ am. l will give you pleasant
home, and make you happy if can"
well l am very much obliged to
you" said, my state of perturbation
forbidding more appropriate language.
II will try to deserve it."
There we shall call it settled?' And
when l had said yes he cot up and
went into his private Office while l
breathed long sigh of contentment as
resumed my work.
At noon he walked downstairs with
me, and stopped at the foot to say: IF
satisfactory to you 1 would suggest
that there be no delay. have planned
for trip up the Hudson next week.
You might like to 90 with me-"
II will think of it, said.
AS matter of fact we were married
in exactly six days from the time the
subject was first mentioned. In that
interval few words passed between us.
For the first three days worked in the
office as usual, after that l did not see
my husband-elect until he called at my
boarding house with the minister and
his wife. We stood up and joined
hands in the parlor, the minister's
wife. my landlady and one or two
boarders looking on. l was twenty
two, he forty, and think we had never
even shaken hands before, though l
had worked for him since 1 was eigh-
teen. l had hard work to get out my
II will' in answer to the minister's
questions, and there was strange
sinking sensation around my heart
when he pronounced us man and wife;
stranger when few minutes after
wards had laid off my hat and turned
to face my husband in my home.
l had for moment curious sort of
desire to hold out nv hands to him,
then the ludicrous side of the situation
struck me, and laughed.
"What's the matter?' he said.
Nothing. was only thinking mat
can say whatever I like to you now,
and you can't discharge me-
''Yes, thought of that before, but
you won't take too great an advantage
of your position, will you, Mildred?"
There was peculiar infection in his
voice, especially on the Mildred"
which l had never heard in it before
1t brought the queer feeling back
again.
NO. won't" said, "I'll be good
if cam
He answered in the same tone he had
used before, of half tender gravity:
THANK you, Mildred"
Mildred. there he went again. Was
he always going to call me that, won
dered, and then of 4 sudden the fear
full decisiveness of my position came
over me with rush. | was bound,
fettered for life, and now that the pos
sbility of choice had gone from me,
began to see visions of young ardent
husbands and lovers. and to dream
dreams of golden-hued romances.
believe ] sobbed half the nioht that
night while my husband was sleeping
away on the sofa in the farthest cor
ner Of the room.
But, as l have said, l was strong.
minded and, like Maud Muller, took
up my burden of life and my novel,
out of which good deal of the zest
had somehow gone. l worked away
on it however, got it finished and into
print, in course of time, and had the
satisfaction of seeing it create favor
able comment from critics. My plan
thus far had worked admirably. My
husband was all could ask for in the
way of stepping stone; my life lay
before me to fashion as l might; yet
as the months went on. found myself
looking little thinner than had been
natural, little paler and feeling for
the most part tired. as though the
game of life were a losing one. could
not altogether rid myself of the idea
that l had lost something irrevocably.
Too late it seemed to come to me that
woman must love her husband if she
would have her life complete.
Since my book was off my hands l
worked good deal in the office in my
old position. l liked it, and, sitting at
my old desk by the open window some
days in summer, with the wind blow
ing my papers about and the office boy
back in the composing room whistling
annie Rooney" seemed to be again
for the time being Miss Hazlett, the
proof reader, and once Or twice l
dropped tear to the memory of her.
Sitting there in the sunshine one
morning l reviewed the situation. 1t
had been almost two years since my
matter of-fact marriage, years of peace
and plenty which were a striking con-
trast to my life before. But there had
been this bondage with them, like an
iron hand over my heart, and before
there had been freedom and buoyancy,
with now and then, in spite of my
strongmindedness, beautiful dreams.
There was the sense of loss always had,
h.: ! VI /.