Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-15
FRANK BARRON'S WIFE.

fhAN ~ bA y
had always loved Frank Barron. and
do not think that comid help it if I has
tried. 1t began when we went to scho0
together. Surel y it is better to love thar
to hate. Gladys Martin was prettiel
than |. GLADYS was my cousin. and when
Frank was q he suddenly discovered that
she was the girl that he wanted for q
wife, otfeI ed himself and was excepted.
Few, when | heard that from her own
lips went away to my room for a while
and kneIt down besid. HE bed add PRAYED
for my soul. For felt the most un-
reasonable anger and jealousy thrill me
from head to foot.
And why should feel so? OnIy satan
knew, | was assured-only satan. And
when | arose from my knees | had con-
quered hin. within me. | WAS Frank S
friend, who loved him as sister and not
hing more. and | went to the wedding
and was first bridesmaid 10 Gladys, and
SAID TO myself there was some woman to
whom love and JOY was given and some
who had their duties to perform, and that
| vas one OF the latter sort and Cousin
Gladys of the former
Frank Barron was only Il poor doctor.
and Cousin Gladys had nothing. But |
was rich and when they went to the coun-
try town where he went to practice | went
with them. / had lost my relish for the
gay life had led in the city. and | had
made up my mind to be spinster. and felt
tnat could do a great deal for Frank and
Gladys. She was one who never thought
Of the future. and could rot manage a
small income well, | knew. And so il
proved. She never guess ed nor did he
how much trouble they would have had but
for me.
AS il was every one was saying what a
pretty home they had and how we'll the
young wife cared for it, and how nicely she
dressed.
As for me, they knew me as Mrs Bar.
ron cousin, Evangeline Ray, and think
many thought me poor one.
What did | care SO that GLADYS and
Frank were happy and fond of me? After
IL while there was some one else to lOve-a
little girl baby, who soon grew to believe
that there was no one else like Aunt
Evangeline, and later came a boy. When
BE was but two years old there came a
cablegram from England, where her grand
father (DO kin Of mine, for we were c0us :
ms on the mother side, and he was her
fathers father) lay dying. He wished
Gladys to come to him-to remain with
him for the few months he had to live, and
promised that if she would he would leave
her his fortune.
Duty and interest both called upon her
to go, but she still cried out, How could
she? Alb! now could she--hOw could she
leave the babies and brave the sea alone ?
Where were the needtul things for a voy-
age 0 be got at moments notice? What
could she do? Put ! had crossed the
ocean thrice ard | knew what to do.
had her trunks packed and all in them
that she could want while she was still
wondering what to do. Aad J took her
to the steamer anG left her with people
whom | knew who happenl to De going on
the same boat-as if she were child.
she SCI med so young and fair and girl
iah that no one could believe that she had
been married SO many years, anu could
see that she would enjoy herself for all her
petty terrors and her last words were
Take care Of Frank ana the babies.
wOuldn I leave them with any one but you
You are our guardian angel
| was glad. II was so much to me to be
loved, and always was and awlays will b.
| went back TO Frank and the children
The old servant, half cook, half house.
keeper, whom | had engaged and who
knew how | managed TO make Frank and
Gladys believe that they lived on VIVA:
would never have sufficed for half their
needs, made 1t proper thing for me tC
stay. Indeed, the idea that it wao not
proper never had crossed either of ouI
minds.
We were very quiet after Gladys was
gone. Sometimes fdncied that Frank
looked more content than he usually did
Gladys, though SO pretty and gay in
company, had 4 way Of fretting HIM in
private, Our time was bali taken UP in
soothing her. Now and then she quar-
relied with him, because working as he die
at profession, he had little time fol-
company. She wanted him to change hi
nature, it seemed TO me. Now no one
bothered hlm. | kept the children in theil
he sat down with us, if he were not calico
away, let him lead the talk, As men like
| to do.
knew, too, what callers he would Ike
to see, and which to entertain myself, and
/ of course, 5eing only lis wife's cousin
did not expect him to spend any timt
entertaining me.
However, he often drove me out-witl
the children, of course-and we Ell joyeC
the ride. And the poorer patients fe
I to asking TO see NE and telling me theil
troubles, and when ] could help them
! did
! You'd make affair better doctors wifi
than the real one does" an old woman
| said to me once. She turns 10 her nos,
at us poor folks, and seems to think m,
| ailments something catching. God send Y
doctor of your own, Miss
| laughed, but was glad Frank Barron
| did not hear her.
| We got letter from Gladys as soon q,
she reached London. Her eranl fathe
was dying from cancer, she said, anC
might live a long while, and indeed b.
! did. She wrote, bus not very often. anC
the months went 10y and the year wa
! gone. Then the poor old gentleman died
and still there were things to be don.
| about the will. Five months more went
and then indeed she wrote that she Wa
coming. She named the steamer, aud ",
heard Of It's sailing
Then nothing more What happened
no one Mew-no one will ever know. \
piece Of her hulk WIS al that was eve
found, and there was wue Ia Eagland ant
woe III Ame RIGA. Hus smuds and fathers
sons and daug hters. and many a woman
true love had gone down in mid ocpaI
with no power TO send farewell word Il
any one.
And Gladys Barron was among them
our Gladys-Franl's wife
He lay upon the floor in his study, wher
he had cast himself down for hours, and
dared not speak TO him. 1t was days anC
weeks before the ghasIly. frightened looI
left his face, months before | ceased t,
fear that he would die of sorrow, and
stayed with the children. And so anothe