Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-22
THEY WERE "NICE People,

cOlloqulal phrases with the consciousness
that it was anything but mice" English,
land II bet that their three children are
better brought up than most Of"
1.-Two children, corrected my wife.
'Three, he told me. "
"My dear, she said there were two"
''He said three
"You' We simply forgotten. I'm sure
she told me they had only two-a boy and
a girl
"Well, | didn't enter into particulars -
No dear, and you couldn't have under
stood him Two children
it was all right. As near-sighted man
learns by enforced observation to recog-
nize persons at distance when the face is
not visible to the normal eye, so the man
with a bad memory learns almost uncOns
iousIv, to listen carefully and report ac-
curately. My memory is bad; but | had
not time to forget that Brewster Brede
had told NE that he had three
children, at present LETT III the care of his
mother-in-Iaw, while he and Mrs. Brede
took their summer vacation.
1.-TWO children" repeated my wife,
''and they are staying with his Aunt
Jenny"
''He told me with his mother-m-law, |
put in. My wife looked at me with ser
ious expression Men may not remember
much Of what they are told about children;
but any man knows the difference between
an aunt and a mother-in-law.
'But don't you think they are nice peo-
pie ?" asked my wife.
ooh, certainly | replied. "Only they
seem to be little mixed up about their
children
That isn't nice thing to say return
ed my wife.
could not deny it.
And yet, the next morning when the
Bredes came down and seated themselves
opposite US at a table, beanlng and smil-
ing in their natural, pleasant well-bred
fashion, knew to social certainty that they
were mice" people. He was fine-look-
ing fellow in his neat tennis hannels, slim,
graceful % or 30 years old, with Frenchy
pointed beard. She was nice" In all her
clothes, and she herself was pretty with
that type of prettiness which outwears
in a rounded figure, dusky skin, plump,
rosy checks, white teeth and black eyes.
She might have been 25; you guessed that
she was pre- tier than she was at 20, and
that she would be prettier still at 40.
was not surprised when, after break
fast, my wife invited the Bredes to walk
with us to ''our view" The Hoogencamp-
Biggle-1 abb-Halkit contingent never stir
red off Jacobus S veranda, but both felt that
the Bredes would not profane that sacred
scene. We strolled across the fields, passed
through little belt of woods, and as heard
Mrs. Brede's little cry of startled rapture,
motioned to Brede to look up.
by Jovem he cried, "heavenly.'
And so that is your view?" added Mrs
Brede's, after moment; your are very
generous to make it ours too
All, how much better was this sort to
talk to than the chatterl and gossip of the
Tabb and the Hoogencamp- the
ma S dissertations upon this everlast-
ing circulars! My wife and | exchanged
glanCes.
Nov, when went up the Matterhorn, g"
Mr.. Brede began.
"Why, dear, " interrupted his wife; Il
didn't know you ever went up the Matter
horn"
lit was five years ago." said Mr..
Brede, hurriediy. IL didn't tell you
when | was on the other side, you know
it was rather dangerous well, az was
saying-it looked oh, it didn't look at all
like this.
A cloud tiOlted overhead throwing its
great shadow over the field where we lay.
The shadow passed over the mountain
brow and leappeared far below, rapidly
decreasing blot, flying eastward over the
golden green. My wife and | exchanged
chances once more.
Somehow, the shadow fingered owe US
ALL As we went home, the Bredes went
side by side, along the narrow path, and
my wife and ] walked together.
"ShouId you think" she asked me,
that man would climb the Matterhorn
the first year he was married?"
Il don't know, my dear | answered
evasively; this ism the first year | have
been married. not by good many, and |
wouIdn' climb it-for farm.
You know what | mean?" she said.
! did.
When we reached the boarding house,
Mr.. Jacobs took me aside.
my wife, she used to live in N'York!"
| didn't know; but said yes.
She says the numbers on the street
run criss-cross, like. Thirty-four's on one
side of the street and IS on t'other. How
is that?'
That is the invariable rule, I be-
lieve"
llCu--I itIc ut" 1Olh Iuttu
YOU n your wife seem so mighty taken up
with--d'!e know nothing about them?'
II know nothing about the character of
your boarders, Mr. Jacobus." | replied,
conscious of some irritabiIity. IF |
choose to associate with any of them"
Jess so-jess So!' broke in Jacobus
II hahn nothin' to say g'inst yer sosher-
billy.
But do yer know them"
''Nhy, certainl Y not" | replied.
''Well-that wuz all l wuz askin' We.
Ye see when he come here to take the
rooms-you wasn't here then-he told my
wife that he lived at number 34 in his
street. And yistiddy he told her that he
lived at number 35. He said he lived in
an apartment house. Now there can't be
no apart nent-house on two sides of the
the same street, kin they?"
"What street was it?" | inquired
YEARLY.
Hundred n twenty first street"
Maybe" replied, still more YEARLY
That's Harlem. Nobody knows what
people will do in.Harlem.
went up to my wife's room.
Don't you think it's queer?" she ask
ed me-
Il think I'll have talk with that young
man, tonight, said. land see if he can
give some account Of himself"