The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-09-10

SOOu, he Will see you Wnen he is not
busy, but you may have to wait"
This was the first time that Swipesey
had seen the lady face to face, and he
started little and looked at her again.
Then he put his hands behind him and
stared at the floor for moment II
know who you are" he said, present
ly. You are his wife"
The woman looked up quickly and
raised one of her hands to her fore
head. She seemed bit dazed, and
asked in way that convinced
Swipesey that she scarcely knew what
she said: "How did you know?"
Il knew! guessed. l put two and
two together, and know more about
the old man than the rest of the people;
and do you know, if you will let me
say it, l think you haven't treated him
right"
The woman flushed, and looked at
the boy angrily.
Don't get mad about it," he advised
her, in fatherly way. II mind my
own business. What you two people
want to do is to make up and stop all
this" He paused, with judicial air.
'How did you know this?' the
woman asked docs Mr.. Griswold
make contidant of an office boy?"
Swlpesey was all dignity then. you
are mistaken there. lie never said a
word to me about it. 1 don't know
very much about it, only l have put
two and two together. I remember
about six months ago, when he bought
the paper, that one day some one was
in the Office and asked him bout you.
He all to once became very cool, and
said, in an uneasy way, that you were
in Californy for your health. And one
day was cleaning up his desk, and 1
found picture there-your picture.
put it back where l found it; and one
night, when had to come back to the
office with some copy to leave for the
compositors to begin on in the morn
ing, found him in the dark at his
desk, sitting there and crying, with
the picture in his hand He didn't
know l saw him, but l did just the
same. And that's why I'm sorry for
him; had never seen man cry be-
fore. And when he's cross and hard
with us people about the office, know
he amt really that way, but that the
pain drives him to it, and he is trying
to forget about erything."
The office boy told all this in a grave
manner, and his quetness evidently
impressed itself on the woman in his
favor, for she said nothing, and
allowed him to go on.
7
papers that Mrs. Griswod, wife of
Editor Griswold, of the Briggsville
Bugle, is in Santa Barbara for her
health, and then you would be in Ia
coma and all sorts of places; but he
never spoke of you in his paper, and
you never came here have heard
talk, too, of a quarrel you two had, and
of course, l have-have surmised that
something was wrong l don't know
what separated you, or why you left
him, or he you, and it isn't any of my
business; but now you have come back
to him, hope you will stay with him.
The woman looked at Swipeseys
intelligent, frec!1led face, and saw the
brightness of his small, gray eyes.
She was impressed with his red hair
and his snub nose. And she humored
him by asking: "Is that what you
would advise me to do?"
''Certainly,' answered the boy, with
out hesitation. "That's what l would
advise you to do''
But suppose he wants me to come
more than half way? Suppose, after
all, he doesn't want me to stay?'
That's all right I'll fix that can
manage it. He's been waiting for you
for a long time, guess, but IS too proud
to tell you to come back to him. He's up
stairs now, writing a letter, and"-
here Swipesey looked at her brightly
81 think it is to you. Sometimes he
has started letters, which have found
in the waste basket torn or partly
burned, beginning: My dearest wife,
but l don't think he has ever sent
them. However, that is none of my
business. But to-day what do you
think he did? He sent every body home
in order to be alone that he might
write. 1t was nothing connected with
the paper, know, for the copy is all
in. l think he is writing to you up
stairs to come back, and he doesn't
know you are here already"
IF he will only say he was wrong
and ask my forgiveness" the woman
muttered, looking out of the window
at the pattering rain Then she started
up, seemingly unaware of the boys
presence. But mustn't ask too much.
I was in the wrong as much as he"
Nov l tell you what to do" said
Swipesey. with eagerness. IF you
put this into my hands, we'll fix it up
all right" His eyes shone, and he took
few steps forward, with his small
hands clasped together and his face
raised hopefully toward the woman.
you let me go upstairs and sort of
prepare him. I'll not say who wants
to see him, but I'll just give him q hint.
And then you 60 up and surprise him;
and if you look at him and smile, and
if you tell him you are sorry, don't
think he would send you away; now,
do you?"
The woman looked down at the lad,
and smiled sadly at him. She could
not help being amused at his eagerness
to help her and the lonely man up
stairs.
He SCENE d to divine what she was
thinking of, for he said:
"Oh, you mustn't think am dipping
my finger into something that amt my
business, for I should like to hear him
laugh as he did long time ago; and,
besides, it amt right for two people to
be apart the way you and him are"
The woman laughed nervously. II
don't think you had better NEEDLE,
after ALL" she said. You may be q