Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-21

A STORY FOR MARRIED PEOPLE
The ringing of the door bell has &
| pleasant sound to me, especially IN my idle
moods. Like an unopened letter, there
| is mystery about it, and one waits with
pleasurable excitement to see who OF
what is coming.
Returning home one day, earlier than
usual, found my wife had gone out; and
while lounging idly over the paper, the
bell rang.
| waited expectant till Bridget appear
ed with note, containing a request from
my old friend, DIR. Stearns, to ride out tC
his residence In the country the next day,
| to transact some business that had been
| long pending, and an invitation to bring
my wife and spend the day.
| was pleased; frs, because | wanted
the business completed; and secondly, be
| cause | thought l needed days recrea
| ton.
But the next morning everything seemed
to go wrong. Alice could not accompany
| me, and ] could not get off as early as
wished; and conse quently | was peevish
and fretful; and Alice reflected my humor
| suppose, as 1t appeared to me she had
never been SO unamiable,
AT length, however, | drove away,
though not IN very pleasant mood. It was
lovely October day, ard as | rode along
noting the tints of the landscape, memory
went back to the golden autumn when
wooed and won my bride.
How lovely Alice was them | thought
And how happy we were! But that was
long ago. Yet nature is the same though
we are changed, Let me see; we have
been married three years; is it possible il
is no longer?
And L felt pang as | contrasted the
| past with the present. to think that we
could settle down into the commonplace
life we now led.
We had no serious trouble; we didn't
quarrel; though when felt cross, or other
things didn't go to suit me, ! took no
pains to conceal it, and often spoke harsh
| ly to Alice, who sometimes replied III the
same spirit, some times with tears. Yet
we were generally good friends But the
| charm the tenderness of our early love
had Imperceptibly vanished
L had become careless abou my appear
| ance at home, and Alice was equally neg
lIgent. Her beautiful brown hair, which
she used to wear in the most becoming
curls are now usually brushed plainly be-
hind her ears, unless she was going out
or expected company. | dismissed the
| subject with iigh, at the doctors gate
with the reflection that it was the same
with all married people must be so, in fact
for how could romance and senti nent
find place among so many prosy realities
suppose were as happy as anybody; and
yet, it was not the kind of life had look.
ed forward to with SO many bright antici-
pations.
The doctor came out and greeted me
cordially. In the h Ill we met Mrs.
Stearns, looking fresh and lovely in her
pink muslin wrapper, with her jetty hair
in tasteful style. She scolded me play.
fully for not bringing my wife, chatted a
few minutes, and then fitted away, while
the doctor, remarking chat his motto was
business first and pleasure afterward, led
t he way to the library.
As we entered the room,I noticed a,vase
of bright autumn flowers on the table,
imparting an air Of taste and cheerfulness
to the apartment. | made some remark
about it, to which the doctor responded
Eyes, am fond of flowers and like to
see them In the house; and as | spend
much of my time here, my wife always
keeps vase of them ON the table as long
| as the last
Our business was finished before din
ner, and we walked out in the grounds,
which were quite extensive, and tastefuly
| arranged.
There were variety of flowers in bloom
and noticed that the doctor selected here
| the finest until he had a handsome bou
| quet
! When we reached the house Mrs.
| Stearns was ON the steps. The doctor,
still continuing our conversation, gave
her the flowers, with a slight bow and
smile; and holding up spray of crimson
| berries, which he had broken off, she bent
her head while he fastened it among the
| silk tresses of her hair
It was trifing incident, yet their man.
ner arrested my attention. Had been a
| stranger, | should have pronounced them
lovers instead of sober married people. ALI
| through the day noticed the same deli
cate attention and Difference In their de
pertinent to each other.
! There was nothing OF which the most
| fastldious guest could complain: yet,
while showing me the most cordial at
| tention, they did not seem to ignore each
| OtLSA NAAcO1hSG, as ESopiS ~
often do.
| had never visited the doctor before, and
vas very much pleased with his tasteful
home. said so, after dinner, when we
strolled out int the woods.
Yes be said, Il think it is pleas
ant" and he added, 81 believe | am con-
tented man. So far I am not disappointed
in life"
How long have you been married, doc
tor? asked.
len years"
"Well," pursued, "cau you tell me
whence the bright atmosphere that sur
rounds your home? Tell me how you ano
| Mrs. Etearns manage 10 retain the depth
and freshness Of your early love, as you
seem to do? | would think the wear and
tear of life would dim it somewhat.
never saw home where my ideal OF do
mestic happiness was realized before. II
is what | nave dreamed of. ="
The doctor smiled and pointing to &
thrifty grape climbing over neat lattice.
and loaded with purple fruit, he said:
That vine needs careful attention, anC
if pruned and properly cared for, it il