Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-07-08
WHY SHE WAS MISSING.


1t was the first serious quarrel that
| Joe Brown had ever had with his
wife, and this is how it came about.
| He was a man who could make very
comfortable living as cabiretmaker,
/ but in his eagerness to get rich he was
always embarking in wildcat schemes
| that soon absorbed all the family say
/ ings. Now he wanted to mortgage the
| house to take stock in the Western Tea
| Growing Company, and his wife had
refused to sign the necessary papers.
! He left the house after an angry scene,
and was irritated all day. When he re
turned home that evening what was
bis surprise to find that his wife had
/ gone out, and though he sat up late,
she did not return.
| Mr.. Brown passed n sleepless night,
renewing his search and inquiries the
next day, but to no purpose. One Of
/ the neighbors had seen his wife go by,
attircd in the dark walking suit that
she always wore when she went out.
And this was all. To an appearance,
Mrs. Brown had dropped as completely
out Of her husbands life and home as
though she never formed part OF
! them.
Days and weeks passed. In spite Of
the advice that he received from var
ious quarters Mr. Brown refused to
| shut up his house or hire a how'ekeeper
He took his meals at his mothers,
with whom his children found home
| but he lodged in his own house, Oc-
cupying the same room that ne had
| shared With his wife many happy
years, and endeavoring TO keep every
| thing in doors and out as 1t was when
she was there The hope was strong
in his heart that she would some day
come back to him, and though 1t grew
| fainter as the weeks passed, 1t never
entirely perished.
| Many words uttered by the wise
hearted woman, whose unselfish love
| for him gave her so clear an Insight,
! though little needed at the time, came
! back to him now Tie took up his OLD
trade at which he vas a skulful work
man; pursuing 1t 80 steadily ana
energeticaHIy that IT became more
profitable than It had ever been before.
In this way nearly three months
raised. during which the Western Tea
I Growing Company had run It's brilliant
but brief career. its sudden collapse
bringing financial ruin to scores Of
victims.
4 few evenings after the news
reached him Mr. Brown turned his
steps toward the home now so desc
late, but which had once been such a
heaven of peace and love. He was
later than usual, having stayed To fin
ish work box that his wife had often
asked him to make for her, but which
he had never felt that he had time to
attend to until now He had made II
OF different woods and taken a great
deal Of pains with it, viewing with no
little satisfaction its successful compile
ton
How pleased Mary would be with
it, he thought, rs he looked at Its
numerous compartments and polished
and beautiful exterior. IF she was
only back again in my house, how
happy I should be-
Mr. Brown was so absorbed IN
thought that he did not observe, until
he stood upon the porch which ran In
front Of the house, the bright and
cheerful light that sreamed out into
the darkness Surprised at such an
unusual occurrence, of laie, ne opened
the door into the room whence II pro
coded. and there stood the cheerful
ana inviting supper table with Mary
. his Mary. beside It. looking just the
same except that her eyes and cheeks
. were brighter than he had ever seer
them before She turned the same
banpv, loving smile upon his face.
'Your are late tonight Joseph.
. was beginning to fear that you weEN
! not coming"
After the first establishment was
mast Mr.. Brown fell readily into th'
spirit Of this
II stayed to find this work-box To-
YOU" he said. placing it on the table
How do you like it?"
ut is very beautiful; just eIactl!
. what have been wanting
: Here the eyes Of the two met, ant
Mrs Browns forced composure gav'
, wav The next moment she lay sob