The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-03-23
HENRY WOODFOnD'S WIFE.
a Chance Bit of Gossip That
= Changed Her Life.

ford. How did that match turn out?''
Badly enough, thus far. He is the
same delightful, good-natured fellow,
always ready to do kind thing. But
that woman will be the ruin of him"
"How? What is the troublc?"
''The trouble is, she fancies herself
an invalid; lies around, does nothing
but read-has every foolish within graf
flied: and, in fact, / don't see how he
stands it,
''Did she have any property?'
mot cent. 1t was an out-and-Out
> love match. She has expensive tastes,
and is indolent and eXtrayagant. Why.
his carriage hire is big item of itself
know"
Perhaps she is really sufferer"
Nonsense. She had that fall, you
remem Der, at the skating rink. At
first her spine was thought to be seri-
ously injured Woodford paid out sew
eral hundred dollars to have her cured,
and the doctors discharged her well,
they said. But it has pleased her to
drag around. load on his hands, ever
SluCC. III IL bllOuDl biIiO IiC ID luuSii
crippled financially; | know positively
that he has lately mortgaged his inter-
est in the firm If he can't manage to
make or save five thousand dollars by
the end of this year it is all over with
him; and he will never do it at his pres
ent rate of living"
"Why doesn't he tell her? Has she
no sense Of feeling at alp
None, except for herself; and he is
SO fond of her that he will indulge her
to his very last cent"
II thought he looked a little bit
down as he passed us this morning."
YES, he is beginning to realize that
he has gone too far; and, poor fellow,
it is Juggling at him hard"
Did she hear Alright? Was it of her,
Eleanor Woodford, that they were
talking? Swiftly she sped out of the
dark, heavily curtained back parlor of
the stylish clearinghouse, and into
her room, a gorgeous alcove apartment
on the first floor. She could not mount
the stairs on account OF her weak
spine. Weak spine? She forgot all
about it as she paced the floor, angry
tears gushing from her large, brown
eyes. 1t was shameful-it was wicked
to be SO abused. She had never in
her whole petted life been found fault
with. AS to money, what did she know
about it? Her father, beiore his failure
and death, had always gratitied her.
Her husband had never made any diff
ference. Yet these were friends OF his.
Her bitter Sob5 ceased, and her wound
ed vanity gradually lost itself in better
thoughts. Did all the world think of her
with scathing criticisms ike those Of
the two c .ance callers, who thus killed
the time while whiting for some one to
come down to them? she began to
feel glad that she had overheard it.
The merest accident had sent her into
the back parlor Was it true? What
could she do? Her dear, kind husband
in trouble and she the cause! Oh she
must help him, somehow! Long she sat
buried in thought, and when the we'll
known step sounded at the door, her
face was radiant with new resolve.
He came to her large easy-chair with
step somewhat weary, but his kiss
was as usual. ''All right, Nellie. Had
good day? Why, you look-let me
see-how do you loo1?" he said, cheer
lily.
Il look as if loved my big boy very
much, don't I?' she responded, mer-
rily.
His answer was another kiss, and as
he turned towards his dressing closet,
her heart ached with unspoken tender
ness.
Her dinner was brought mp. She
was nos considered strong enough to
sit 1T the table For this service an ex-
ira charg>. vas made.
Later, " ncn he opened the evening
paper, she sat aud watched him.
Surely those lines Of care were new
now that he was not smiling fondly on
her. OH, foolish vic! Rising gently,
her long, handsome tea gown trailing
behind her, she stood beside him, one
slender white hand upon his shoulder
Then, playfuliy putting 10y the paper
she sat down upon his knees.
well, dear, what now? Another
new gown?'' he asked, with his old.
sweet smiic.
She pressed her lips slowly upon the
broad white brow, another pang at
her heart Then she spoke:
Not this time. Harry. dear. let's 90
to Mrs. Wickham's to board
Mrs Wicknams!;' he echoed; sswhv.
You wouldn't stay in her dull little
place week" But even rs he spoke
there flashed through his mind, in rapid
calculations: Twenty dollars a week
there; forty here; eighty dollars a
month saved; nearly a thousand dol
lars a year
Don't you like it here?" were his
next words, as he glanced around the
luxurious suite
Yes, she said. Except that there
are too many people. 1t is SO noisy"
very WE'LL then, we will try it-any-
th'ng to please my darling;" and he
wrapped his arms around her as he
would have lulled restless child.
Inc move was made, and Eleanor
found that she was not so much fa-
tlgued as she had often felt after a
days Longing with novel. Her hus-
oand thought it only new whim: but.
as IL was not an expensive one, he could
not complain. When he wanted to
take her driving, she playfullv told
MN she was learning to walk-horses
were not safe
4. he hrst step, she thought. Now for
the next 1t came to her almost bv
magic In little rear hall room s.t
margaret Devices, clicking away at her
typewriter. strong, clear-hea6ed
slrl who had maintained herself tbasa
zen years, and had put by her SAVINGS
one was soon to be married to sto1
ward young farmer tho L.