Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-01-25
HENRY WOODFORD'S WIFE.
A Chance Bit of Gossip That
Changed Her Life.

We'll, tell me about Henry Wood
ford. How did .hat match turn out?''
Badly enough, thus far lie is the
same delightful, good-natured fellow,
always ready to do kind thing. But
that woman will be the ruin of him"
''Iow? What is the troublc?"
THE trouble is, she fancies herself
an invalid lies around, does nothing
but read-has every foolish whim graf
fled; and, in fact, don't see how he
stands it,"
"Did she have any property"
Not cent 1t was an ouu-and-out
love match She has expensive tastes,
and is indolent and eXtravagant Why,
his carriage hire is big item of itself
She couldn't possibly walk block, you
know"
Perhaps she is really sufferer"
"Nonsensel She had that fall, you
emember, 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, a load on his hands, ever
since. 1t is thought that he is much
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"
Il 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 tugging at him hard"
Did she hear arightp Was it of her,
Eleanor Woodford that they were
talking? Swiftly she sped out of the
lark, heavily curtained back parlor of
the stylish boarding house, and into
her room, 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 abusedl She had never in,
her whole petted life been found fault
with As to money, what did she know
about it? Her father, before his failure.
and death, had always gratified her
Her husband had never made any diff
ference. Yet these were friends of his
Hnr hit cnhc nnngnI al bn,
cd vanity gradually lost itself in better
thoughts. Did all the world think of her
with scathing criticisms like those of
the two chance callers, who thus killed
the time while waiting 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 causel 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 a 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 looll-let me
see-how do you loos?" he said, cheer
lily.
II look as if loved my big boy very
much, don't II" she responded, mer-
rily
His answer was another kiss, and as
he turned towards his dressing closet,
her heart ached with unspollcn tender
ness.
Her dinner was brought up. She
was not considered strong enough to
sit at the table. For this service an ex-
ira charge was made.
Later, when he opened the evening
paper, she sat and watched him.
Surely those lines of care were new
now that he was not smiling fondly on
her. Oh, foolish wifcl Rising gently,
her long, handsome tea gown trailing
behind her, she stood beside him, one
slender white hand upon his shoulder
Then, playfully putting by the paper
she sat down upon his knees.
well, DEAR what nowP Another
new gown he asked with his old,
sweet smile.
She pressed her lips slowly upon tho
~'NN' '-NNN D'O"f uhpbbNl PtNiiS tLG
her heart. Then she spoke:
Not this time. Harry, dear, let's 20
to Mrs. Wickham's to bourd"
Mrs Wickham'sl' he echoed; why,
you wouldn't stay in her dull little
place week" But even as he spoke
there flashed through his mind, in rapid
calculation: Twenty dollars week
there; forty here; eighty dollars
month saved; nearly thousand dol
lars year"
Don't you like it here?" were his
next words as he glanced around the
luxurious suite.
Eyes, she said, except that there
are too many people. 1t is SO noisy"
Very well, then, we will try it-any-
thing to please my darling;" and he
wrapped his arms around her as he
would have lulled restless child
The move was made, and Eleanor
found that she was not SO much fa-
tigued as she had often felt after a
days lounging with novel. Her bus
band thought it only new whim; but,