Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-06-28
CHAPTER NH.
nnNtIrSrifN SrE\1N


A DOMESTIC SCENE,
Ono afternoon when Mrs Reffold came
to say goodby to her husband before going
out for the usual slcdge drive he surprised
her by his unwontcd manner.
"Takc your cloak off, he said sharply.
"You cannot go for your drive this after
noon. You don't often give up your timo
to me. You must do SO today"
She was so astonished that she at once
laid aside her cloak and hat and touched
the bell.
'Why arc you ringing" Mr., Rctrold
asked testify.
ITO send message of excuse" she an
swercd, with provoking chccrfulncss.
She scribhled something on II card and
gave it to the servant who answered the
bell.
Now" she said, with great sweetness
of manner. And she sat down beside him,
drew out her fancy work and worked away
contentcdly. She would have made II
charming study of II devoted wife soothing
much loved husband in his hours of sick
ness and WEAKNESS.
do you mind giving up your drivcs"
he asked.
Not in the least" she replied. II am
rather tired of Sledging.
You soon get tired of things Wini-
fred" he said.
"Ycs, l do" was the answer. II am so
easily bored. l am quito tired of this
place. "
You will have to stay hero q little long
err" he said, land then you will be free TO
go where you choose. wish l could die
quicker for you, Winifrcd."
Mrs. Rctfold looked up from her en-
broidery.
"You will get better soon, she said
"You are better
Yes, you've helped good deal to make
me better" he said bitterly. You have
been most unseltlsh person, haven't you:
You have given me every care and ntten-
ton, haven't your
You seem to me in Il worry strange mood
today" she said, looking puzzled Il
don t understand you"
Mr.. Rcfrold laughed
Poor Winifred, " he said. "If it is ever
your lot to fall i'll and he neglected, per
haps then you will think of me ;"
"Ncglcctcd?" she said in some surprise
"What do you mcanS | thought you had
everything you wanted. The nurse brought
excellent testimonials. ! was careful in
the choice of her. You have never com
planned before. "
He turned YEARLY on his side and made
no answer, and for some time there was
silence between them. Then he watched
her as she bent over her embroidery.
"You arc very beautiful, Winifrcd, :" he
said quietly, but You arc n selfish wom
an. Has it ever struck you that you are
sclfish?"
Mrs Rctfold gave no reply, but she made
u resolution TO write to her particular
friend at Cannes and confldc to her how
very trying her husband had become.
Il suppose it is part Of his illness" She
thought mcckly, But it is hard to have
to bear it,
And Mrs. Rcffold piticd herself pro-
foundry She stitched sincere pity for her
self into that piece Of embroidery.
Il remember you telling me, contin-
ued Mr. Reffold, THAT sick people rcpell-
ed you. That was when was strong and
vigorous But since l have been i'll have
often recalled your words. Poor Wini-
fred, You did not think then that you
would have an invalid husband on your
hands. Well, you were not intended for
sickroom nursing, and you have not tried
Perhaps you were right, after all. "
"Idon'r know why you should be so I'M
kind today" Mrs Reffold said, with pa
thetic patience. Il can't understand you.
You have never spoken like this before "
NO, " he said. but have thought like
this before All the hours that you have
left me lonely have been thinking like
this. with my heart full Of bitterness
49,, ~ 81,
tic Brick, came along.
After that it was some time before he
spoke. He was thinking of his Little
Brick, and Of MI the pleasant hours he had
spent with her. and Of the kind. wise words
she had spoken to him. an ignorant fell
low. She was something like compan-
ion.
So he went on thinking and Mrs Ref.
fold went on cmbrodcring She was now
feeling herself to be almost n heroine 1t
is very easy matter to make oneself into
n heroine or a martyr. Selfish. ncglecrfult
What did he mean; Oh. il was just part
Of his illness. She must go on bearing her
burden rs she had borne it these many
months. Her rightful position was III a
London ballroom, instead Of which she
had to be shut up in an Alpine village
hard lot 1t was little enough pleasure
she could gct, and apparently her husband
grudged her that.
His manner to her this afternoon was
not such as to encourage hc7 to stay in
from her drive on another occasion To |
she would 70 sledging
That flash Of light which reveals our
selves to ourselves had not yet come 70 |
Mrs Rcffold
She looked at her husband and thought |
from his restfulness that he had gone TO /
sleep. and she was just beginning to write |
10 that particular friend AZ Cannes 70 tell |
her what trial she was undergoing when
Mr. Rcffold called her 10 his side.
"Winifred he said gently, and there
was tenderness In his voice and lore writ
ten on hts face, Winifred, am sorry II