The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-03-07
THE WIFE OF THE FUTURE.
Or just What Man Farcies the New
Woman Wdn Come To.

He stood in the dark at the bottom
OF the stairs. His coat was over his
arm, his shoes were in his hand, his
collar was unbottoned, his hair dis
heveled, and his breath would have
put the strength of Hercules to blush.
He was musing. What was he to say
to her this time? That he had been
with a sick friend? Bah! That chest
nut dates with Noah when he got back
from his first night out ON the ark
Lodge? Political caucus? Pooh! as
soon might he tell her that there were
June bugs in January. Why not tell
that he had been da(llying the chips at
club and then pass over hundred OF
his winnings for herself by way OF
reparation? ALL right in theory, but
where was the hundred? He had just
lost a cool hundred and fifty to Col
Keenwun, and the Lord knows 1t would
take month Of the SevereSt economies
to make that up. "WeH, I might as
we'll go and face the music" he said,
despairingly, at last, as he softly
mounted the stair like a wrath OF by
cones.
Once in his room he disrobed with
infinite caution, drank a pitcher OF
water, ate handful OF cloves, and
1l6rVOO IIlIIlSeH up WI6 pIOFtT pPtSu.
Throwing open the door Of his wife's
boudodr, he suddenly stood staring.
+ She was gone! A horrified query siezed
him Had she fed to her mothers?
Had she eloped with that-that scoun-
drel OF French marquis who was SO
excessively polite to her Of late? Oh,
no, that Thought was madness. He ap-
preached the bed. No, she had not
even been there. The sweat was ooz-
ing from every pore. He made his
way to the bureau and drew forth
revolver. 'Bloodr' he muttered.
"Blood-mine, his. anybody's. but
blood
There is no telling what he might
!, have done had not ait that instant q
| rattle at the keyhole below startled
| him. He struggled to the bannister
and looked over. There was the wife
Of his heart taking her shoes off at the
bottom of the stairs and trying to
| hang her hat on several imaginary
pegs. Slyly he crept back and leaped
| into bed, feigning sleep.
She entered, her face was a little
flushed, he- eyes somewhat bleary.
but she had the very air of her own
| husband when he had got his story
down pat. Instantly the outraged
| sleeper awoke with a start Madam.
what does this mean?'' he demanded.
| rubbing his eyes. "Here 1T is nearly
daylight and you-you, the wife OF my
heart, the mother of my children-just
come in ait this disgraceful hour from
| God only knows where. Give an ac-
count of yourself. Where have you
been-oh, wh-whereY
J But the calf wife only faced him
cynically. II VIII not work Off any OF
your old stale canned goods about
lodges sick frienls' and 'caucuses.' !"
she began, a trifie thdclly, "but I'll
come right to the point and truth
I spent the evening at the Dorcas Ad-
vamced Woman's league, where we had
quiet little game. Here. my dear.
4 she followed, tossing a roll OF bills upon
the bed, take this and buy yourself
sealslkin overcoat or a diamond ring.
Suit yourself. won $3.50 from Mrs.
] Keenwun, the colonefs wife.
Then the foxy oil duffer drew Long
sigh, grabbed the roll as q shipwrecaSed
sailor clutches a spar and buried his
nose in his pdllow! l"Forgivem." he malr-
INJURED a. moment latter when he caught
his breath from the sweet shock. and
| lay awake a whole hour wdnking at the
clean hundred the two OF them were
ahead Of the Kemwpns New York
! World,