Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-09-03

But, constance, II you knew now
had looked forward to this home-com-
ing, and | farcied it was to be so differ
ent-for us both! never imagined such
conduct from my children: l am an
noyed beyond expression. What am 1
to do with thI1?"
Nothing at all, she said, quickly
and decidedly. And then, leaving her
place and going around to his side she
put her hand in his and smiled down
at him.
The first favor I ask of you after
our Homecoming, she said; will you
grant it, or refuse it, dear?"
Grant it. of course" was the ready
answer.
Very we'll, then;-you are to take no
notice at all of anything rude the chill
dren may say or do"
But, Constance, I cannot allow"
'Ah, but you have promised, Tom!
Leave them absolutely to me. Treat
them as you always have done; no mat
ter how much they may annoy you,
don't appear to notice it,-act no lif-
ferently toward them in any way
Don't estrange them from you, l Deg
you, dear. 1t is quite natural I think
that they should act thus, from their
own point of view. will win them if
I can: but even if | should fail, YOU
must still be to them all you have ever
been. You have given me your prom
Use, and you must keep it."
But Constance, 7 cannot stand any
INSTRUMENTATION open discourtesy
toward you"
She bent and kissed him. eff I can
surely you can, my dear. Ignore
everything, and leave them to time and
to me-"
You are a good woman, Constance, "
he said. fondly. But she saw that the
keenly anticipated joy of his home
coming was gone.
In the two months which followed
Constance Penrose certainly had a diff.
ficult task to keep the peace. And al
the end of that time she was appar-
emily as far as ever from having gained
her object of winning the children's af-
fections. Although her husband kept
the promise he had given her to the
letter, she could see that his anger and
annoyance increased rather than ti-
minished, and it was only a question OF
time when the inevitable outbreak
would come-the consequences OF
which she feared would be irremedi-
able, Toms rudeness and sarcasm, I'M
reproved, were on the increase; and
Florence, in her more quiet way, was
quick to follow in his lead. Even
Bridget, who had long since ceased to
weep at seeing a stranger in her dear
dead mistress's. place, had lost all
young charges
That's all right, Bridget" Tom said
in his superior way, in answer to her
reproaches, but it's a very different
thing with you. Any one can get used
to having a new mistress, | suppose
but new mother,-that's an outrager'
So things were going on when at last
Mr.. Penrose received his marching or
ders," as he said. One of his extended
business trips through the south and
west had become necessary, and the
idea of leaving the home with it's di-
vided affections was not unpleasant to
him, and especially as he foresaw a
new pleasure in taking his wife, with
her keen enjoyment of travel, to so
many places which she had never be-
fore visited. 1t was with positive as
constituent that, after the children
had retired, he heard of her desire not
to accompany him.
But, Constance" he said, amazed,
with your love for trayel-I don't
understand you, really! What does
this mean?"
It's mutiny, if you will" she said,
smiling; "but once more, let me have
my own way. I'll go with you next
time, Tom, dear, if you wish it; and
the next time, after that. But this
time, let me stay quietly at home"
He did not quite understand it, but
he gave her his reluctant consent, and
the children heard of her decision
afterward with positive dismay
Now, you just wait" said Tom, and
remember what I've told you all along.
The cat is going to show her claws as
soon as papa once gets away. She
has been slower about it than |
thought, but it's coming. If he's gone
two months this time there'll be a rev
olution during his absence, you'll see!
Everything will be changed before he
gets back again. l don't trust her.
The whole house will be turned topsy-
turvey and everybody in it. Oh, these
stepmothers, they're sly, and they can
twist their husbands round their little
fingers, but the children must look
out! l wonder what her plan Of action
will be? Whatever it is, I'm pre-
pared. 1 just hate her," he ended saw
agely.
$50 do t. said Florence, with note
Of distress and anxious foreboding in
her voice.
So Mr.. Penrose went his solitary way
and life still went on, after his depart
ure, in the same uneventful fashion in
the Penrose home. The children went
through their usual routine of school
and study and harmless recreation, and
nothing happened to break the accus-
toned monotony.
Tom had wondered what Mrs Pen
roses line of action" was to be; but
she had not planned out any particu-
lar line, so far as he could see, and al
though he kept on his guard, he was
! beginning to grow puzzled.
One night when Florence was unusu-
ally sleepless and was lying awake
long after her accustomed hour. she