Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-16

Bu ne began paying 3SSldIOuS court TO
the black-haired widow, and soon dis
tanced Mr.. Smith in the matrimonial
race. In a gown of quiet gray, with
little Frank somewhere in the back OF
the church Mrs. Morrison laid aside
that title and became Mrs Goddering.
And then again the matrimonial
soap bubble burst. Mr.. Goddering
was a gentleman and loving hus-
band in every sense of the word except
that work and he did not agree. Work
he simply refused to associate with.
On cold stormy days when Mrs. God
dering would come in beraggled and
tired from a days sewing, she would
find him in dressing gown and slip
pers, with cigar and his papers, en-
tertaining Frank with all manner OF
the door to meet her when she came
up the step and would draw her in
tenderly, eXclaiming:
Poor Margaret! have been watch
ing every car that has passed for the
last half hour. 1t is such a pity that
you have to go out in this cold and
wet to work. Dinner is almos,
ready
And SO on, ad infinitum, all tbs
time drawing off her overshoes ana
laying aside her damp wraps.
At first she was too astonished a
this treatment to resent it in any way
or do more than humbly acquiescC
But as the situation began to grow
clearer to her mind she was possessed
of a hysterical desire to laugh every
time she came into the house Certain
it was that frankie could rot have
found a better caretaker in herself
than in "Steppie," as he affectionately
and somewhat Familiarity termed Mr.
Goddering. But by and by the fun
wore off and the drudgery waxed tire
some. Then Mrs. Goddering nerved
herself for the second wrench and
firmly told Mr.. Goddering that she
could not and would not support him
any longer. With tears in his eyes
and every assurance of constant love,
he, too, sunk from her horizon into
complete oblivion. And this second
venture having proved so complete a
failure, Mrs. Goddering sought to
legal release, but for Franks sake re-
sumed her first name of Morrison and
brought her boy up in the way he
should go.
So for fifteen years she lived alone
with frankie, until he ceased to be
frankie, and became Frank, and, not
discouraged by his mothers disas-
trous experiences, took unto himself a
fair-haired girl to wife with sublime
faith that his choice would be more
fortunate than hers. And right here
it might be we'll to state and dispose
of any WOnderment on this score for
all time, that his faith, as of a grain
of mustard seed, moved mountains,
and to this day he and his bride live
in peace and harmony.
And, after fifteen years of peace, a
bomb burst into the quiet of the lit
tie dressmaker's life. A telegram for
one Mr.. Goddering was one day de-
ivered to her, which stated that his
wife and daughter were awaiting him
at a certain hotel in the same city.
With characteristic promptness Mrs.
Morrison took the bull by the horns
and sought out this new addition to
The Coddering family.
Alas and alack! The new Mis-.
Goddering proved to have a prior
claim to that title and Mrs. Morrison
had never been anything but Mrs.
Morrison. Nevertheless, she applied
for and obtained a divorce on the
grounds OF desertion, with the full
consent, of the previous Mrs. Colder
ing.
One evening soon after she stopped
to visit Mrs. Frank and the little
Frank, just after tea. They were sit
ting in their little square back yard,
at which Mrs. Morrison looked with
longing eyes but resolutely refused to
share. Barely had she seated herself
on the grass and prepared for little
merry romp with little Frank, when
the back gate from the alleyway was
unattached and opened, and a man
came into the Enclosure. With an ex-
clamation Mrs. Morrison rose and
faced him. 1t was Steppie.
The situation might have been
funny to an outsider; to those present,
with the exception of the undutiful
son, it was embarrassing. For in
spite of his indignation at the man s
treatment of his mother, Frank could
scarcely keep his face straight when
Steppie assured Mrs. Morrison that
he never had intention of wrOnging
her by marrying her; that his first
wife had deserted him and he had
supposed her dead; that since Mrs.
Morrison had rid herself Of all legal
claim on Mr.. Goddering the real wife
had followed suit, and now Mr.. Cod
dering stood before Mrs. Morrison pre-
pared to marry her and presumably
also ready to take care of her after
the said marriage-if she considered
that he owed her any reparation for
what he had done.
Before Mrs Morrison could answer
her grandson came ushering into the
yard a second visitor. The little one
had heard the dooTbell ringing, while
the other three were to much inter
ested in the foregoing conversation to
notice this noise, and had gone to adj
nit the visitor. When the stranger
appeared before her Mrs. Morrison
gave a gasp OF recognition and sank
speechIess into the nearest chair. It
was Mr.. Morrison.
This peculiar family reunion was
always too confused in the memory OF