The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-06-11
HIS WIFE'S CHUNI.

l1O w IL IL ~ VII u III,
He had been married year and still
found that tmarital happiness was really
tangible thing, not the fanciful yapor.
ings of poetic enthusiasts. He was able
to crumble in the dust the highest and
strongest arguments brought forward
by cynical bachelors that marriage is
failure. But yet. with all his devo-
ton, he was able to appreciate pret-
ty woman. He kept this appreciation
to himself. In a years time he had
learned many valuable truths of whose
existence he had not even dreamed be-
fore. One Of these was that it was far
better for married man to keep some
things to himself and observe a relig-
lous silence on others. One subject
upon which he kept a religious silence
was that of praising pretty women in
his wife's hearing. When he married
her he thought his wife the most beau
tiful creature which the widest
dreams of lovers fancy could coniure
up, but after a years constant associa-
ton with her he had been forced to ac-
knowledge to himself that there were
others as pretty, and at last had de-
clded that some We're prettier, but that
none was better or sweeter he never
doubted.
One morning at breakfast, as his
wife, clad in a bewitching gown, was
pouring the coffee, the smart, white
aproned maid same in with the mail.
and amid the pile of letters was one
upon which his wife seized eageraly and
tore open with the unconventional aid
of the butter knife
'Oh, jack she said joyfully, as she
read on with smiling face, MAUD is
coming. You remember Maud?"
He did not remember Maud and said
so.
'Oh, yes you do his wife replied.
"She was my chum when you came to
see me before we were married She
used to plague us by coming in when
we wanted to be alone. Don't YOU re-
member?'
Jack had q dim recollection of a small
girl who used to make herself too con-
foundedly numerous" as Jack had
once said in moment of exasperation,
but her face hn could not call to mind,
SO be nodded and asked when she was
coming
'ro-nig4t, she says She does not
menticn tie train. There are two, YOU
know. ] si:!f!@Se she will take the
1885 from hcs!t2. where she wants to
do some s.!ci:lj;.i:s | am SO glad She is
coming. We can lave such fun talking
over Old times a-l. Oh. lots of things"
Jack folded his napkin. got his grip
and, accompanied by his wife walked
to the door which opens on a pretty
porch VIII the wC&dbine and the view
of the g&.'Gen and the woods crowning
the hill. The Cd familiar scene was
enacted at parting for the day, and
Jack went brisl'y down the path to the
road which leads to the railroad sta
tion stopped at the gate long enough
to look back and wave 4 farewell to the
figure in the bewtching morning gown
which stood in the door framed by the
woodbine He boarded the train which
took him to Boston at just the same
time every week day. Jack was a
young lawyer Of considerable ability
and already had fairly good practice
in a profession which is so over
crowded.
Every afternoon at $50 the train
started back from the big smoky, noisy
B. and A. station. and every afternoon
at $50 Jack entered the last car with
his grip and his paper. In the middle
Of the week the train was seldom
crowded, and often Jack found himself
entirely alone for most of the journey.
This happened to be one of the days,
and Jack stretched himself out COM
fortably and began to read the paper
The main line pulled out in a slow and
dignitied manner. Jack saw a fash of
white fly by the window, and the next
moment a charming young woman
with dark-brown hair, laughing brow 4
eyes and a jaunty blue and white shirt
waist and red necktie stood in the
door, vision of summer personified
She was so extremely pretty that Jack
could not help looking at her again as
she came down the aisle. She caught
his eye, a half surprised expression
flashed over her face, she paused un
certainly and then deliberately sal
down directly opposite Jack. She ar
ranged her blue skirt daintily. looked
out the window and then at Jack. who
found himself stealing q surreptitious
glance at her from the edge of the pa
per which he was pretending to read
The same little comedy was gone
through with again. and this time sh,
smiled slightly hui encouragingly. an(
lack snli-t<l h&"!i My d. not frown
Wh.li won.t; -; ,gN, .1ne under tbs