Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-04-08
HIS FIRST WIFE.

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Madison Janeway was always pointed
out as "self made man" and was APP
parently well satisfied with his own
handiwork, for content radiated from
his full face and from his figure, which
had lost its youthful muscle under
creeping waves of flesh. Mr.. Janeway
had satisfied his ambitions as far as it
is possible for man to do it. Fortu-
nately for his content these aspirations
were of the kind that are most often re.
allied. He had a handsome wife and
three bright children; he was president
of the state bank, an institution known
TO be founded on the rock of sound
finance; he had been mayor of Shewanee
and was "a member of the legislature.
So much of earthly glory had fallen to
his share.
When he read the obituary Of another
self made man, he always nodded his
head sagely, as much as to say, Il know
how it goes; started with nothing
myself " In fact, Mr. Janeway's cleo
ton to the legislature came of the adj.
miration the electors had for a man of
the people. When his constituents hired
a band and went to congratulate him,
they found him ready with a speech.
He said: Fellow citizens, will not
try to hide from you my deep gratifica-
tion at the result of the election.
wanted TO be elected / have wanted a
good many things. and I've generally
got them, but not without working
started with nothing; / did chores for
my keep; / went TO school when could,
picked up penny here and a penny
there; l did any honest work that
could find. And where am / now? Pres
ident of bank ex-mayor and mem
Der of the legislature. l thank you,
friends, for your votes, yet l feel that
have won my own way; that am one,
private perhaps, in the great army of
self made men" He bowed and retired
amid loud applause In another this
speech would have provoked criticism,
but one of the privileges of the self
made man is to praise his maker with
out stint.
Mr.. and Mrs. Janeway had but just
come from visit to their own house,
which their architect assured them was
in the purest style of the Gothic renais-
sance. But they were sure, too, which
seemed TO them of far more Importance,
that it was the finest house in town and
quite eclipsed Mrs. Morgan's red brick
mansion.
They were to move into it at once,
| oh no al
house planning what should be left be-
hind, as not coming up to the artistic
standard of the new place. Come here
minute, Madison" she called from
an obscure entry back of the dining
room.
Mr.. Janeway laid down his paper and
went to her, followed by Florry, their
youngest child. What is ii, my dear?"
he asked.
Hadn't better pack this away-the
frames SO shabby that it isn't fit for
the new house?" She pointed to faded
photograph hanging in dark corner.
1t was the likeness of a plain woman,
with broad mouth and eyes widely
separated; the hair was parted ard
drawn back from the forehead like two
curtains; watch chain picked out in
gilt encircled her neck, and her lips and
cheeks We're touched by carmine giving
the face CHASTITY pretense of life.
Mr.. Janeway stared at it meditative-
ly. II hadn't noticed il for long
time, he said.
WHO is that lady, papaP" Florry
asked, looking at the picture as if she
saw it for the first time
"Why, Florry, that was my first
wife, j" he answered, surprised that she
had not known it before.
WAS she my mamma too?''
NO no, he replied hastily. 'She
was Sarah Deering.
Wasn't she any relation to me?" the
child persisted. She was but years
| old, and the qualifications Of kinship
were yet a mystery to her.
"Of course not" her mother said
rather sharply. Your papa was married
to her when he was very young-long
before he lived here or knew me. /
thought you had heard this before. A"
She turned to her husband. Madison,
shall lay this picture away
Mr.. Janeway looked at her attentive
| ". Was it zeal or an artistic ensemble,
or was there IA lurking jealousy of the
woman who had come before? Pack it
away if you like" he said turning
away. 1T is shabby "
Long after his children and wife
were sleeping Mr. Janeway sat smoking
and thinking Ccmplacently of his sue
cess. He, Madison J. neway, had begun
with nothing, and "a 90 he had won the
things he had lonEod fer at 20. The
opening and closing cf the door attract
ed his attention. lie locked up
A woman walked across the room---a
plain woman with an honest. ugly face
and short, thick figure.
"Who are your" MI Janeway asked.