Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-01

and ailments in the background as
much as possible when he found out
how sincerely distressed his old friend
was about them.
There is never anything pathetic in
young love in my eyes. 1t is some
times pretty spectacle when the man
is proud and chival, Gus and the girl
happy, but queen Of herself through it
all. 1t is more often a ridiculous and
rather nauseating one when both are
openly, supinely and selfishly engrossed
by their passion to the embarrassment
Of coolerheaded byStanders. But it is
not pathetic.
But about the affection of the old
people who have long ago, been separ-
ated during the summer and autumn
and come together again in the winter
Of their lives, there is a good deal of
pathos. Familiarity has not taught
them to disregard the nice little cour-
tesies of life which are rarely remem-
bered and so much more rarely prac-
ticed between a husband and wife who
have pursued together for long time
They have the felicity of believing
that their lives would have been lives
of intimate happiness if only their
young loye-dream had been realized
in an early marriage. No one can rob
them of this belief, for no one knows
any better than they do themselves
whether if not it would have been veri-
fed. They derive intense satisfaction
from dwelling on the possibilities that
fate denied them in their youth. and
take reawakening and strong pleasure
in making the daintiest and most fas-
tidious show of which their persons and
clothes are capable, each in order that
the eyes of the othe" may be gratified
All this is eminently pathetic.
So are the little half-timid revivaIs
Of those tricks and habits and harmless
affections with which they charmed one
another in those beautiful bygone days,
when first they met, when the world
was young and the goose a swan and
the lass a queen. OLD Mrs. Thorburn
remembered each detail of her young
naval heros uniform as vividly as if
she had seen him wear but yesterday
and Capt. Kelly, whatever or whomso-
ever else he forgot, had clear and
distinct vision Of the sweet young girl
who had been wiling to take him for
better or for worse in the days when
his income was limited and his profess
siOnal prospects nil.
So after spending long hours in the
garden together, when it was fine, and
in the easiest Of easy-chairs by the fire
when it was foul the two old faithful
reunited friends, whose hearts beat
warmly for each other, laid their case
before the young ones, and asked to
be allowed to marry, and pleaded not
to be considered and treated as lunatics
for doing so, even now at the eleventh
hour.
1T would rouse NE and make me
take the gentle exercise which is good
for me about the house if | had him
and his little comforts to consider con-
SANITY Mrs. Thorburn pleaded, with
a sweet old blush, when she first
preached the subject to her daughter
in-law, and Patrice tempered Judgment
largely with mercy and pointed out
clearly to her husband that the COM
partnership between the two old friends
would scarcely be closer or altered in
any way, only each would have the
comfort of knowing that it was so firm
ly consolidated that nothing but death
would sever it.
THE dear old dad will have my two
hundred year, Ned. I will not let him
go a penniless Bridegroom into your
mothers safekeeping. She enjoys hay
ing matters Of the house to attend to,
now that she feels better; so they
must have a small compact one that
won't run away with them and become
unmanageable; and il must be near
enough for us to have an eye on them
So it was settled within any dissen-
tient words from Ned and though some
people laughed at the idea of a forget
full old gentleman OF 70 and daintily |
old lady of IS embarking on the sea OF
matrimOney together there was nothing |
ridiculous about it in the eyes Of those !
who knew them best and understood |
the pathos underlying their picture of
revival of the old, ole story.
When ShoIto Graham heard of it he |
grew angry and cynical, declaring that |!
it was only the appalling selfshness |
which marred Patrice's character.
"Old Mrs. Thorburr has money, you
may rely upon that" he said to Mrs. |
80 Patrice has just shun- !
ted all the trouble and responsibility
Of that old lunatic stepfather of hers
upon the poor old woman. That was
the rock upon which Patrice and |
split. She wanted to carry out a sense |
less fad of her own which would have
spoiled my domestic life, so told her
plainly that unless she promised to
give it up must break off the engage
ment. She wouldn't gil it up! She's
as obstinate as mule l pursuit of her
own pleasure. So as She wouldn't
give It up l gave her up. 1t was her
fault entirely that l married as | did.
And now see what has come OF that?'
From what I have heard Of Mrs.
Ned Thorburn I don't believe she is
either faddy or selfish" Mrs. Cumber
land said, gravely. And as for what
has come of your sad, mistaken mar
riage, oh! Sholto, be a man, and don't
try to put the blame of it on any other
shoulders than your own"
There was neve~ a Graham who !
wasn't sound in wind limb and mind"
he replied, holly. Don't try to pre-
and that Won or any nfbpr cano rprCnn |