Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-06-10
HIS FIRST WIFE.

from his full face and from his figure,
which had lost its youthful muscle un-
der creeping waves of flesh. Mr.. Jane
way had satisfied his ambitions as far
as it is possible for man to do it. For
tunately for his content, these aspira-
tions were of the kind that are most
often realized. He had a handsome
wife and three bright children; he was
president of the State bank, an institu-
ton 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: II know
how it goes: l 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
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-
ton at the result of the election.
wanted to be elected. l 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 l could,
picked up a penny here and penny
there; I did any honest work that
could find. And where am 1 now?
President of a bank, .ex-mayor and
member of the legislature. / thank you,
friends, for your votes, yet 1 feel that
/ have won my own way; that am one,
a private perhaps, in the great army
of self-made men," He bowed, and re-
tired amid loud applause. In another
this speech would have provoked criti-
cism, but one of the privileges of the
self-made man is to praise his maker
without 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 ecIipsed Mr.. Morgan's red brick
mansion.
They were to move into it at once, and
Mrs. Janeway went about the old house
planning what should be left behind, 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 it, 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 a faded
photograph hanging in dark corner.
1t was the likeness of a plain woman,
with a broad mouth, and eyes widely
separated; the hair was parted and
drawn back from the forehead like two
curtains; n watch chain picked out in
gilt encircled her neck, and her lips
and cheeks were touched by carmine,
giving the face a CHASTITY pretense of
life.
Mr.. Janeway stared at it meditatively.
"'I hadn't noticed it for a long time" he
said.
''Who is that lady, papa?" Florry
asked, looking at the picture as if she
saw it for the first time.
"Why, Florry, that was my first wife,
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 eight years
old, and the ramiications of kinship
were yet a mystery to her.
.Of course not her mother said,
rather sharply. Your papa was mar
ried to her when he was very young
long before he lived here or knew me.
/ thought you had heard that before"
She turned to her husband. Madison,
shall lay this picture away?"
Mr.. Janeway looked at her attentive
lv. Was it zeal, or an artistic sense, or
was there a lurking jealousy of the
woman who had come before? Pack
it away if you like" he said, turning
away. at is shabby"
Long after his children and wife were
sleeping, Mr. Janeway sat smoking. and
thinking complacently of his success.
He, Madison Janeway, had begun with
nothing, and at so he had won the things
he had longed for at 20. The opening
and closing of the door attracted his
attention. He looked up.
A woman walked across the room-a
plain woman, with an honest, ugly face
and short, thick figure
who are you?" Mr.. Janeway asked,
frowning at her intrusion.
Don't you know me, Maddy?" she
returned.
He was startled when she called him
Maddy-it was more than 20 years
since he had been called that. Are
neutrality-suspicious. you can't be Sa-
rah," he stammered; ''she has been
dead these many years"
81 am Sarah.'' she answered. You
have changed, Maddy."
"Yes-yes. We are apt to-" he re-
piled. uneasiIy. But you look just the
same" He said this to see if she would
account for her presence.
1.-THE living can only see the dead as
they were in Iife," she returned. You
sold the farm. didn't your
Mr. JanewaY felt as IL q reproach lay