Middletown transcript., 1898-03-19
would have been much better for the

Mr., Justis was like bomb OF human
dynamite, exploding unexpectedly at
the most trifing provocation. He no
longer noticed his grandchild, so Mrs.
Storer and her little delinquent took
their meals before the elders of the
household ate theirs This necessity for
double duty caused a panic in the kitch
en- and materially increased Mrs. JUS
tis' problems. At the earliest date pos
sible Mrs. Justis secured rooms in a
pleasant country place and established
Mrs Storer, Jack and his nurse for the
season. She returned to town with a
feeling of intense relief and devoted
herself to the humanizing of her tyran-
nical husband.
Poor womanl She often reflected on
the misery of her experience. If she
had broken up her daughters home,
she had also destroyed all comfort in
her own. The wear and tear had aged
her so perceptibly that her changed ap-
pearance was topic Of conversation
among her many friends. Her social
duties were neglected; her thoughts no
longer wandered to gorgeous effects in
| costumes. The world turned for her on
her husbands s bitter tongue. Every day
he reproached her as the cause. Of the
family discord and his own steady loss
of health and made her burden as heavy
as he possibly could. Conscious of her
mothers misery, Mrs. Storer gladly
found herself among strangers in a
strange place.
For the first time since she was told
| of her husbands faithlessness she drew
her free, natural breath and began to
think for herself. She dressed plainly
and wandered about with her child.
The open air, the grassy meadows, the
shaded lanes, all helped to bring peace
and pleasant thoughts.
There were no other boarders in the
house, and after becoming familiar with
the place and its surroundings her mind
went QUITO the people in the neighbor-
hood. From her sunny room in the wing
| of the house she commanded full view
of small cottage that soon became an
| object of intense interest to her.
She had occasional glimpses of tall
| young man in straw hat, who was
only visible in the early morning or at
dusk on weekdays and seemed to spend
his time in catching or returning from
the trains. He was undoubtedly the
| head of the little house and the family,
which consisted of tall, slender, young
woman and an infant that she carried
about the lawn.
A stout, middle aged woman, who
was veritable maid Of all work, COM
| pleted the household.
To any one with spare time and the
faculty of reflection the human trinity
is a most wonderful study. On Sun
days Mrs. Storer could indulge her in
| terest in this object. On Sundays the
man carried the infant about the lawn,
sheltered it when asleep in hammock
swinging from the porch, read aloud to
the attentive mother and went strolling
with her down the winding road. One
lovely, breezy morning when the air
was filled with perfume and the birds
seemed to sing Sunday music the young
father rolled a new baby carriage from
| the porch, and the baby evidently took
| its first outing
Such an amount Of preparationl One
would suppose that the child was COM
posed of sugar or china. Such trial of
pillows and wraps, until finally every
body was suited and away went the
wagon, guided by both father and
mother, merrily laughing
Mrs. Storer sat at her window and
watched. Then she rose and paced her
large room like crazy woman. Then
she cried until exhausted, and finally
sat down and wrote to her husband:
| DEAR JAcK-I don't care what anybody says
/ or thinks. l am very sorry for what l did
| Won't you forgive me and come back to me?
/ Jack and are quite alone here. No one knows
| how glad we shall be to see you again-only
| God. / hope he will forgive me for doubling
you. SALLIE
She carefully wrote the address and
sent the letter to her husbands Office,
as he had suggested. No sooner was
this done than complete change in her
whole being took place. She felt like a
person coming out of a frightful dream,
to find it but dream after all.
She wrote to Jane for her good dress
es. She sent orders to her dressmaker.
She counted the days. When IA were
gone, she began to watch for Storer's
coming. She felt that he would not lose
a moment in granting her appeal.
One morning her mother came, look
ing worn and nervous. Mrs. Justis Of
ten sought few hours relief with her
daughter, and after lunch Jack went
out with his nurse, and the mother and
daughter returned to the wing room.
Mrs. Storer was busy with her needle,
and her mother silently contemplated
! her. Mrs. Justis was a very close OBJ
server. Gradually it dawned upon her
that her daughters appearance was de-
I cidedly altered since her previousrvisit.
"Sallie, what dress is that? don't
recall it. -
"I only got it yesterday, mother. Do
you like it,"
i Mrs. Justis could not conceal her sur.
prise. "It's very pretty, but you look
ready for reception. didn't know
you cared to dress much here. :"
"Oh, I'm tired of plain clothes and
dullness. This existence is intolerable.
I've endured about all can stand Of
it."
"Well, thought you would come to
see the absurdity Of turning recluse
when your husband was in fault. You
can rid yourself of his claims and re-
turn to society. You are fitted to adorn
society. You'll find others who can ap-
preciate you.
eyes, but IN not going to look for
them. I'm going back to Jack if he'll
take me- Perhaps be won't now. I
couldn't blame him if he refused. We
treated him outrageously, mother. I
know it now.
"You do? How-how do you know
it?"
| "Oh, I can't make you understand
howl I'ye thought it all out for myself,
sitting here alone. Jack never had a
thought that was disloyal to me. / can't
prove it, butI feel it. =