Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-01-05
MY POOR WIFE.
BY J. P. SMITH.


ly meant to make sport Of my affec-
tions or Of any other mans. But,
lacking this knowledge, must con-
fess that glance and that appeal in the
circumstances would have savored to
me of coquetry-of spirited and dan
gerous kind. Poor child, how little
l understood her-how coarse and
merciless had been my Judgment!
I've never done her any harm that
I know of, I'm sure: and people don't
as rule find 1t SO very hard to like
me, Paul." she added. with a childish
wistful sigh.
"They don't. heaven knows they
don't" l muttered. moving hastily
away.
may call you that?" she whispered,
laying her hand on my arm. OBTAINING
me. "Oh, II you had not gone away
ii you had not left me-left me-"
Hush. hush!" ! broke in thickly.
covering her hot hand with kisses
We've must not think Of these
things now. Edie."
Half way across the lawn l met my
wife strolling languidly towards me.
"Where have you been?" she asked.
with a slight frown. II have been
looking for you everywhere-round by
the paddock. stables. garden"
mot around by the cedar walk. my
love"
"Oh, you were there?"
Yes: smoking couple of cigars
for the last hour or 80 since l left the
drawing-room."
Then you must have met Miss Stop
ford going home: she left me nearly
an hour aso."
miss Stopford-Edie? Let me
see. Yes. of course met her! What
lovely evening 1t Is! Suppose we
take turn by the river before din
ner?" suggested hastily: and. she as
senting. We turned towards the wood
that bordered my property south and
west. wate-ed by the briskest. clearest
trout stream In Yorkshire. fringed
with fern. forgct-me-not and moss
covered boulders. against which the
Ing into bubbling cascades drowning
the voice Of wood pigeon. blackbird,
and thrush that haunted the hazel
thicket through which Helen was du-
tifully breaking a way for me.
what n hurry It Is In this even
ing-worsc than ever!" she remarked,
when We stood arm in arm by the wa
ter. You stupid. stupid little stream
to be In such fume to reach that foul.
~, ntr n'ra
we'll OF. hemmed In by these fragrant
banks. sercnaded by thrush and black
bird. bedded with sparkling pebbles?"
About n mile further down the lit
tie Col. swelled by somo tributary
streams Of baser origin. lost its crys-
tai identity and, after being merclless-
iy scourged and threshed by the
spokes Of mighty machinery. passed
through the manufacturing town of
Shorten and. flowing eastward in q
portcr-colored flood. emptied itself in
to the German ocean.
Yes" nssented. languidly throw
ing myself upon the grass and lighting
cigar. ut does seem in confounded
hurry: look, Nell. ut that beech leaf,
what n rate It's travelling at, by Jove"
II wonder II It will reach the sea
tonight-heigho!" mused Helen, who
never could look at the fairest streak
OF fresh water without longing for
salt.
Reach the sea tonight-that leaf!
You silly girl! Nell. would you like
to hear story?'
'Yes, II it's n pretty one"
ITS all in minor key. like most
true tales. Sit down beside me and
ri begin. Once upon time there
lived up in that red house where you
and /. trust, my dear, will grow gray
together. q young lady named Cecily
Dennys."
"oh. it's family lesend?"
"Yes: Miss Ceclly was my great
grand and n famous beauty In
her time. have n miniature OF her
somewhere. must show 1t to you.
She had score or SO of lovers and
suitors of all ages and degrees. among
them some OF the most eligible bach
elors In the county. The eldest son
Of the duke. n most gallant and pol
ished gentleman. proposed to her: but
she would have no one but young Rom
aid Hernshaw Of the Grange below
that stone house among the trees.
whe<e We called the other day-a man
whom her parents and friends most
sensibly disapproved of. for young
Ronald had an evil reputation. and
lad squandered large slice OF the
property after he came of age.