The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-25

|
household pamphlets they had twenty
years ago?
He lifted her into the old-fashioned
| chaise for her first venture out of doors
one balmy spring morning, and before the
fat old sorrel drew them slowly back
| to the low, rambling frame house he had
! asked her TO marry him and she had
| timidly consented.
! Well, they were married, and now that
the lines on his face have cut their way
| in much deeper than on that April morn
ing twenty years ago, and there is gray
| about his temples; now. though the little
woman is palmer in feature and even less
/ tasteful in dress than she was then, there
| is no welded pair of whom people would
| be so apt to say they lived happily ever
/ afterward.'
| That showed that the dear public has no
| power to pierce through externals, and
that, as a matter of fact, people really
know nothing about it. For several years
they lived in absolute happiness on her
| part, and contentment, at least, on his
Children two and three were born to them.
The man made strides in his profession,
| devoted himself to it, and finally removed
to st. Louis, the larger field for an ambf-
tious law-worker, built a home on what
is now one of the boulevards, and became
I a city gentleman in all respects.
He was successful from a business point
| Of view. His children growing, were well
and happy, and evinced decided tenden-
| cies to turn out neither fools nor repro
bates. His wife wire silks and diamonds
all paid for-kept his house neat, or her
servants did, looked after his creature
| comforts properly, and adored him.
| OF course, he was happy, you say, and
ha ~ rynY1I1 ha 70 ~
under the same circumstances.
Yes, perhaps the average man, but not
this one.
He was utterly miserable Why? Be
cause he'd outgrown his wife. Because,
when he had labored at his law, read the
best of literature, increased his apprecia-
| ton of all things good and beautiful in
every way, she had staid behind. She did
the best that she could, poor little woman,
but she simply was not capable of ever
making herself over into a clever. even an
| appreciative, woman. She was, is and
always will be, Insignificant.
The man gave up his struggle after
awhile
"Catlin has new Corot, which he
bought through a New York dealer not
long ago,'' the man would remark, cheer
| fully at dinner, as he carved the family
roast. ''He took me out TO see it this af-
ternoon. Wonderful, I think, and quite
his best piece of work. A landscape at
twilight, you know, with all the power
of his gray-greens. and
His wife is regarding him dreamily
you will have TO order some more coal
tomorrow, William. The man told me
this morning that we will be entirely out
in a week or so if this cold weather con-
tinues. Clara, please pass the celery"
There IS no more description of painting
that evening.
Then, of course, the inevitable happens.
He meets a woman who, on first ac-
quaintance, attracts him by reason of
her great womanliness, combined with her
intelligence. She is everything that is
lovely-digniied ofe pr sence, clever Of
speech, sympathetic OF word and manner,
tactful in her conversation. and capa-
bic Of drawing the best from him.
He realizes, after meeting her half
dozen times, that he loves her.
He Is q boy no longer, but a thinking
reasoning man of 40. who has never before
met and talked with woman whom he
could regard as a companion. He thinks
the matter over calmly, logically and
makes up his mind that there are two
things to be done; stop seeing this dear,
congenial woman and increase his tender
never, never know. His sorrow he must
bear alone
He has will of iron. After the first
fierce struggle with self. the first mad de-
sire 10 d0-something, he knows not what
he conquers.
There are no more meetings with the
woman he loves and many are his chances
10 see her in ways that society would
sanction, and about which there could
- 81
evening receptions, and the Ike.
He avoids them all. He has thrown him
self into his profession with increased
exertion. He thanks God daily for his
absorbing work. L is his only recreation,
and yet
The wife sat In her drawing-roOm late
the other afternoon, chatting with cali
er. The front door banged and N he
walked. He bowed cordially 70 the Wis
itor, and then. stepping up TO his wife.
tipped her thin little chin up with his
finger and kissed her.
What was it you were most wishing for
this morning." he asked
The wife clapped her hands Are you
really going 70 take me SoUth?' she cried
II delighted tones
I've arranged my work 50 that We can
leave Saturday night and IL will be Palm
Beach" was his reply.
After he had left the room the visitor
remarked:
You certainly have the best husband in
the world, Emfline- I hope taat you ap-
preciate him"
HIN. yes" replied the faded EniEus.
but I do wish that We were going on
the Mediterranean tip. Palm Beach IS
not much better than home. one meets 50
many s. touisians fhere.'-St Louis Re
public.