The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-12-08

y
sponded. Her tone was conventional
almost forbidding.
ST don't think a confidential wife
would be annoying, Anice."
She looked at him across their dainty
table-looked at him over the violets,
and was never more beautiful with her
cleaning satin gown and her delicately
tinted flesh than at that moment, but
not a line of her face softened at his re-
mark, FL
. "a progressive confidence, at break
fast, luncheon and dinner would be
truly terrible, Lawrence. spare you a
great deal"
"You spare me too much. In these
days. that I have been at home ailing it
has occurred to me that know moth
ing about your life,''
"There is little to know"
''But you are busy all day long"
$50 is almost everybody"
"Other women of your acquaintance
go to certain expected places. Their
carriages upon the street at a certain
hour will be an indication of their err
rand abroad. But you go out afoot, in
the plainest garments. You are out at
the most unexpected hours. You re-
ceive extraordinary persons. You send
the carriage out to unheard-of neigh
borhoods."
"Have you been making inquiries of
the servants?" she inquired, coldly.
"Yes, without meaning offense. 1t
came about accidentally. You are un-
just if you think me idly inquisitive.
Bnt realize that you and I are stran-
gers"
81 realized that a long time ago. That
is why have not confided in you"
But WY did you marry me if you
considered me a Stranger"
For the same reason thatyou married
me-because it was too much trouble
to protest; because it was simpler
TO marry somebody than to remain sim
gle and have folks forever worrying;
and because whatever you did not know
about me, you knew nothing objection
able. In other words, we were married
because we were too supine to protest"
He sighed and looked longingly at the
exquisite woman opposite him.
Il suppose it is so, he admitted, 'but
L much wish we had married each other
for some better reason"
Her face seemed to grow yet paler.
1--WE mustn't grow Retrospective" she
said. ''It would be $3.50 adolescent."
And she changed the subject.
The next day he was to go to business,
but he could not fix his mind upon the
letters towhich he endeavored to give his
attention and the details of his business
continually slipped frol, him. He was
consumed with curiosity concerning
the interests with which lis wife ap-
peared to be filling her life, and h. was
enough a man of the world to realize
that unrestricted liberty and endless
leisure are dangerous for woman wlS
thinks herself unloved and who does no,
love. Harassed with these reflections.
he felt his indisposition returning, and.
too irritable to remain longer at his
desk, he went home. There was a GER
tain bride holding her post-nuptial re-
ception in the neighborhood, and the
carriages thronged the avenues leading
10 the house.
''Anice will be there" he said to him
self. ''And she will be more beautiful
than the fairest''
But as he assembled the steps he was
surprised to see his wife open the door
and stand on the threshold talking with
a woman. In his wife's arms was lit
tie babe, and she bent and kissed it
twice before she placed it in the arms of
It's mother.
''Be sure and give the baby an airing
every day." she called, as the woman
started away. sand the food will be
sent up tomorrow, and the little buggy
will be there when you get home. I'll
expect you again week from to-day.
Don't forget"
Lawrence had never heard her voice
sound so hearty and full of cheer. He
could hardly believe this was the won-
an who ordinarily employed sort of
monotonous, musical intoning when
she spoke. Nor could he at first believe
that those glowing eyes were the calm
and unresponsive ones into which he
had looked thousand times, only to be
baffied by their opacity.
"You are not at the reception, Anice."
"As you see." She endeavored to re-
turn at once to her ordinary tone, but
it was difficult. AS the door closed he
held out his arms to her.
"Anice!" he cried, "Anice, dear love,
do not change your voice for me! DO
not drive the light out of your eyes be-
cause have come! You give your life
in ministry to others. Minister also to
me. Forgive me that have not under
stood. Neither of US has understood.
We have been like children cropping in
the dark and comfort close at hand had
we only reached for it, know I am not
worthy of your love, but try to love me
and perhaps may grow in goodness"
She interrupted him, weeping.
81 have loved you so long," she
sobbed. 'But I meant that you should
never know."-Chicago Tribune.