Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-08-24
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
5 HOW. E. )
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gan. Il was the daughter of q man
who never could stay in one place, so
we were always moving; if it was not
from one town to another 1t was from
one house to another; therefore grew
up with no sense of real homelike feel
ing. l married very young, and was
charmed to find that my husband not
only took me to a snug home, but also
that he owned the house and expected
to live In 1t, as he said, always.
cat first we were very happy; the
novelty Of having home of my own
gave to housekeeping a charm. had
neat tea table, flowers, plenty Of light,
music and everything as in our court
ing days, and Henry seemed as pleased
to be with me as he had been before
we were married.
"As long as summer lasted all was
easy enough. We had agreed that we'd
keep no servant; a woman came every
day and did the rough work and did
not mind the rest. But when winter
came gradually left off using my best
things on the table; it was too much
trouble, and as my hands chapped east
ly left the dishes for the woman to
wash, and that meant to break; so l
bought common white ware. l saw
Henry make wry face, but took no
notice.
II had kept the sitting room bright
with flowers my piano open and books
scattered about, for Henry often read
aloud; but the cold was intense, and
had generally spent my winters South,
so l felt too miserable to care for any
of these things. Often l did not change
my dress, and after supper would wrap
myself in shawl and go to sleep on
the sofa; then Henry would go out-at
first l did not notice how often-but
when did upbraided him for leaving
me alone, and took to asking every time
he came or went where he had been or
where he was going. AS he was out so
often l did not light the big lamp, so
there was no brightness.
Il had never cared in the first days
Of my married life to ask any friends
to call in the evening, but in my lone
liness and annoyance invited several
young people. When my husband
found that out he also stayed in and
seemed to enjoy the company. Then
the demon of jealousy entered my soul.
Every time Henry spoke to girl, sang
with her, or played a game, l sulked for
hours, or, perhaps, days. No man will
endure that, and every good girl re-
sents such a suspicion from his wife;
so soon l was again left to my long,
lonely evenings.
MY husband was never unklnd, but
he seemed quite Indifferent to me. Just
then the bric-a-brac craze began, and
for want Of better amusement col
lected lot Of useless stuff, made crazy
patchwork cushions and chair backs,
had little gilded tables scattered round,
and all the other fads of the day. When
Henry tried to move about he was al
ways knocking down something, and
flew to the rescue with cross or
peevish word to him. He never an
swered, but he kept more and more
away from home.
II was out Of health and out of spir-
its; but he seemed not to notice, and
thought he did not care to know. No
one can tell what my dismay was when
one day he came home and began hast
lily packing q trunk, telling me that
his business would take him away for
two months, and had better get some
friend to stay with me during his alb
sence.
II did so, and very kind and judi
cious friend she proved to be. She
soon found out the state Of affairs, and
also that loved my husband passion
ately, while he seemed to be slipping
away and forgetting me. He wrote
once a week, cold, short, duty letter,
and did not write at all; / could not.
l felt as If my heart were breaking.
After eight weeks had dragged their
weary length along Henry wrote that
he would be at home ON such a day.
The day came, and 1 was In a nervous
fever Of anticipation when, without
any warning, neighbor rushed into
the house to tell us there had been a
fearful railroad accident, and many
! were killed. 1t was the train on which
we expected Henry!
In my weak, over-wrought state the
shock was too great, and before many
hours had passed 1 was lying almost
at my last breath, and the little baby
| from whose advent l had hoped so
, much was dead. For two days knew
nothing, then opened my eyes to see
: my husband by my side, love and anxi-
ETY. in the dear face and eyes. l was
too weak to think, to remember the
accident to know or to feel anything
but the joy Of his presence, and fell
asleep with my hand held In his.
Il was young, and the happiness OF
seeing how much Henry loved me ,ra