Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-17
Clouds Cleared Away.

>~~-~~-~-~-~~~---~
q WAS lying laZily in the hammock,
meditating upon the faIseness OF
womankind in general and the
falseness of Dorothy Shepard-in
whom l had trusted so fully-in par
Jicular. Ne had been sWeethearts ever
since early childhood and We're now
only waiting for the time when l
would be able to provide a home. But
the newspaper which had come in that
mornings mail contained an account
of the marriage of Miss Dorothy Shep-
ard to her cousin, Reginald Pierce.
7 had been jealous of this cousin, the
year before, when he was visiting at
DOrCrhy's home. He was handsome and
wealthy, while l was only an ordinary
looking fellow and a struggling young
lawyer.
But my reverie is broken by a sigh
from Mrs. Farley, my portly and moth
erly landlady, who for six summers
has boarded me in her comfortable
home in the picturesque little village
Of HOpetOwn. She is in her rocking
chair on the piazza opposite me, en-
gagged in the construction of a fearful
and wonderful thing which she calls Il
tidy"
Again the heartrending sigh.
What is the trouble, Mother Far
leyf' l asked.
We'll, Mr.. Harry, l suppose yOuIl
think I'm foolish old woman, but I'm
feelin' that bad this mOrnin' you
wouldn't believe-and all because 1
can't have my picture took"
We'll. Mother Farley, didn't think
vanity was your besctting sin. Why
are you so anxious to be photograph
edT" ....
Then the good old soul told me that
her son, who was out west, and whom
she had not seen for ten years, had
sent her some money, and had begged
her to have her picture taken for him.
The photographer who had been settled
in Hopetown had skipped" one night
about a month before, leaving all his
apparatus in his studio, which he had
rented from Mother Farley's husband,
The nearest town was ten miles away,
and, owing to a weakness in her back,
Mother Farley was unable to drive SO
far; but she was incOnsOlable at the
thought of disappointing her son Rich
ard.
IN my college days l had used cam
era a good deal in an amateur way,
and presently l left the piazza and
strolled over to the potato field to In
terview Mr.. Farley relative to a plan
which l had in mind.
Law he CALCULATED, you don't say
you kin take pictures, too! My! But
won't ma be tickled"'
got the key and went over to the
forsaken studio; found camera, plates,
paper and chemicals all in good order,
and early that afternoon Mother Far
ley, beaming with smiles and attired
in her Sunday best" came over 10
pose. How delighted she was when l
showed her the proof the next morn
ing, and that evening she carried it to
the weekly prayer meeting and eXhib-
tied il to all her friends ut the close
of the service.
finally yielded to their urgent re-
quest to keep the studio open for 4
week, and to make photographs of all
who cared to have them.
on the afternoon of the last day
which | was to spend in the studio |
was mounting some photographs of an
old maid with hooked nose and cork
screw curls when heard a gentle tap
al the door. called Come in," and a
very pretty girl, dressed in a neat bi.
cycle suit, entered.
Good afternoon" she began, with a
bright smile. "My friend and / are on
a wheeling tour, and would like a tin.
type taken With our wheels, if you are
not too busy
u shall be glad to oblige you. and am
AT liberty to do so Immediately" !
said.
well. then" she said, would you
please bring in our wheels for us? Ny
friend is at the door with them. but |
am afraid we cannot manage to get
them Up the stairs"
We went down together and there
on the doorstepS stood Dottie. Before
either of us could speak the other
Young lady exclaimed: He will carry
our wheels up, Dot, and will take our
tintypeS right away"
nattie paid no attention to her. but
came forward. all smiles and bushes
with outStretched hand. why. Hair
she said. Il never dreamed that you
had gone in the photo business, !
knew you were in Hopetown, of course
and when Nell suggested that we
should wheel down here and see hel
suutie. who lived in this neighborhoOd
I consented, and didn't write 70 you
last week for fear should let out the
secret, for l wanted to surprise you
This is my future husband, Mr. Oak
lev. Miss Curtis, and now come on
let's get those tintypes,"
Dorothy has been my wife for two
happy years, and have only one Sc
cret from her. That is, that thought
even for moment. that she had beer
false to me-my own loyal darling!
Reginald Pierce has taken the house
opposite ours THE twin Dorothys.
as we call our wives, are inseparabl'
friends.