River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-01-01
In sheer desperation he looked at

into the street, and it had ceased to
rain. The full moon seemed to grin
and wink at him maliciously through
the clouds as though she meant to
say: "See, old man, it serves you
right! Why must you go out to play
cards and leave your wife at home
in Ionelinesss?"
In spite of the repeated potations
ne still felt chilly. "There is no help
for it but good rum" he said to
| himself, starting on a lively trot
through the city; first down one
street, then up another, through the
suburbs until he reached the open
country and back again without stop
or rest for fear of catching cold.
| The town clock struck the hour of
four. cit is still too early to get into
| the house." he said, ''thc front door
| is never unlocked before six o'clock!
| VIII they be able to unlock the door
anyway? A piece of my key sticks in
the lock; the women are imprisoned
and cannot get out. But now l can
stand this no longer. [ must have
something hot to drink and sit down
| somewhere. There is train at four
o'clock" and forthwith he once more
wended his way to the railroad depot
| A snug corner and a cup OF not
coffee somewhat restored him. But
he was very tired and pretty soon ne
was as sound asleep in his corner as
! his wife had been the night before Oh
| her lounge.
And how did mis- wife fare? She
awoke in the middle of the night
with a start, almost frightened out
of her wits by horrid dream, III
which her husband had appeared be-
fore her, wounded, bleeding, and torn
| nv huge blOodhounds. Pretty soon,
however, she comprehended the STU
alton. Her face bathed in tears, she
paced restlessly up and down the
room wringing her hands. ION, the
wretch! To stay out all night! Just
to think of it! Such a man has the
effrontery to talk to me of love. Not
content to act like a villain, he even
had to make fun of me last night by
pretending he would henceforth be
home at II o'clock.
"WhO would ever have thought him
so base? They close the beer house
after midnight, hence he cannot pre-
tend to be playing cards there all
night. Heaven knows where he is
spending the night, in whose com
pany he is enjoying himself, while
I! But he'll find that | am not his
dupe. [ shall leave him at once
There is train at seven o'clock IN
the morning which / am going to
take and go home to my parents
and so forth and so on. More wiring
ing of her hands, more tears, more
self-pity and accusations, until IN
her eyes her husband appeared a
veritabIe Bluebeard.
At five o'clock she called the serv-
ing maid, whom she sent to the gar
ret for a valise, and commenced to
pack The maid said nothing, but she
was surprised that her master had
not risen and did not help his wife.
However, she made the coffee and
then went after a cab.
The front door was wide open, and
q locksmith busy with the big lock,
when Annie appeared in the hall
The landlady ran to meet her, ex-
planning in a hurry of excitement:
Did you hear about it, madam? ~
thief was here last night and made
an attempt to enter the house. Some
one must have frightened him Off.
He left broken key stuck fast in
the lock, and / was unable to unlock
the door. [ had to call from the win
dow until 1 aroused neighbor, who
ran for locksmith. Now [ am GO
ing to have a patent lock put on and
spoil their little game. But you look
very pale, my dear madam. [ am
| sorry to have frightened you with
my burglar story. Are you going to
take ride so early in the morning?''
Annie nodded and passed on. She
was glad that the woman had not
seen her valise, which her maid had
already put into the cab.
"What a narrow escape | had last
night. How near [ came being
robbed-perhaps worse!' She was
now thoroughly angry. $50 much
more reason for leaving the fellow,
no matter the consequences! For
the present I shall remain with my
parents" Thus musing, she arrived
at the depot.
Before purchasing her ticket she
intended to leave her valise in the
waiting-room. Annie entered and
made for an empty table, when sud-
denly-she dropped the valise and al
most screamed aloud-wasn't that
her husband, her Gus, sitting there
in corner and snoring loud enough
to make everybody in the room smile
at his nasal powers?
Suddenly the sleeper opened his
! eyes. Whatever the outcome, she
must avoid a scene in a public room.
Annie tried to appear quite uncon-
cerned, and took a seat beside her
husband. Somehow her anger had
suddenly vanished.
ooh, darling, what brought me-T
mean rather what brought you
here?" he asked, astonished at the
unexpected appearance of his wife,
dressed for a journey.
Never mind, dear. Don't bother
about that now," she whispered.
Come, let us ride home, when l will
explain ALL"
Gus acquiesced in silence. All he
could do was to drag himself to a
cab.
And then explanations We're in or
| 10