Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-07-02

I
pleasant, but don't forget that the
same woman who has been a good wife
to bad husband, may prove a bad
wife to good one"
eff should see any chance of that
should only have to jump upon her to
reverse the position" said Frank, look
ing very sWeet-tempered and happy.
well" said the old Scotchman,
rather sadly, you may TAX it as a
joke but the treatment, If one only had
self-control enough for it, has its good
points 1t might be bad for US,
but, We may depend upon it, it would
be good for them"
Frank, however, was u1daunted by
the suggestions of a bitter experience,
and all through the early summer he
continued his leisurely occupation of
transforming the prim house with it's
hideous mahogany and horse-hair to a
very dainty little nest indeed, much
too pretty for bachelor" as all the
aides said who ever had peep inside.
If course the doctor was going to
larry; there could be no doubt Of that
Fhen Mrs. Peele, having expressed a
desire to have the dining-room and
drawing-room furniture D. her new
home in London, the young doctor Joy
fully packed it up and sent 1t of, and
replaced it by something both prettier
and more comfortable; for Mrs. Peele
had taste for stiff and slippery up
holstery which mortified the flesh.
None OF the ladies of Branksome, deep
ly interested as they were in the mat
ter, felt any certainty as to whether
the handsome young doctors choice
was made. for he naturally felt a
great delicacy about approaching Alma,
IN the most ordinary way, during the
rst months of her widowhood, being
ar less sure Of himself with her than
&c had been while there was a barrier
between them. 1t happened, there
fore, that, the lady feeling also shy on
her side, they did not exchange a
single word through the whole of the
spring and the greater part of the
summer, and limited their intercourse
to the stiffest little bows at any chance
meeting. So rigorous were they that
the Lakeside girls and their mammas
and chaperons were happy to believe
that poor Edwin Crosmont's widow"
had put herself by her stiff ways, CON-
pletely out OF the running.
1t was the beginning of August when
Alma, who with the recovery of her
health and spirits began to feel her
natural feminine coquetry awakening,
decided that the first ice of their decor
GUS estrangement might now be
broken. One scorching afternoon,
when Armathwaite returned home,
tired and dusty from his days work,
he was informed by the servant that a
little girl was waiting to see him in
the surgery, and that Mrs Crosmont
was with her. Franks heart leaped
up. He seized a clothes-brush and be-
gan to brush himself violently, as
much to gain time to conquer this hor-
rible choking nervousness as because
he was reluctant to enter her pres
ence with the workaday dust of the
roads upon him. When he entered the
surgery he was particularly calm and
sedate, with rising young medical
practitioner with a character to keep
up writ large all over him.
Alma was sweet. and grave, and
tranquil. but she hal brighter color
in her cheeks than Frank had ever
before seen there, and in the front of
her dress he wore 4 white rose which
oh 20,
think was very good sign. She had
brought one Of the village children to
have scalded arm dressed. and as the
child screamed and struggled and took
up all their attention until the oper-
alton was successful accomplished,
the first part of the interview passed
OF without any feeling of awkwardness
on either side. AS soon, however. as
the girl found her arm bandaged and
released, she darted to the door and
made her escape like wild thing.
without word Of thanks to either OF
her benefactors. They looked at
each other and laughed
Poor little thing, She isn't much
tanner than a squirrel. She was rush
ing about the road crying, and it was a
hard task to persuade her to come
with me at all" said Alns, moving in
her turn towards the door.
But Frank stepped hurriedly across
the room before her.
Il wish, Mrs. Crosmont, now that
you are here, you would do me the
pleasure of locking into the drawing
room. have made some changes
there. should so much like to hear
what you think about them"
Alma hesitated, and then turned
back with smile.
Il will see it certainly, IL you wish"
she said, gently.
So Frank led the way into the draw
ing-room. which had been indeed trans.
formed. The violent oolors. the tat
ting antimacassars, the wax lowers
under glass shades of Mrs. Peele's
regime, had disappeared. while in their
place were harmonious tints and soft
fabrics, and bowls full of freshly-cut
flowers.