Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-11-02
THEIR
HONEYMOON
BY Horrief G. ConfieId
Copyright, 1906, by Harriet g. Garfield

"Why no, Beth. | rather liked it
Liked it, My hat is full of rice
and your shoulders are simply covered
with it, The publicity Of 1t, Jack. II
they'd only let us slip off quietly! Now
every one will know that we're just
married. You mustn't pay any atten-
ton to me. You must read your paper.
and then
"'And them" smiling whImsically.
why. then you must go into the
smoking car dear"
When Jack abandoned his paper for
a cigar the old lady behind Beth leaned
forward. Excuse me- she said. but
are YOU going far?"
Yes, long distance" Then the
kind old face won her confidence, and
she added volubly: "My husband has a
farm out west. We are going there
now, but we intend to stop at several
places on the way"
Il was thinking" the old lady said,
"of the many bridal couples that have
passed over this road. How many Of
them, wonder, are rs happy now as
they dreamt they'd be?''
"Oh, many. | hope" said the little
bride wistfully. Don't you think so!'
1T all depends. OF course the honey
moon can't last forever. A man may
love his wife better every day-he prob
ably does-but he forSets to tell her so,
and Il woman's heart IS curious thing.
She can't live on faith and apple dump
lings." Then she added My dear, if
your husband ever forGets TO show you
any OF the little s.gas Of affection /
want you to rcn!c.1Jcr that he loves
you Just the same and believes In your
love for him, but. being man, he isn't
continually looking for Il sign
THANK you Beth whispered CRATE
fully, land I'll remember"
The old lady left the car at the next
station, and Jack returned.
In less than two months Beth was
the established mistress Of the farm
house, though Jacks Aunt Mehitabel,
who had ruled there so long, was loath
to relinquish her sccpter.
In Aunt Hitty's presence Beths spir-
| its were strangely subdued, Even the
Swedish girl in the kitchen felt the de-
pressing influence and hummed
dirge whenever Aunt Hitty entered
her domain.
The weeks went by. and the little
| wife's happiness was seriously in dan
ger. Her nature was an active one but
Jacks aunt opposed her every effort
to be useful When alone with her
husband Beth was happy: their honey
moon had not waned. She longed to
| tell the kind old lady SO. But Jack
could not often be with her The farm
work demanded his attention. Once.
when she supposed Aunt Hitty was
| TAX ing her afternoon nap, Beth gave
way TO her feelings, and, burying her
| face IN Jacks old coat, she cried as
| If her heart would break.
That evening, as she sat on the wide
porch, waiting for Jack to join her, she
| overheard Aunt Hltty talking to him.
she is 50 utterly incompetent"
Aunt IIitty was saying. land so child
| ish, This afternoon / heard her cry
| ing-actually crying, | often wonder
why You married her, John"
Because | loved her-that is suf
| ficient, | think" Jack answered. Poor
| little girl--crying, was she?"
| Then he came ont and found Beth,
standing white and still In the moon
| light
This is a lonesome place, isn't IL,
dear?" he said, very gently. Il think
1t would do you good to return Mrs.
LennoX's call tomorrow. 1t will cheer
her up. and Tom too"
| Mrs. LennoX and son seemed glad to
see them and insisted upon keeping
Beth until after tea You needn't
come for her, Mr. Bradley" Toms
mother said MY son will take her
home"
| This was the beginning Of the great
intimacy between the two families.
Jack was very busy on the farm, but
disposal. He frequently drove over for
Beth and brought her home in the
moonlight Jack reioiced In their
friendship and had no thought of jeal-
ousy until Aunt Hitty said:
! beth IS never happy unless she is
with Mr.. LennoX. I'm sure it doesn't
look well for her to ride with him as
often as she does" Jack laughed at
the idea, but II came again and again
until he imagined that Beth shrank
from his caresses, and he resolved not
TO annoy her in the future. His wife
felt that the honeymoon was waning
ut last and bravely tried to follow the
old lady's advice and believe that Jack
still loved her
BY and by the grain rose and fell IN
golden waves and the sun beat pitilesS-
~ down on the tired men toilng IN the
| harvest fields. In the midst Of It al
Jack succUnDed TO tie heat anu had
| 70 We helped % tie houSe Aunt Iiltty
took immediate possession of him and
prescribed rest in n darkened room.
He slept heavily for some time, and
when he opened his eyes Beth was
bending over him.
Jack, dear" she said, lis there moth
ing | can do for your
Nothing" he answered stifTly. Il
shall be all right in day or two. All
that worries me is the wheat. It's sure
TO rain before long, and there's no one
TO take my place In the field Tom
LennoX can't spare one OF mis- men. and