Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-08-09

his Sundays at home, occupying him
self with desultory reading and in do
Ing little tasks about the house In
which man who loves his home
takes pleasure.
He stood smiling at his wife, for
getting his irritation, until she was
about to leave him. Then he remem-
bered. His face darkened.
"Why didn't Mabel wait for you ?"
he demanded.
His wife hesitated a second before
she answered.
Il told her not to; she had other
company this morning." she exclaimed.
why should she leave you to 90
with that fellow?" he questioned, pro-
nouncing the word fellow" as though
hurting a curse at the young mans
head.
"Oh, we'll, his wife answered, easily,
young people like to be together some
times without having the older ones
around. 1 shall Join them at church. /"
Her husband was not TO be pacified.
why should they go on ahead, leav-
ing you to come trailing after? l can
see no reason for their having anything
to say to each other that you could not
hear" he persisted.
Don't you, John?"
There was a significance in his wife's
voice that conveyed a hitherto un-
dreamed Of possibility to her husband.
You don't mean there is anything
serious!' he gasped.
His wife flushed, shrinking from
putting into words the possibility Of
the something serious" which was
forcing itself upon her knowledge.
"Oh, of course" she faltered, there's
nothing settled"
Nothing settledr John Graham
shouted. II should say there wasn't.
How long has this thing been going
on3 Why wasn't 1 told about it?'
He has the sense Of being left out.
Of being kept in the dark regarding a
matter in which he was vitality con-
cerned. He felt injured and resent
ful.
How could I tell you about some
thing I do not know myself? Mabel
has said nothing, how can l be the
first to speak?" she replied, gently.
Are you encouraging this foolish
ness" he demanded, gazing at her
from beneath frowning brows.
mo-" she answered, 81 am just
waiting, hoping there will be no mis-
takes, and to force such a matter,
either way, is always a mistake. Mabel
is woman now; we must trust some
thing to her judgment"
"A woman" John Graham flung
back, "She's child. 1t was but yes
terday she was out Of school,"
''The yesterday was two years ago."
his wife returned.
He opened his lips to speak an en-
phatic contradiction, but sooner than
the words could come, he realized the
truth Of the statement He did not
say what he intended. Instead he
uttered stubbornly, II won't have it.
I'll put a stop to 1t at once"
"And perhaps make a mountain out
Of molehill," his wife warned him.
The hour for church-going had pass
ed. She took off her hat and gloves
and laid them aside, and set herself
the task Of quieting the mans ILL.,
humor. 1t was in her mind to change
the subject, but there was something
of which she wished to be satisfied
herself.
us there anything against this
young MANI" she questioned. you've
seemed willing to have him come free
ly to the house,"
"No, he's all right, so far as
know" John Graham answered, re-
luctantly. 1--WE liked to talk with
him." he said. His eyes began to
twinkle. II see now he didn't come
here solely for the pleasure of my
company"
He looked at his wife smiling IN
acknowledgement of his own blindness.
"Oh, WELL" she remarked, comfort
ably, well wait and see." The next
moment her courage wavered. "It
means even more to me than to you,
john" she said, with a pathetic break
in her voice.
When Mabel returned from church
she came into the house with her
cheeks pink from the touch Of the
fresh air. She was accompanied by
the young man, who entered with, the
quiet assurance of one certain OF his
welcome. In some subtitle way, the
young people gave the impression that
between them existed a complete IN
Outstanding. It grated upon John Ora
ham. and bis 1rst impulse WAS to greet