River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-09-07

the man replied, with every appear
ance of heartiness:
yes, it's very nice, Sarah; none of
that scrimping and saving we had at
Lavender Farm in the old days. Why,
you hadn't silk dress to your back
then, old woman, and now you've
how tlany?" She smiled family, but
did not answer, and he continued:
yes, it was a lucky day for us when
Uncle Peter died out in Colorado and
left us his money, and it was fine
day for us vixen we left Lavender
Farm and poverty for costly city
home and everything we want"
Sarah Plat sighed softly. Now that
the first novelty and excitement of pos
sessing a fortune had worn off, she
was most miserable, and she had asked
the question to see if her husband
felt the same. How could she know
that his CHEEKY answer was only for
her benefit; that he, too, longed for
the days of poverty and freedom; and
found the possession Of a palatlal
house and host of servants weafisome
in the extreme? But he believed that
his wife enjoyed it all, and he would
not for worlds have disturbed what he
imagined was her condition of pleased
contentment.
AS a matter of fact, the old couples
sway over the house and servants was
only nominal. A year ago, when the
news of their accession to great wealth
came to them, they had been living
quietly and poorly on tiny Pennsyl-
vania farm, and, VIXEN they moved
from it to the metropolis, they realized
that they were unfit to cope unaided
with their altered circumstances. The
wealthy never lack friends and so
many friends made their appearance
that old John Plat and his wife were
uuite bewildered at all the conflicting
adYice they received. Eventually
how, they hardly knew-they found
themselves installed in house whose
magnificence frightened them, and
where they never felt at home, and
they and it were under the absolute
control of Mrs. Dagleish and Mr.
Hutchinson. The first was Mrs. Platts
companion; the second Mr.. Platt's sec
rotary; they both ruled their employ
ers with a rod of iron.
1t seems almost incomprehensible
that the two old people could be SO
wretched each enormously thinking
It was for the sake OF the other, but
SO it was, and the unhappy condition
Of affairs might have gone on indetin-
itey, but for the growth of the seed
of jealousy which it has been said is
ia every woman's heart.
1t cannot be said what caused its
growth in the heart of Sarah Platt to
torment and harass her in addition to
the sorrows of wealth which she al
ready bore Why she was jealous, of
whom, or of what she did not know.
1t may have been from joking re-
mark made one day by Mrs. Daylight;
it may have been because John very
rarely came into the parlor for tea
with her; it may have been for any
reason or for no reason; but the fact
remains that a tiny seed of jealousy
took root, and from it sprang a slen-
der stalk of suspicion and mistrust.
And one day chance helped her and
Showed her where John Plat spent SO
much of his time. She and Mrs. Dag
leish drove to Broadway to have Mrs.
Dagleish's watch repaired. While she
was in the store and Mrs. Platt was
idly waiting in the carriage and watch
ing the passers-by, she saw her hus-
band turn into a large Office building
on the other side of the street. He did
not notice the carriage or her, and she,
consumed with curiosity as she was,
made no sign Neither did she say
anything to Mrs. Dagleish when that
lady rejoined her, and she only men
toned casually at dinner that evening
that she had been on Broadway She
watched her husbands face closely as
she spoke, and to her excited magma
ton he seemed uneasy and DESTROYS
Of changing the subject.
But she had made up her mind, and
the next day she only waited for Mrs.
Dagleish to retire to her room for her
afternoon sleep, to start cityward. She
went by the elevated, and was soon
at the building she had seen her hus-
band enter She asked the janitor if
Mr.. Platt lad an Office there.
mo such name in the place, ma am"
he replied 1T may be the queer old
party whose name l don't know, who
comes at odd times. He's got an office
in No II, on the top floor, but, so far
as one can see, he does nothing. He
never has no letters, nor kilograms,
nor visitors. and his office is never
cleaned, for he won't let no one inside
the door.
as he here now?" asked Mrs. Plat.
her heart beating wildly, for she felt
she was on the brink of some discov-
cry. and, although she hated herself
for being where she was and her rea-
son for being there, she determined to
finish what she had begun.
Il couldn't say for certain, ma'am.
but / think he came in about half an
hour ago I'll take you up in the
elevator. if you like. ma'am.''
And in moment or two Sarah Platt
was standing outside the door marked
So" behind which size felt lay all
she wanted to know.
For moment she thought she had
better go home in ignorance, but then
she remembered how tired she was OF
her present mode of life, of the hoi-
low pleasure wealth had brought her,
and she knew that, foolish, groundleSs,
altogether unworthy as her suspicious
were. she could never have peace or