Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-22


was, such little while ago. when
thirty years after a woman was married COM
prised the limits of her life, in my imagination,
and it must be so in the minds of all girls.
Thirty years after the weddingdayl That
day of days! The day that has no tomorrow
and no yesterday--that is both dream and a
trusti 7 always feel sorry for bride who has
calculations" on her weddng-day-it must mar
it, l just glided into mine, like craft into a
safe cove, without a thought of anything but
John. It is an experience that nothing in all
the world can equal, and for the lack OF which
nothing else ever compensate.
John once said that nothing would please him
better than that my father and mother should
oppose our marriage; he would so like to pick
me up and run away with me- to show them that
nothing could keep me from him. What more
could girl ask than that? And now for thirty
years John had said; 1--WE are SO happy it
seems as if something must happen to us. |
am almost afraid to think of it. dear wife"
And yet John was not man to borrow trouble,
and II lived in Johns reflected spirits. |
often wondered when John said he was afraid,
it was so unlike him; he feared nothing else,
and had grown by long habit to feel SO secure
in my happiness that I could not find it in my
heart to fear. Children had been born to us,
friends had multiplied, and we had never been
poor for contentment makes any wife feel rich.
I used often to think of the wise saying that a
happy woman is the only person who has no
history How true it isl In all the thirty years
Of our happy home-life there, was nothing that
would make story.
But at last Johns fear was Notwithstanding
did happen. He was called away on business
a business that has nothing to do with the cir
cumstance that turned the currents of my life
from their peaceful channels and made me the
wrctchedest Of women. He left home expect.
ing TO be gone two or three months, and for the
first time since our marriage we looked forward
to a parting that was to last more than few
days. -
Afterwards could look back and realize that
a great apprehension possessed me, and that !
said good-by to John with heavy heart. But he
did not notice it, being much absorbed in the
business that was taking him away, and l did
not break down.
"Be of good cheer, dear wife, he said as he
kissed me; "the time will soon slip away, and
we will be together again
And the days did pass rapidly, what with my
own household duties and the added cares that
Johns absence brought me, until one day 1
found myself thinking that it would not be SO
long, after all Until John would be at home
It was one afternoon in midsummer. My
work was all done, and 1 had just seated myself
to rest for half an hour before supper-time, when
Tom, the only son left at home with us, all the
other children be married and gone, came in
with letter from his father. 1t was pleasant
surprise, for was not expecting a letter that
day, and yet | opened it with fear, for the very
reason, 1 suppose, that l was not expecting it.
But John was well and had written only to ask
ME TO send him business paper that / would
find, he thought, in his secretary. It was very
old paper, and he could not be sure that he had
preserved It.. He directed me in which drawers
and pigeon-hoes to search, but, not finding it in
any of these places, l to remove some old
accountbooks that were packed tightly side by
side on an upper shelf and look behind them.
They had not been down for a number of years,
and John said that he had dim remembrance
of having put something behind them, he did
not now know what. perhaps nothing, but had
better look to make sure, for he was very de-