Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-05-07

to be caught by such means; to me,
nothing seems more disfguring TO 6
woman than certain coquettish cap
rices. and if the mouth which she
draws into a pout is ever so pretty,
ana if the feet with which she stamps
in her anger are the daintiest in the
world 1 should never admire her. In
stead of keeping off tedium, It would
bring on discomfort. l could never
feel happy So
Bergen had spoken these words
gravely, and with some emotion, tax
ing his betrothed's hand.
Ruth smiled rather scornfully.
Then you have made a fortunate
choice, Lieutenant Won Bergen. My
gentle sister will neither pout nor
stamp her foot when she wants to ac-
complish something-she will have
headache and migraine That makes a
variety too, even though at bottom
it is only temper. C'est tout fat egal
manage it any way you like; any
thing is better than everlasting sun
shine
:" When Hannah wants anything,
said Bergen, to whom this discourse
of the lovely woman seemed dis
agreeable, she will tell me Of it, and
if her wishes are attainable, as I have
no doubt they would be, there will be
no necessity for her to have migraine,
to which, thank heaven, she does not
seem in the least subject
yyic a
laughed the beautiful woman. AS if a
man ever considered his wife's wishes
reasonable! If she wishes to dine out
in warm weather, it is too dusty; if it
is cool, she is sure to take cold; if
she wants to go to the opera, the
piece is always uninteresting. In short,
if a woman does not always agree
with whatever suits her lord and
master, she finds life uncomfortable
and tedious, and if she agrees with
him, life is tiresOme beyond measure.
So prefer to amuse myself, and tor
ment him with a few caprices; then
the tedium is not so tiresOme.'
"She held up her delicate little hand
before her mouth and gave a yawn.
Herr Won Bergen looked wrathfuI,
and remarked rather sharply: You
must have had an unhappy experience
Countess Then he looked at Hannah
as if to say, We shall never get tired
of each other
Ruth cast a frowning glance at
him in return for his remark, and was
about to open her lips to reply bit
terly, when Eberhardt. who had hither
to been a silent listener, like the rest
of us said:
The boredom Of which you speak,
Ruth, can only occur when a married
couple have no occupation except to
get through life that is, when the
man has no position or no work ex-
cept to receive his rents and count up
his interest; and the wife is not
obliged to superintend her establish
ment, because she can hire people
enough to do it for her, and nas no
thing to do but to look after her toilet
and to visit balls and aTties. But
when the husband has some Office to
fill, and the wife is a real housewife
that is, stands at the head of her
household and looks after the welfare
of her husband and chiIdren-then the
few hours that they pass together are
hours of refreshment for the weary
husband, and l don't believe they will
have a chance to get bored
Bergen nodded to him, but Ruth
remarked, carelessly, that she had
not been thinking of the lower
classes.
&c AT any rate, that is the way I
look at it, said Eberhardt, overlooking
her remark; and when I am married,
and come back to my comfortable
home, all tired and dusty from the
days occupation, and my wife has a
welcome for me, I am perfectly sure
l shall never feel bored
6 Ruth made a gesture with her
hand as if to say, oh, stop! stop!' and
the baron Joined in the conversation.
Come, we have had enough of
disputing. You are like blind man
talking of color; every is possible
in marriage, even boredom. Bergen
does not even like to think of the
possibility of Hannah'5 being bored by
him; Wilhelm has pictured a perfect
idyI to us; you can see him returning
from a severe march, stretched out
upon a sofa, with a charming wife to
bring him a cup of coffee. G~eteI is
the only one who says nothing. What
is your opinion, little wisdom?
81 was sitting blissfully by, really
in thought, presenting Eberhardt with
a cup of coffee, and Wiping the dust
off his forehead. Oh, what a charm
ing picture he had called up!
" What do I say to iC? I think, when
two persons are very fond of each
other, that everything is delightful,
even boredom!'
"A joyful glance from Eberhardt
rewarded me; the baron and Hannah
laughed, only Frau Won Bendeieben
and the lovely widow seemed to be
thinking of something else. The
latter got up, declared she was tired,
and withdrew, smiling pleasantly at
Eberhardt as he kissed the hand she
had placed out.
'Eberhardt's words had made me
so happy that the next day looked on
without envy when the Countess
Satewski mounted my horse to go for
ride in the unusually warm air, with
Eberhardt and the Detrothed couple.