Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-02-19

"The children are terribly oppressed
By this sultry weather, and the
speaker hesitated with a touching
break in her tired tones, ''the atmos-
phere Of this town. Let me take them
to the seaside, John, just for a little
while. 1t would do them so much
good. Let me take them, JohnY
There was infinite pleading in the WON
ans voice.
Her husband looked up with scowl.
slow childish you are, Kate" he said.
Really you cannot remember my
wishes for two days together. 1 have
no answer for you except the answer
gave yesterday. Nothing that you
can say will alter that"
His wife surveyed him with an ex-
preston akin to bitterness in her visit
ful face. How came it that she had
married such man? Why were her
eyes holden that she could not see the
selfish, autocratic nature Of the soul
behind the pale blue eyes, the clear
cut features, the thin lips and master
ful chin? She had vowed to love,
honor, and obey, but he had vowed to
love and cherish her in sickness and
In health.
Bitter. memories surged up In her
heart, while she watched him begin
ming to write again, as if the matter
OF which she had been speaking was
forever settled by that scornful refer
ence to his refusal Of the previous day.
It did not even occur to him that she
could assert herself any more. Ever
since they married he had crushed
down every evidence of a separate will
In the beautiful woman whom he had
made his wife. "The first duty of a
wife Is to efface herself" he said to
her. "You know two cannot walk to-
gether unless they are agreed. The
man is the head of the wiman. You
must follow my lead"
Nature rebelled. But Kate thought
rebellion sinful, and accepted meel1ly
what was set before her as duty. In
silence, though not without suffering,
she bore the constant thwarting of her
sVery wish, innocent and good though
lt might be. Did she want to walk,
he babe her drive. Did she desire to
stay indoors, he babe her go out for
walk or drive. Did she want to read,
be babe her talk, and so on, and so on,
with unvarying sameness. She sub
mitted; yes, she submitted to all and
everything, and the habit of submitting
made It easier to do so in what con-
eerned herself. But when children
came, and the whole thing had to be
gone through again In relation to
them, with the result that their small
likes and dislil1es were set at naught
and thwarted, and their welfare and
her wishes for their welfare, were
swept aside as unworthy OF considera-
ton when opposed to the will and
wishes of the home despot, oh, then it
was that Kate felt the cruel hardness
Of her matrimonial bonds and writhed
m misery!
She recollected-it seemed like yes
terday-when her eldest child, a love
" child of 10, was invited to a chill
dren's party, given by the wife Of
nelghboring Squire. There was to be
4 Christmas tree, tableaux, and after
ward a little dance. All the children
In the neighborhood were going, and
Lorna talked Of nothing else for days.
She was TO be dressed In white-a lit
tie white silk frock which her mother
made with her own hands, with JOY
and pride, plcturing to herself the
rfvl a
look in it-but the father came home
from his Office out OF temper, there be-
Ing a slump in the stock market, and,
finding out what was going on, he per-
emptorily forbade Lorna TO go tc the
party, declaring that she must stay
at home. 1t was In vain the mother
pleaded. In vain the child wept and en-
treated, John Hacker, was adamant.
What he had said he had said, and
nothing would induce him to yield.
Little Lorna sorrowed and fell sick.
1t was in vain her mother sought TO
give her other pleasures. The child's
spirit was broken. Everything I like
to do best, Mumsy," she said, father
forbids."
And again. I'm afraid 1 don't like
father, Mumsy." she said, with pitt
fully quivering lips. Fathers not
like you. He always says. No, no; you
shall not do that"
The little girl was very tired. and
soon they were obliged to let her lie IN
bed, and then she sickened of a child
ish complaint. and. one day. quietly