The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-09-02
THE ANNIVERSARY.

mad dreamed, as most OF us 10, VI CHe
fumblin' little hands, the snugglin' little
face, of our very own, and the crown OF
motherhood had been denied her. In the
minute I stood there silent | understood
and my heart ached for her. Disappoint-
ment had changed her world, and the
days and weeks of lonely brooding, while
he was away, had changed her, too.
Droppin' down by the couch, l put my
arms about her, and did my best to
comfort her. 81
'I know, missus,'' / whispered, when
she had grown quiet. "But it's wrong
to grieve. There's many worse troubles
than yours. You have your husband
'.My husband cares nothing for me!''
she cried. IT am shut out of his life!'
''You shut yourself out, dearie," | said
gently. II am sure of it. Pm only
lonely Liz. No man will ever call me
wife now, but 1 think can understand
why you two have gone apart, and ia
like to see you happy together again.
Little children come to bind affection
closer, true enough, and where the bless
in is denied the greater the call for lovin'
kindness. That's where you've failed,
dearie. Forgive me if l hurt you by my
plain speakin', but it seems to me you've
lived with disappointment so long it's
made you bitter. A man is made differ
ent to us; he is of coarser clay. He
would not understand why you should
continue to fret"
s.He was too busy making a position
to care!'' she cried.
eOh. mol" I said. '.He cared; but
think he would care more to see the
change in you. 1t would grieve him. to
see YOU so different. Things do not
come to such pass between man an
wife until one despairs of reminding af-
lection. If the years have been wretched
for you, they have been as much to
him; and. because he has found no pleas
ure in his home life he has been tempted
to seek it with friends, SO widening the
gulf between you. Why not meet him
tonight with a smilin' face, an say
you're sorry? 1 know he would smile,
too, and that his arms would hold you.
You are together for better or worse
for maybe many years. Why not always
for better?"
'.He has ceased 70 care!" she said bit
terly. HE would turn from me with
Taught"
81 think not, dearie,'' / said quietly.
II have seen the look in his eyes when
you have left the room, and | know he,
too, is wretched. Make it up today!"
sToday!" she cried. To-day is the
anniversary of our wedding day. For
the first four years he marked it with
a gift; he has forgotten it altogether
now!"
"Oh, no' 1 said smiling confidently.
Meet him when he comes home tonight
as l want you to-, and see if he has for
gotten 1t seems such pity you should
be bad friends. Listen to me, dearie!"
And, very quietly, told her about
my last place.
She heard me through, and at the end
lay back, with the glistenin' tears in her
eyes.
THANK you, Lizzie!" she said.
That was all; but / jumped up, smil-
in, because knew had won her round.
''Now, listen, ma ami" l said. "Tve
got plan. He'll be home, as usual, at
Z for dinner. Well have special spread
in honor of the day, and you shall be
waitin' for him in your wedding dress!"
my wedding dress!' she cried. "Oh,
no, Liz; it's hopelessly old-fashioned! /
should look fright!''
'We'll see you DON'T" I said. ''He is
going to come into the room, and find
his old sweetheart, and, just as sure.
you will find him again!"
''You think so, Liz" she cried, trem-
bling.
''Sure of it!'
"Come and dig out the Dress" she said.
And laughin' at our pleasant thoughts,
we tripped upstairs
The rest of that day, until the usual
hour of his homecoming, passed like a
dream The difference in the missus
you'd hardly credit. She seemed another
woman altogether. Now that her mind
was given to it, nothing must go amiss.
His favorite dishes must be cooked;
there must be flowers on the table, his
slippers must be in the fender; every
thing must be just as he liked it.
At o'clock she went upstairs to
dress. As / put on my best apron
heard her quietly singin'. When she
called me to see how she looked, stood
an smiled, because, for some reason,
couldn't say a word.
The white silk dress fitted her perfect
ly; her eyes were shinin', the smilin'
lips had given a new expression to her
face.
She looked happy, blushin' bride.
.Shall do, Lizzie ?" she said, with
playful curtesy.
ooh, ma'am, you look beautiful!" I
exclaimed.
''You think he'll know me?' she said.
you'll see," / answered, laughin'.
From behind my back ] he'd ont the
spray of flowers l had got from the , op
with the others downstairs.
81 want you to wear this, ma am /
said. 'Iet me fasten it in your gown!''
"A bunch of rosemary" she cried
"For remembrance, ma'am"
THANK you, Lizzie" she said quietly,
pressin' my hand; an smiling happily,
we went down the stairs.
'.When you want dinner served, you'll
please ring, ma'am." I said. as turned
for the kitchen. cts nearly T. In ten
minutes he'll be here!''
As the clock struck stood with the
kitchen door open. waitin' TO: the soUn !.
of his key in the lock. In the dining
room knew she, too, was listenin'. For
five, ten, fifteen minutes we sat there,
quietly waitin' He did not come.
/ stole along the hall, and, softly open
in the vestibule door, looked out along
TIC road. There was no sign of I'M.
Backwards and forwards from kitchen
to door, went dozen times. until the
clock struck s. And then | went slowly
back, and, sittin' by the kitchen table,
sobbed like kid The dinner was
spoiled. All our little planning was
.pa Oh f. wa INF rom ir a.