Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-28
"she is lovely" his mother said, yet

"She is lovely" his mother said, yet
I'm half afraid dear boy"
Please" he pleaded, don't be
afraid. She is sure that she won't
come, up to the standard Of family
domesticity, but want q wife, not q
housekesper, mother"
His mother shook her head. Little
blind boy" he said. EVERY man needs
a'caretaker; not a housekeepeI not q
cook, but the guardian of his home;
one who makes 1t secure place, a
refuge from the world. With wife
like the one You have chosen there
will be no fixed abode. Will YOU ever
f"be happy in will-o'-the-wisp life?"
"Of course he said stoutly, but his
heart misgave him. All OF his boyish
dreams had tended toward the fine old
estate which his father had left him.
He had seen himself playing the. host
with his wife by his side. Yet he had
fallen In love with woman who lived
half her time In hotels, and the rest OF
1t In chair cars or sldepers.
Yetswhen he saw her the next night,
an appealing figure in the little play
which suited her, her red-gold hair
falling unbound to her knees, her SHIN
mering satin robe giving her BRIDE
like beauty he felt, no doubts. She was
perfect. and she would soon be his.
In the spring they were married. He
had planned honeymoon at his cot
tage in the pine woods, but fate inter-
vened. There was q great part in q
great play. and 1t was necessary Vat
his wife should 60 to Paris to see the
author. SO he went with her..
Arnold gave himself up to q life that
contributed to his wifes success. He
spent moneyfon her freely. lavished
upon her every luxury, and was
amused and interested In the novelty
of 1t all. Yet he felt that he did not
make her happy. Now and then she
would look at him wistfully and say
1T is going to end; you won't like this
always
Then he would comfort her. Some
day we'll settle down.
.t But can Isettle down." was her in
sistant question.
"Of course you CAM he said. Yet
there we're times when her genius
seemed to separate her from him. and
he felt forlorn and alone.
He never felt It SO much as on the
last night Of the season when she
bowed her farewell to a clamoring
audience. She seemed to belong to
the people, not to him.
When she came to him behind the
scenes, she laid her head against his
arm and said Let's 60 away some
where, far away from everybody, just
you and I, and be happy"
He took her to his cottage in the
pines. Her maid went went with her.
The little house seemed crowded for
the first time. Before he had married
her all the service had been performed
by one man. native woodsman. Now
however, with the chattering French
maid and the two stalwart Swedes
there was little left Of the charm OF
isolation.
; He said, something Of this once to
his wife. ALEC and got more out OF
this than you and l."
"Why?"
"He used to go of in the woods and
leave me alone" Arnold said, "but you
and are never alone
You mean the maids" she asked.
YES. There are too many Of us
here--there(is no. romance"
Il had not noticed 1t, have studied
so hard ,s 4
Come with me tomorrow into the
woods he pleaded. II want to show
you some OF my old haunts,'
You must go alone" she stated. II
have SO many things to do"
Inthe morning he went of, taking a
dog with him, and gun in the hope
OF birds. In the evening 1t began to
rain, and he came he me In the gray
drizzle AS he neared the cottage he
saw point of light in the window. He.
half wished that Alec might be there
in the shadows cooking their bachelor
dinner over the Goals. He knew that
he would be met by Swedish perfection
and French vollibility. His wife would
be upstairs studying.
AS he opened the front door he saw
that there was no light in the living
room nor In the hall. He went to the
foot OF the stairs and called; no one
answered. He made his way toward
the back ofsthe house, and heard light
steps in the kitchen. He opened the
door and stopped in amazement.
,'At a table in the middle of the room
lib WIG WnS UcdIiAS CS6S. NolC WIZ .
little blae linen gown and a white
scrap of an apron. Her hair Was braid
ed simply and wound about her head,
and she looked very young and gfrlish.
What are you doing?" Arnold de-
manded.
She flashed a smile at him. MAX |
ing an omelet."
/ Where are the maids
~ sent them away. wanted to be
alone with you"
Good" he said heartily.
AS she fitted from one thing to an
other, doing her work somewhat I'M
handily, he watched her with delight.
On the stage, eveyywhefe, she had
seemed SO remote Until now. She had
been q sort OF goddess-woman, not a
wife. in the intimate, close domestic
sense.
And all at once he knew that it was
the hearth woman that satisfied him
best.
He helped her joyously, making the
- hrns1ipn the hirAc fhof ho had !.