The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-07-16

rightful release from the changeless
round of everyday life to which she
had been subjected. He was so ready
to offer every attention. to anticipate
her lightest wish. to discover what
was pleasing or interesting to her and
make that the subject of his study
that the companionship ripened fast.
Tonight she had been unusually
lonely and depressed. The days OF
her girlhood came back to accentuate
the lack of friends and confidants.
Two brothers and sister had made q
lively household, In which there were
few hours of loneliness. Now she
was forced to find entertainment
within herself and she found the task
was burdensome.
The stiffness of the house, accentu-
ated by the steady scratching of the
tireless pen in the other room, op-
pressed her. She went to the window
and looked out. The moonlight fell
soft over the landscape. Down at the
farther end of the orchard small red
light glowed and disappeared to glow
again at regular intervals. She could
see shadowy form moving backward
and forward under the trees. Down
there she knew was conversation, ad-
miration, sympathy. She glanced into
the room where her husband sat writ
ing. If only he would give up his
work for this evening and talk with
her! She pulled a rose from it's stem
and went softly in to him, putting one
arm about his neck and laying the
blossom on the page before him. He
did not look up, but with hurried
gesture pushed the flower aside and
bent over his work. She felt how ut
terly she was out of his life and turned
away with clouded eyes. A few mill
utes later she was going slowly down
the dewy path under the orchard trees
toward that glowing end of cigar.
Dear little woman" he soliloquized,
tenderly. Il might have told her, but
| wanted the surprise to come when
the work Is over so that there will be
no interruption to our enjoyment"
He bent again over the pages. He
did not hear the rustic Of his wife's
gown as she returned to the house
and ran hurriedly up the stairs. Nor
did he see her as she came down with
a small portmanteau and her cloak.
~ h. a
hurried glance into the room where
he was, still at his desk. Then she
glided away in the moonlight.
An hour later the book was COM
pleted and, with sigh of satisfaction,
the author pushed the pages from him
and picked up letter, of which the
seal had already been broken. He
! drew out the contents from the en-
velope and, opening the narrow blue
sheet, disclosed a check.
1.-TWO thousand dollars and six
months in Europe for preparation and
study" he soliloquized. AT last we
shall see something of the world under
favorable circumstances, sweetheart.
Too bad I couldn't tell you when you
were in here just now. l couldn't
have kept the secret moment If
had spoken. We will make up for this
long Imprisonment 1t must have
been dreadfully dull for you. I'm used
| to loneliness"
He went through the rooms, the
check in his hands and smile Of
contentment on his face. Passing the
| open door he paused to look out into
| the moonlight. Overhead the stars
looked down upon nature, serene, fra
/ grant, sweet. Suddenly out of the
| stiffness leaped the shrill cry of loco.
motive. 1t was the night express for
the city. He smiled to think that be-
fore another night had passed his
wife, for whom he had worked so
faithfully, would be with him aboard
such train on their way to the land
of romance and history. There came
the putting Of the engine as it gath
cred head for another onward rush
with its load of human freight. The
author turned into the house and
mounted the stairs, a glad light in
his eyes.
"She will be so happy" he whis.
pered, $50 happy!"