Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-01-02
The Reality
By RALPH HAMILTON

I was called Frozen Lives Il had, In
deed chilled him to read some passages
: describing the refrigerarng effects Of
false friends, dupliclty and selfishness.
Still. there was a strain In the story
! that somehow attracted Victor. The
heroine was a petite, golden-halred girl
with magical eyes and possessed OF
almost spirituelle beauty. II was this
! boybOod love the frozen-hearted lover
had forgotten. After bitter expert
euce with the world for ten years he
had returned 70 the home ot his child
hood TO lind his first love more
ethereal than ever, lie married her
ana the warm sun Of love 0nl Ieyotion
rhawed out his once cougealed nature
/ There was retrospective look 10
Nlctor's eyes as BE- placed the book
on the table. somehow IL had aroused
the romantic auG sentimental IN his
lmpreSsible nature Il had Carried
him back to his first boy and girl love
Winnie Trail. The heroine in the book
was in a way a duplicate Of airy, fairy
Winnie
Il wonder how The years have dealt
with her" he reflected. II wonder If
She is the same charming graceful
bright sprite of ten years ago
Victor had married the sweetest
woman in the world He had always
thought so. lie held TO the same view
now. She was plump wholesome
lady who had never spoken a cross
word who had made home haven
If peace and contentment, and as she
entered the room, smiling as ever, Vic.
tCl forgot all about his temporary Wis
ion Of the pretty creature he had once
dreamed of as the only girl in the
world worth having
1t.was strange, but the very next day
circumstance revived the theme. His
law partner hailed him as he entered
the office: II say. Earle, I'm going to
motor down to Woodville this morning
Throw off your cares and take little
recreation 1t won't take more than
nm hour TO transact my business and
YOU can have Il sight of our old native
town."
Good, I'll 60 assented Victor, and
tlms Il was that shortly after noon he
left the automobile and Strolled off
by himself, while his partner was tran
sactiug his business in a courtroom
Victor Nude a few Inquiries. His
heart huttered slightly as he ueared
/ house pointed our to him as The home
of Morton Blake. who had married
Winnie Trail 1t was not very in
yltine domicile As Victor passed it,
TWO objects came out Of The Kitchen
door in swift continuity one was
,loyeuly .oW-faced man whom ne rec
agnized as Morton Blake The other
twas a rolling pin,
The man proceeded over to a wood
pile and lazily began some chopping.
Three or four smear-faced, poorly
dressed children were playing in
sand heap. woman came ont with u
basket of clothes to hang on the line
Victor Earle nearly fell down. She was
Winnie Blake. but all the hallowed
memories OF the past could no longer
enshrine her as an ideal. Her hair no
I more resembled fair aureole, but
Ilsordered mop. She was thin her
cace expressed utter discomfort She
vas slovenly of attire. She snarled a
new repro0ch at her husband. She
scolded At the children as they ran
Under the clothesline. Humbly, con-
tritely, disillusioned, cured of book ro-
nance and memory romance, Victor re-
turned TO the automobile and uttered a
great sigh Of relief as his partner APP
peared.
There was a new mood upon him as
he entered the CHEEKY hospitable home.
dis wife greeted him with the Gus
Jomary caress and welcoming smile.
Their two little children clambered
to his knee, prim and clean, the sup
per table glowed as ever with i'm
naculate napery and bright, cleaning
glass and silver
Aren't you sort Of dreamy this eve
ning, Yictor7 intimated Mary, as the
children abed, they sat before n glow
ing CRATE and sense OF contentment
and the great fitness OF things re-
preached Victor for his straying
thoughts Winnie, the fairy of long
years agoue, was lost in a sense of the
real and practical
Perhaps" replied Victor. 81 visited
the old home town today and found
many changes. Mary, what would YOU
90 If ever got careless and lazy and
mean|
But you couldn't do that, don't you
see2' challenged Mary triumphantly
But suppose | did?' persisted Vic
tor.
Mary came forward and sat down
upon his knee. Il would first smother
you with kisses, dear. then would
show you our two darling babies. then
[ would feed you on an your favorite
dishes, and I would wind-wind-wl
new and stronger .llkeu cords of love
.-love-loye aiI around you and hold
you Il captive forever"
"A willing one, dearw spoke Victor
I'm a subdued tone no, ii couldn't he
Mary far the blessings of home and
love are tno precious Ia risk"
Frozen Lives" lay within reach
Victor took 1t up. slowly he began III
SepWraFo III }aHf DV Loaf rrl I.ys