Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 345: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

336 spent quietly with Cousin Annie, and really my Washington visit was a very tame affair compared with the descrip- tion in the letters.” ‘So this is the trouble that has caused you all this worry and ulness. You dear, foolish little woman! Never mind ; you shall not stay at home brood- ing and lonely. You must go out and enjoy life. You must realize some of your dreams! ”’ “No, John, it 1s too late! I am sat- isied now. I have lived within myself so long that I should shrink painfully from meeting the world again. I can never be the woman of the letters; let me stay quietly at my own fireside.” She was right. For her husband’s sake she made the effort, but it was a sad failure. She belonged to a day that was past, and there was more of pain than of pleasure in creeping out of her hermit-like personality. THE ARGOSY. Still, it was not quite the same. She gradually let a little social sunshine into her life, blaming only herself for the morbid state in which she had lived so long; she determined to be happy in the life she had made for herself. John Denham was too kind at heart not to understand, and his conscience told him he had some share in the warp- ing of this woman’s life. Yet she would not let him blame him- self. It was her own fault, she said; she had allowed herself to drift into a state of mind that might have ended serious— ly, but the little trip to Washington had turned the current of her thoughts and benefited mind and body. Her husband smiled to himself some- times as he thought of that awful lie, the lie that had almost cost his wife her life, and he was glad she was just herself, the quiet little home maker and not the woman of the letters. THE WATCH DOG. GR-R-R ! Bow |! Wow! Get out of that f You can’t come now, I tell you flat ! You'd better go Before I bite— I have a glo- Rious appetite! I’m left in charge . When night ts here ; No folks at large Had best come near. And if they do I’ll make ’em spin ! What f Only you ? Just come right in ! Charles F. Lummes, CALL TO DUTY. WHENE’ER a noble deed is wrought, Whene’er is spoken a noble thought, Our hearts, in glad surprise, To higher levels rise. COMMIGIIOS SS © UN CO