[The Butterfly House by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman]@TWC D-Link bookThe Butterfly House CHAPTER III 27/45
She was absolutely sure of her husband.
The episode with Alice had occurred before he had ever even seen Herself. She smiled radiantly upon him as she arose.
She was conscious of no affection for her husband, but she was conscious of a desire to show appreciation, and to display radiance for his delectation. "It is charming of you to think of getting Lydia Greenway to read, you dear old man," said she.
Wilbur beamed. "Well, of course, I can not be sure, that is not absolutely sure, but if it is to be done, I will manage it," said he. It was at this very time, for radically different notes sound at the same time in the harmony or discord of life, that Von Rosen's housekeeper, Jane Riggs, stood before him with that crackling white apron swept over her face. "What is it ?" asked Von Rosen, and he realised that his lips were stiff, and his voice sounded strange. A strange harsh sob came from behind the apron.
"She was all bent to one side with that heavy suit case, as heavy as lead, for I hefted it," said Jane Riggs, "and she couldn't have been more than fifteen. Them outlandish girls get married awful young." "What is it ?" "And there was poor Jack lickin' her hands, and him a dog everybody is so scared of, and she a sinkin' down in a heap on my kitchen floor." "What is it ?" "She has passed away," answered Jane Riggs, "and--the baby is a boy, and no bigger than the cat, not near as big as the cat when I come to look at him, and I put some of my old flannels and my shimmy on him, and Doctor Sturtevant has got him in my darning basket, all lined with newspapers, the New York _Sun_, and the _Times_ and hot water bottles, and it's all happened in the best chamber, and I call it pretty goings on." Jane Riggs gave vent to discordant sobs.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|