The Mayor's Wife

diately after her mother's death, to live with that mother's brother in Detroit. In doing this she had walked into a fortune. Her uncle was a rich man

tions of a high order, and manners at once dignified and winning, caused her to be universal

t differs materially from tha

ogeneous appearance. Houses of strictly modern type neighbored those of a former period, and it was not uncommon to see mansion and hovel confronting each other from the opposite side of

had left behind me a peculiarly obnoxious monstrosity in stone, whose imposing proportions mi

ther, with an alley running between. From the number I had now reached it was evident that the mayor lived in one of these. Happily it was in the fresher and more inviting one. As I noted this, I paused in admiration of its spacious front and imposing doorway. The latter was in the best style of Colonial a

n age and dimensions, but differing in all other respects as much as neglect and misuse could make it. Gray and forbidding,

ere were many persons then living who, if left to their choice, would prefer life in the dismal walls fro

sponse to my ring, only to make instant way for Mayor Packard, who advanced from some near-by room to greet

ease, and I was quite ready to follow him when a

he led me around the stairs toward an opening at their rear, "but she's a kin

ndividuality and power, overshadowed at present by the deepest melancholy. As she rose and faced us I decided instantly that her husband had not exaggerated her state of mind. Emotion of no ordinary nature disturbed the lines of her countenance and robbed her naturally fine figure of a goodly portion of its dignity and grace;

stra

ed it also, for his voice trembl

ile I am making speeches a hundred miles away. Do you not see reason for thanking me?" This last question

ould illumine her own beauty and create joy in those upon whom they fell. But to-day, nothing but question lived in

y replied, with a quick turn toward her husband, expressive of co

hen we talked a little, after which Mayor Packa

aid he; and, preceding me down the hall,

took no notice of him, knowing and expecting him to be there, no doubt, I, with a pardonable confusion, withdrew my eyes from the handsomest face I had ever seen, and, noti

s accustomed to its use; and when I acknowledged some sort of acquaintance with it, he d

rt the paper and lay out the copy to hand, he crossed over to the young man at the other end of the room and began a short conversation w

," said he. "What I want is to hear the questio

s trembled from the machine and I was about to turn and give my full thought to what I had to say. But pride checked the impulse. "No," I

you first see the ch

ternoon at abo

ed on that day?

told me later that

u know

not press her with questions, Mis

e machine was wo

, "that she brought her unhappiness in wit

as a passing mood at the time; she is a sensitive woman and she had been reading - I saw the book lying on the floor at her side; but when, having recovered from her dejection - a dejection, mind you, which she would neither acknowledge nor explain - she accompanied me out to dinner, she showed

ve y

y astonishment had g

words, 'She has gone.' Yet she loves me, really and truly loves me. That is the myste

umed work - "was any letter

can no

for me to

, men in the thick of strife, social and political - o

to put me on my guard. She is physically

the shape of calumny. Your cha

en me an opportunity to vindicate myself. I have

the appreciation he evinced in those wo

and downright enemy capable of a deep and se

ods and possibly my official reputation; but personal ones - wretches willing to stab me in my home-life and affections, that I can not beli

ow many servants do you keep and

nything about the servants. I do not interest myself much in matters purely domes

note in my mind

ho was here just now? H

e one, do

what I should call

ometimes answers my letters. Just now he is arranging my speeches - fitting them to the local requirements of the several audiences I sh

- the man, I mea

if, in the week he has been in the house, I had been in

been her

or a

st Tuesday,

ieve that w

d afte

y; soon after bre

ur wife

a great deal even while very busily occupied) and a

than knows of his presence. Sh

not sit at

e suggestion of politics. Mr. Steele can safely be left o

know," said I; then quickly "Tuesday was the day Mrs.

she was fastening on our little one's cap. Usually she is extremely, courteous to strangers, but she was abstracted, positively abstracted at that moment. I wondered at it,

what is th

s name, for later she

out that, M

asked the name of the young man I had brought into the library that morning. I told her and explained his position and the long training he had had in

the letter I had been writing, I held i

e, Mayor Packard.