AN IDEALISTIC WIFE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 2, 10 January 1891, Page 7

AN IDEALISTIC WIFE.

There was a frown upon the classic brow of George Alphonso Mountjoy as he sat in the wilderness of overturned chairs, strewn playthings, and ash-covered hearth striving to read his morning paper. It may have been due to the sight of a half-cleared breakfast-table visible through the open folding doorsof the sumptuous flat which he called his home, orto the diabolic working of an ill-cooked breakfast which he had recently devoured, or to the music of George Alphonso, jun., who was playing a selection from the Gotterdammerung with the poker upon an upturned coal-hod for the edification of his infant sister. It may have been due to either or.all of these or perhaps to the sight of Elaine Madeline, his wife, lying in a soiled wrapper upon the sofa, bolstered with silken pillows and absorbed in a periodical unconscious of noise or disorder. * Oh, George, dear exclaimed Elaine, as she rolled her large earnest eyes toward her lord and master. * I have just been reading of the heroism of Ida Lewis, and the story of her noble life fills me with a desire to be great and useful. How grandly she has battled with the devouring ocean to save the lives of those who were nothing to her but fellow-mortals ! What heroism ! What grandeur of purpose ! What self-sacrifice. It makes my own life seem so small, so narrow, so pitiful. Ah ! why was I not born to great deeds ! Why was I not permitted to follow her example ! How I should love to trim the great lamps, to warn the noble seamen, to listen to the awful hymn of ocean, to hark the signal guns, to buffet with the waves and rescue life ! Oh, it is a glorious life, that of a lighthouse-keeper !’ And George Alphonso, sen., arose, and, clasping Elaine to his heaving breast, exclaimed : —‘Noble girl, you possess -every qualification for light housekeeping ! \on are even now, in your energy, your enthusiasm, a light houseAs he touched her bangs with his lips Elaine murmured ‘ Oh, George !’ . After George had gone to the office of Poker, Chip and •Co., his employers, Elaine’s bosom friend Pansy called, •and found Elaine in deep thought, her eyes glistening, her face lighted with love. ‘ You are so happy with George, Elaine, I envy you.’ ‘ Yes, dear Pansy, lam so happy. George so enters into my enthusiasm and so appreciates my soul. Were it possible for me to reach my high ideal there would George be -at my side, cheering me on in my lofty endeavours. Yes, Pansy, I am indeed happy with George.’ ‘ Ah, there, old boy, still glum ?’ said Cassius, as he met George on his way to the office that morning. ‘ The same -old trouble, I suppose ’ Why don’t you stir the old lady up and get her to sue for a divorce ?’ ‘ Why don’t I eat rainbows for breakfast ? Dash it, man, you can’t get her mad any more than you can sweeten the sea. No, no, Cassius. I must commit a crime and then perhaps I can induce her-to sue out a bill. Nothing short •of that will do it. It’s crime or suicide, old man. Good day.’ .