The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-07-01

lOl .youI ioI ., ONOiy pony " w. "OA
have my wife craving thing, and go
ing without it, if / can get It for her. y
The recipient of these marks of love
gasped for breath, partly from the
shock, partly from the slap, looked at
the donor, then at the notes, pressed
them with stiff, outstretched fingers,
and then suddenly throwing an arm
around the farmers neck, buried her
head in his beard and neck-cloth and
! sobbed out
I" Oh, Rubenl you're too good to
me-you are you are
After the excitement of the gift was
over, Mr.. Flowers declared, with loud
yawn, his intention of retiring for the
night cts of no use waiting up for
Philander and Joe and the girls" said
he "They'u be at that husking bee
half the night''-the parties designated
being Mr. and Mrs. Flowers "h1red
folks.
| Many Of the matrons of the neigh
borhood shook their heads over Mrs.
! Flowers keepin' ttOO girls but Mr..
Flowers stoutly held that he wouldn't
have his wife killing herself over such
| lot of butter and Cheese as was made
on their farm, for nobody's notions"
| But the expectant owner of four
| hundred dollar set of furs was in no fit
state of mind for slumber; so while
| Mr.. Flowers took himself off to bed,
Mrs. Flowers remained seated in front
of the fire, staring into it, and meditat-
ing upon her unlooked-for amount of
property At first her thoughts ran
riot among fur coverings and their var
ious shapes. She was tolerably well
posted in these things She subscrib-
ed for one or two affairs, the burden of
whose song was fashion and its belong
ing, and every article appertaining to
| furs was always persued with longing
interest. After time, however, little
stabs of conscience made themselves
| felt, aud with much reluctance, she be-
gan to view matters in different light.
'You know" murmured that inward
monitor, whose quiet but searching
voice so often troubles us" you know
| that love of dress has been your beset-
ting sin from childhood up. Some
times, l acknowledge, you have striven
well against 1t; but never have you had
so noble an opportunity as this.
Avail yourself of it; make the sacri-
flee you ought to make. What bust
ness have you with such articles of
luxury
but, " argued the eager spirit of the
flesh, g surely in this case L am right in
following out my wishes! 1t will be a
cold winter; furs are Uery warm, and /
am growing old. Besides, my husband
wishes it. Shall wourd his feelings
No indeed y And the anne for the
moment felt strong in Conscious viz
/ tue.
Little, however, would conscience lis
ten to this reasoning. She scorned it.
"Cold replied she sternly. "There
are less expensive ways of keeping
warm Something short of furs at
four hundred dollars can do it. What
you say about your husband is a mere
excuse. If he sees you truly content
he Will be satisfied.
But pleaded keen Desire, q have
for years SO wished for just these things.
| can't give them up Why should [
not have them? There is no one suf-
fering near NE that [ should thus denv
myself the gift my husband makes me. :"
A shutting step at the door, follow
ed by a knock, interrupted the disturb
ed thinker
Come in, she cried, rising from
her chair.
The door opened, and distant neigh
Dor entered, an ill-favored ungain-
ly man, noted for his harsh temper and
his penurious soul Mrs. Flowers
greeted him with surprise; but he soon
explained his Grand Something was
| h 20
light, he had come to borrow Ian
| tern
"Im on my way to the poor house, y
he said, with sour grin. "When l
came home, at shutdown, what should
[ find but worthless brat my wife had
taken in, and she was actually hoping
I'd let her keep it. Keep it, indeed
The little rat was with company of
tramps the constable is after. So [
guess they were glad to drop it on the
road. My wife, like a fool, believes
the child's gable, and says they left
her because they couldn't make her lie
and steal. She'd do it as fast
as the rest, I'll venture to say
Her tale is, that she's no father nor
mother, nor any one, and them tramps
picked her up. [ don't believe word
of it. SO when [ came home-though
I'd been to the mill, and it was late-I
says, says |, She don't sleep in my
house single night TN have her
where she belongs before daylight, as
sure as my names Peter Turner So
as soon as [ done my chores, [ hitched
up and started with her. Then the
pesky harness broke and, altogether,
I've had more than my share of trouble
with her. p"
"There's the lantern hanging on
that nail" said Mrs. Flowers, shortly.
TN be back in minute, he gruffly
answered and after lighting it, open
ed the door. He drew back vita a
muttered oath. What did you follow
me here for? he growled
A little child stood on the threshold.
Her wan, wild-eyed face surrounded by
pale golden locks, falling on her enact
atey shoulders, might have moved a
heart to pity. Peter Turner's was too
small to contain SO expansive an emo
ton; but Mrs. Flowers rejoiced in a
larger organ of circulation.
''Come in, child" she cried, in her
cordial voice, advancing and stretching
out her hand Then, turning to Peter:
''You can leave her here till you bring
back the lantern
He made surly response, and dis
appeared. The dame drew the child to
the fire; the little, trembling thing
gazed at her earnestly as she crouched
before 1t, and spread her blue hands
L.