The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-13

this now, and she realized more plainly
than ever before the truth Of her aunts
words. You were right auntie," she
snid to herself, as she stopped to lift up
u basket of chips with one hand, while
she carried an armful of wood on the
other arm. at is all my own fault, 1
began so but it is growing worse. He
don't seem to think anything now of
my getting wood day after day, though
he used to scold me, if he saw me touch
the axe. I wonder if there is any way
to change matters without letting him
know that L have thought about it. He
has never spoken unkindly to me, and 1
would not offend him for the world, but
l must put stop to this somehow. 1t
would have been better, as auntie said,
If | had begun different"
When the men came in to dinner,
Louisa's face wore flushed, wearied
look, which Robert noticed, and Pats
words came rushing through his mind,
and he remembered that he had forgot
ten the wood which she had spoken
about in the morning, and he resolved
to make amends by splitting up enough
to last the day, and bringing % turn Of
water before he went back to work ;
but dinner over, he forgot it as US
ual.
In the afternoon as Louisa busted
herself with clearing off the table, and
making numberless little journeysto the
sink, and pantry, and back again to the
table, her thoughts were busy in plan
ming ways to escape her trouble. One
plan after another was formed, and
abandoned as impracticable. Presently
one of the neighbor's boys came along
with ii load OF wood, which he was TAX
ing to the next town. In q moment
her resolution was taken, and tripping
down to the gate she asked:
Fired, would you sell me this load OF
wood I"
"I was taking it to town." he replied,
"but I can let you have it, and still
have time to take q load to town to-
day"
"What is your price p
"I get four dollars in town, but
can afford to sell it here for three"
"Pitch it off, then. You need not
mind to cord it up, AS l shall use it right
along"
That night when Mr.. Graham went
to pay some money to his hands, he ask
ed, ." Have you had my pocl,et-book to-
day, Louisa 7"
Louisa looked up innocently from her
sewing, and replied with calmness,
Yes, 1 paid Fred Howard three dol
lars for load of wood, this afternoon
GA load of wood r' and Robert Gra-
ham opened his eyes wide in astonish-
| have
acres of wood ~
Eyes, but it isn't always at hand, you
know" she replied quietly, while, with
her clear hazel eyes, she looked straight
into his.
He bit his lip and went out, and his
wife could not help feeling q little anx-
ious lest she had displeased him. 1t
was well, perhaps, that Pats faithful
words had preceded this act.
1t was later than usual that night
when Mr.. Graham came in, and if there
had been shadow upon his face it had
passed away, and he was more than
usually kind and attentive. After some
conversation his wife remarked to him.
in her quiet way:
81 did not like to use the money
Robert, to buy wood, but, you see, il
is too hard for me to gather so much"
at is all right, my love-" he answer
ell, cas- he stopped to kiss her, "you have
learned me lesson. 1t shall not need
to be repeated. If I forget sometimes
you will only have to jog my memory
by word"
The next morning, to Mrs. Graham's
surprise, another laborer was set to work
in Pats place, and Pats hearty voice
was heard in the back yard calling hel
name. She opened the door and was
greeted with
Misthress Graham, will yo be afthel
removing the linen from the grass-plat
Here's where the masther wants me tC
be digging the we'll"