The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-10-21
Roberts Wife.


Inns voice and eyes as he spoke, and the
lady who listened, drew her merry, saucy
face into dolorous Fuckers to suit the occa
sion.
Because, you see," continued Robert
"he tancies because you have twenty thou
sand dollars that YOU are fine lady, affect
ed and useless, not the wife for a pool
farmer
We must show him his mistake" J." was
the reply.
But he will not see you. He positively
torbids your coming over to the farm"
"Does-does he moi know we are mar
ried?"
II have not dared to tell him. Coward
ly, is it not But he is my only relative
and | love him dearly. 1t is not because
he owns the farm and can leave a little
money, Daisy
'Hush, love, know Daisy answered
putting a soft, white hand over her hus
bands lips
Il have had no other father or mother
either, for that matter, in all my life,
continued Robert, land if the farm is
dreary, it is his home"
And you do NOT like to be banished
Well, if you will keep your promise. and
send Jane over to see me, you shall not
be. Now talk of something else. Oh how
can let you 90 Tor two long months" i"
For Robert Franklin had undertaken to
90 in person to see about some Western
lands in which his uncle had invested, and
which threatened to involve him IN loss
Daisy could not well take the long Journey,
and besides. Daisy had other schemes in
her wise little head. Loving Robert well,
she resolved to remove the only shadow
from his lite-the resolute opposition OF
his uncle to fine lady wife.
Robert Franklin had been gone from
the farm three days when his uncle James
yielded most reluctantly to the pangs OF
his old enemy chronic rheumatism, and
told Jane, his old servant, that he must
remain in his room. The old woman
answered promptly:
If YOU are going to be laid up, Mr..
Franklin | must have some help. I'm
getting old, too, sir, and trotting up and
down stairs isn't so easy as it was twenty
years agon
But who will come Jane? Girls are
not plenty here as you know
I've niece, sir, would come to me,
though she's never lived out
''Send for her, then, and-oh-rub my
leg, viii you?'
Late in the afternoon, little hustle be-
low stairs told the invalid of the arrival of
the niece.
She came with one trunk, in a wagon,
from the railway station, and, standing in
the wide, dreary looking kitchen, looked
a picture of healtlul beauty. Soft brown
curls gathered in a rich knot left little
crinky ringlets on her forehead and caress-
ing the round white throat; large brown
eyes, lighted a sweet fair face, and the neat
dress of blue wooden covered a dainty fig
ure.
"Wil YOU 90 up stairs, Miss" Jane
hcsitated
.Mergaretr's said the new conner ;
"don'l call your niece Miss, whatever you
do. My name is Margaret. Has Mr..
Franklin had is supper?'
':Not vet There's his dinner, you see,
scarcely tasted"
Margaret looked at her big tray, the
blue plate with food heaped upon it, the
two-pron@ed fork and half-soiled napkin
and did not wonder at the neglected food.
.'Show me where the things are, and |
y, ~ cot thn cnnnpr" she said.
Jane led her from closet to closet In
one was Il set or gllt-euSc" ,lii'.,, 7"i''v
fine table-linen, table silver and glass.
'Those were bought thirty years ago,
WHISPERED Jane. "when Mr. Franklin cN-
pected to be married She died and they
have never been used
With her pretty face saddened by the
hidden tragedy of those few. words, Mar
garet took a small tray from the shell,
and covering it with snowy napkin,
selected what she wanted from the closet.
and went again to the Kitchen.
James Franklin weary with the effort
to hold book in his aching hands, was
now sitting in a deep arm chair, muslng
when Margaret tapped at the door
Come in
But he started as she obeyed, Such a
sweet. bright face was new III the dismal
old farmhouse. strongly in contrast with
the bare, meagre room and desolate air
surrounding her.
Il have brought your supper, she sald'
II little table near the armchair,
and covering it with q white cloth. Then,
roiho to the door, she entered again with
Il tray. Upon q white china dish was hail
a chicken, delicately Drowned, potato
roasted in the ashes, and a slice OF buttered
toast; and besides this, a delicate cup full
Of fragrant tea,
"You must not scold if have anything
wrong" said Il clear, sweet voice, "be-
cause Aunt Jane is too busy to look after
me. | cleaned the fork and spoon, tol
silver gets dreadfully black then more
tenderly as she marked the painful effort
~ move the tortured fingers-'Let me
cut the chicken, sir.
Grlmly wondering, the old man suffered
himself to be fed, finding appetite as the
well prepared food was eaten, and listen
ing well pleased to the CHEEKY voice So un-
familiar to his lonely life.
"Jane." Margaret said, setting down
the tray in the kitchen again. Il don't
wonder he is sick. No carpet, no eur
tains, that great hearse OF bed, an'
nothing pretty near him"
"It's all clean" said Jane.
Clean as wax, but oh So dolel'ul
Can't we fix up cosy room ?''
"There's rooms enough. Six on that
floor" said Jane, ''and none used but the
one Mr. Franklin's in. and Mr.. Roberts
the little one next to it,"
well. We'll see Tomorrow Can
have a man to send to town il want any
thng?'
"There's men enough. VIII you slee]
down here tonight OF in one Of the room
up stairs?'
..Down here, in the room next to yours
''It's all ready. I'll go up now ant
make Mr. Franklin comfortable for tn
night"
Comfortable " Margaret said, shiver
ing
But the next morning, after putting
tempting breakfast before the invalid
Margaret selected the vacant bedroom sh
meant to beautity for his use. 1t was large
with four windows, light and cheerful
and we'll suited to her purpose.
In the intervals of directing Jane, send
ing the man to Town with her orders. an
giving her own dainty touch to every
thing, Margaret visited the invalid, read
ing to him, chatting with him and MAXIM
the long hours fly by. 1t was late in tn
afternoon when she came in to say:
Mr. Franklin, the room across the ha
I a.