The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-03-26

ously.
"Good gracious, Lima" he cried,
what are you doing9"
sc Cleaning this room.
ssWhy, Essie had the whole house
cleaned till it shone, in the fall, and
didn't make half this muss, he added
contemptuously.
.tWe1. !" said Lima, slowly, / thought
this room marvel of neatness myself,
but when you said it was not fit for the
pigs I supposed you wanted it cleaned.
The room was well enough, was the
curt reply. ssFor mercy's sake don't
turn any more of the house upside
down.
At breakfast tiny tear in Louie apron
caught her fathers eye, and, by his own
angry statement, Sc she never lad de
cent stitch of clothes, and he did wish
somebody would see to her."
Two days after formidable dry goods
bill was presented at the store, and Lima
explained it in this wise
&c You said, Herbert, that Louie hadn't
decent stitch, and you wished some
body would see to her, SO l bought her
complete outfit. / could not see any
fault myself, but of course I got more
expensive articles, as you did not like
those already provided. am glad you
called my attention to the poor neglected
child"
Poor neglected child !" echoed as
tonished Herbert. s' Why, Lima, Essie
fairly slaves her life out over these chill
dren. I am sure I never see any better
dressed or neater.
Lima merely shrugged her shoulders.
a month passed. Essie gained strength
in the genial atmosphere surrounding
Louie and her mother, while Lima ruled
Herbert's house with rod of iron. Her
bert began to experience q sick longing
for Essie's gentle presence. Lima took
him SO very literally in all he said, and
yet he could not rebuke her for doing
exactly what he openly wished.
A chair with tiny spot of dirt being
declared absolutely filthy, was uphol-
stored and vanished at a cost of eight
dollars. A dozen new shirts, Essie's last
labor of love, being said to " set Like
gardener, and new set sent from the
furnishing store. Harry's blocks We're
burned at the kitchen fire when Herbert,
stepping upon one, said he ss would not
have such rubbish in the house. Every
window was opened after pettish decla-
ration that the "room was as hot as an
oven," and an hour later the stove was
fred up to smothering heat because he
declared it ttcold enough to freeze a
polar bear.
In short, with apparently an energetic
attempt to correct all shortcomings and
put the housekeeping upon a perfect
basis, Lima in one month nearly doubled
her brothers expenses, and drove him to
the verge of distraction, keeping accurate
account of every complaint.
But Essie, well and strong again, was
coming home. On the day of her ex-
pected arrival Lima, with q solemn face,
invited her brother into the siGhng-room
for few moments of private converse
ton.
Herbert,'' she said, very gravely,
So I have proposition to make to you.
You are my only brother, and need not
tell you love you dearly. 1t has really
grieved me to the heart to see how much
there is to find fault with In your beauti-
full home'' Herbert twisted himself
uneasily in his chair, but Lima continued ]:
ssYou know that mother is very de
pendent upon me, Louie having the
house and children to care for, but I
think she would sacrifice her own COM
fort for yours. So if you wish, Herbert,
I viii come here permanently, to keep
things in order for you
Here Lima was obliged to pause and
strangle laugh at Herbert's expression
of utter horror and dismay.
'' You are very kind, he faltered, the
instincts of a gentleman battling with
certainly drive him into lunatic asylum
by six months more of her model house
keeping.
stNot at all A man who has made an
unfortunate marriage certainly needs
all the aid and sympathy his family can
give him."
The last straw was laid upon the
camel's back. Herbert spoke hotly
"You are entirely mistaken, Lima
have not made an unfortunate marriage.
IF ever man was blessed in q wife, I am
that man"
You amaze me, Herbert, Lima cried,
in well-feigned astonishment.
81 do not see why you should be sur
prised. Essie is gentle, lQFing, orderly,
a model mother, and aperfect a home
angel-God bless herl'
Herbert, is that truel''
Certainly it Is true.
ST cannot believe it - was the slow
response.
ssCannot believe it Why2"
Sc because and Lima dwelt impress
ive1y upon every word-'s during the nine
years OF your married life, though visit
ing here frequently, have never heard
Won speak one word of encouragement or
O~
appreciation or appreciation of any effort
she made for your comfort upon your
face. Continual fault-fnding, constant
blame, have changed her from happy,
winsome girl to pale, careworn woman.
Even her last illness was but the lIn-
spoken despair of heart crushed under
q load of daily censure and constant
striving for the appreciation never given.
And you tell me now she has never failed
In her duty to you. There is grave
error somewhere, brother.
The sadly earnest tone, the face OF
thoughtful gravity, sent every word home
to Herbert Worthington's heart. He
spoke no word of self-defense as Lima
slowly left the roem. In the profound
silence that followed conscience reviewed
the past. and he knew that his sister had
spoken only the truth. The habit of
ault-fnding meeting no resistance In
Easie's gentleneas had gained in force,
till all its monstrosity stood revealed in
the experience of the past month and
Iina's words.
In the days when Essie lay dangerous
ly ILL there had been no self-reproach like
this in her husbands sorrow. He had