The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-11
Ghe 99ailg Atgns,
CONTINUED from second page.

him as she could make it, and had he of
fered the light return of praise or commen-
datiOn? Had he ever told her of the sat
lsfaction he had known or the comfort he
had experienced? lie was not able to re-
call the time or occasion. AS he thought
thus Mrs. Lee came 10 from the kitchen,
and taking her work basket from the closet
placed it on the table, and sitting down with
out speaking began to sew. Nh. Lee glanced
almost stealthiIy at the work in her hands,
and saw that it was the bosom of shirt
which she was stitching neatly. He knew
that it was for him she was at work.
Praise your wife, These were the
words before the eyes of his mind, and he
could not look away from them. But he
was not ready for this yet. He still felt
moody and unforgiying. The expression of
his wlfes face he interpreted to mean ILL.,
nature, for which he had no patience His
eyes fell upon the newspaper that was ly-
ing spread out before him, and he read
the sentence. "A kind, cheerful word
spoken in gloomy house is the little rift
in the cloud that let's the sunshine
through"
Lee struggled with himself while long
er. His own Miniature had to be con-
quered first; his moody, accusing spirit
had to be subdued He thought Of many
things to say, and yet he feared to say
them lest his wife would meet his advance
with rebuff. AT last leaning toward her
and taking hold upon the shirt bosom she
was making, he said, in a -oice that was
carefully modulated with kindness:
You are doing your work beautifully,
Mary"
Mrs. Lee made no reply. But her hus-
band did not fail to notice that she lost, al
most instatly. the rigid earnestness with
which she had been sewing, nor that the
motion Of her needle had ceased.
MY shirts are better made and whittier
than those of any other man in the shop"
said he, encouraged to 60 on.
Are they?"
Mrs. Lees voice was low, and had in it
q slight huskiness. She did not turn her
face but her husband saw that she leaned
little towards him. He had broken the
ice of reserve, and all was now easy. His
hand was among the clouds, and feeble
ray was already struggling through the rift
it had made.
Eyes, Mary" he answered, softly; land
I've heard it more than once; what good
wife Andrew Lee must have"
Mrs. Lee turned her face toward her
husband. There was something light in
it. and light In her eye. But there was
something in the expression of her counte-
nance that not little nuzzled him.
DO yon think sop she asked, qui e
soberly.
What queer question" calculated
Andrew Lee, starting up and going round
to the. side Of the table where his wife
was sitting. What queer question,
Mary" he repeated as he stood before
her.
DO your was all she said.
Yes darling!' was his warm spoken an
swer, as he stopped down and kissed her.
How strange that you should ask me such
question"
If you would only tell me so now and
then, Andrew. it would be so good. -
Mrs. Lee arose and leaning her face against
the manly bosom of her husband, stood
and wept.
What strange light broke on the mind
of Andrew Lee! he had never given his
wife even the small reward of praise for
the loving interest she had manifested dali
ly, until doubts of his love had entered her
soul, and made the light around her thick
Will vi IhueSS. 4NO WOuUeT lIldC nGT lace
grew clouded or that what he considered
moodiness and i'll nature took possession of
her spirit.
You are good and true, Mary, my own
dear wife. | am proud of you and my
great desire is for your happiness 0, if
| could always see your face in sunshine,
my home would be the dearest place on
earth"
How precious to me are your words
OF love and praise, Andrew, said Mrs. Lee,
smiling through her tears into his face.
with them in my ears my heart can new
er lie in shadow"
How easy had been the work for An
drew Lee! He had swept his hand across
the cloudy horizon, and now the bright
sunshine was streaming down and flooding
that home with 10y and beauty.