The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-10-11

pig 10 i've III. WudI WdS Iuo COuSe'
quence3 Coming into it the next morn,
ing, he found the curtains torn down,
the carpets taken up, the floor Uttered
with pals, soap and brushes, and Lima
in dismal dress, her hair tied up in 8
towel, directing two women, who were
scrubbing vigorously.
"Good gracious, Lima |" he cried,
"what are you doing ?"
Cleaning this ROOM"
"Why, Essie had the whole house
cleaned only the other day." he added,
contemptuously.
"Well," said Lima, slowly, "]
thought this room a marvel of neatness
myself, but when you said it was moi
fit for the pigs l supposed you wanted
it cleaned"
"The room was well enough" was
the curt re- y. "For mercy's sake
don't turn any more of the house upside
down."
At breakfast a tiny tear in Louie's
apron caught her fathers eye, and, by
his own angry statement, "she never
had decent stitch Of clothes, and he
did wish somebody would see to her."
Two days after formidable liren
draper's bill was sent to him, and Lima
explained it in this wise:
"You said, Herbert, that Louie
hadn't decent stitch, and you wished
somebody would see to her, so ] bought
her a complete outfit. I could not see
any fault myself, but cf course I got
more expensive articles, as you did not
like those already provided. I am glad
neglected child"
"Poor neglected child I" echoed as
tonished Herbert. "Why, Lima, Essie
fairly slaves her life out over those
children. I am sure 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 a rod of iron.
Herbert begun to experience sick long
ing for Essie 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.
An arm chair with tiny spot of dirt
being declared absolutely filthy, was
upholstered and vanished at cost OF
ten dollars. A dozen new shirts, Essie' g
last labor of love, being said to "set
like meal bags" were bestowed upon
the gardener, and new set obtained.
Every window was opened after q pet
tish declaration that the "room was as
hot as an oven," and an hour later the
CRATE was fired up to smothering heat
because he declared it "cold enough to
freeze polar bear"
In short. with apparently an energetic
attempt to correct all shortcomings, and
put the housekeeping upon q perfect
basis, Lima in one month nearly doubled
her brothers expenses, and drove him
to the verge of distraction.
But Essie, well and strong again, was
coming home. On the day of her e1-
pected arrival Lima, with solemn face,
invited her brother into the sitting-room
for few moments of private converse
ton.
"Herbert," she said, very gravely,
"I have a proposition to make to you.
You are my only brother, and I need not
tell you I love you very dearly. It has
really grieved ME to the heart to see how
much there is to find fault with in your
beautiful home" Herbert twisted him
self uneasily in his chair, but Lima con
tinued:
"You know that mother is very de-
pendent upon me, Louie having the
house and children to care for, but !
think she would sacrifice her own COM
fort for yours. So if you wish, Her
bert, will 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 gentleman battling with
the strong desire to tell Lima she would
certainly drive him into lunatic asylum
by six months more of her model house
keeping.
"Not at all. A man who has mad,
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 all unfortunate marriage.
If ever man was blessed in wife,
am that man."
"You amaze me, Herbert |" Lima
cried, in we'll feigred astonishment.
81 don't see why you should be sur,
prised. Essie is gentle, loving, orderly,
model mother and a perfect home
angel-God bless her !"
Herbert, is that true2"
Certainly it is true"
"I cannot believe it !" was the slow
response.
"Capnot believe it! Why2"
because aud Lima dwelt impres.
sively upon every word" during the
nine years of your married life, though
visiting here frequently, I have never
heard you speak one word OF encourage
ment or praise to Essie. I never saw
one look of appreciation or appreciation
of any effort she made for your comfort
upon your face. Continual fault find
ing, constant blanc, have changed her
from a happy girl to a pale, careworn
woman. Even her last illness was but
the unspoken despair of heart crushed
under load of daily censure and con-
slant 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, Herbert"
The sadly earnest tone, the face of
thoughtful gravity, sent every word
home to the young mans heart. He
spoke no word of self. defense as Lima
slowly left the room. In the profound
silence that followed conscience review
ed the past, and he knew that his sister
had spoken only the truth.
"God help me-" be whispered, "to
conquer this fault. Essie shall hear no
more fault finding, and if I see her
dropping. I will send her to mother, and
have Lima here to keep house,
Never had wife and mother warmer
welcome than greeted Essie. The chill.
dren were unchecked in their loudest de.
monstrations Of delight. But Lima had
to rush into the nall to hide her merry
eyes when Herbert, kissing Essie, said
"We must let mother have Lima now,
dear. She has been very kind and
xrorka1 bord for NV cornfor bnt there