The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-04-07

ping at the gaze. tOlQ Charley to
make an illumination. We won't think
of expense-just for this night"
"That vas right" Danford pushed
on hurriedly. He felt a choking at his
throat. They had worked so long for
this home, and here it was at last-Aonae
Afterward, when he tried to remember
the occurrences of the evening, knowing
that life or death depended on his accu-
racy, he could recall little that was pc
culiar in mis- wife's conduct. She and
the children had dragged him all over
the house in fever of delight and tri-
umph. There was not closet or Granny
left UNEMPLOYED. Charley acted as show
man, baby chung to her mother, as usual,
old black Sally went before with the can
die, the proudest of all. His wife SAID
little, as was her habit, except when
alone with him. He remembered how
some boys came to the door to make
plans for tO-morrow's holiday with Char
ley, and how anxiously she asked who
and what they were. -" Why, it was only
the other day." she said, with quaver
in her voice, THAT Charley was a baby
in my arms, and now he has his friends
his plans. He is going from US out
into the world. And have no hold on
him-I have no hold on him"
" Nonsense, Lizzy," Mr.. Danford re-
piled. "Never was a woman with as
much influence over her children as you.
| Wen not let him leave Philadelphia I'M
til he's man. The boys safe enough
when he can come at night to such a
mother as you"
He remembered that she suddenly
quailed at this, and was silent, in way
which seemed strange to him at the time.
When the boy came back Danford was
sitting by the fire, his wife on a low stool
beside him, her head on his knee. She
had some childish, undignified ways,
which somehow made the boy and his
father look on her as a chum and jolly
good fellow.
Father" said Charley, with the self
| assertion of thirteen, I" think after this
shall 90 to meet you at the depot. 1t
is hardly proper for mother to be out
7 alone after dark"
"No harm will come to me, my son,
she said, smiling.
q" l don't want her to act as if she were
poor woman, sir, with nobody to look
after her." he cried, hotly. Ladies in
fine houses don't go about alone, and
mother is"
" Mother has her fine house, too, and
we two stout fellows will take care of
her," laughed Danford. But his wife's
head lay still upon his knee, and she did
not laugh nor look up.
When the children were asleep he re-
membered that she began a strange talk,
which he tried to check once or twice,
of how her brothers (who were Kentuck-
ians) had both gambled their property
away.
&c It's in the blood" she said eff
Charley should show any sign of it, you'll
watch him, Richard, and be patient with
him. A father ought to be as patient as
God with his child"
Now Danford was apt to be irritable
with the lad, and his mother always had
stood between them. Before he could
answer, however, she went on: know
you'll bear with Nelly's faults; you I'M
derstand women so well, Richard No
body could have borne with my folly as
you did when we were first married"
Are you so wise now, them"
She laughed, suddenly, and drawing
down his head kissed him swiftly on both
eyes, SO as to shut them. She had always
odd, unexpected ways of caressing him,
which used to make the overworked lit
tie man feel himself fresh and young
again.
"What do you talk in this way for to-
night Betty? Let US be happy coming
home the first night. There's no need to
look into the future to find misery"
"No, there is noneed Maybe the mis-
cry will never come. God has always
been so good to u.s." The little joke
seemed to have brought her by sudden
reaction into her happy self again,
When she had gone to her room with
Nelly, Danford opened his desk to put
away thepapers in his valise. He found
it in thorough order, all business docu-
ments belonging to household affairs
sorted and ticketed
"The milk bill paid, and Mott! Betty
has worked hard while l was gone"
Mrs. Danford had some way of adding
to their income-leather-w or banner
painting, we forget which. Beside these
bills which she had paid there were two
or three rolls of small notes, For Char
ley's clothes fer the winter" For Mel
ly's,"
Danford laughed. His wife was usual
ly the most unsystematic woman alive
But he went to his room in high good
humor. She was standing by the crib,
opening the little white petticoats which
Nelly had taken off, and hanging them
up to air.
You have provided for the children
all winter" he cried, holding out the
rolls of notes.
She turned quickly. con, they will
not need it. l shall be here to earn
plenty more for them, and for you'll
shall be here, Richard" She took up the
sleeping child and walked about with it,
straining it to her breast. Danford took
it from her gently, and laid it down
How white and fat her feet arer he
said, quietly. "Cover them up warm,
mother. Now come and sit down. You've
been working too hard, my poor girl"
Nature had made Danford in mind and
body of Coarser, commoner stuff than his
wife. But he was a saner person than
she, which explained all his power over