Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-03-08
LANCASTER WISCONSIN, THURSDAY. MARCH 8, 1877.

have things nice in their home, and
she'd have got 'em still, if she'd mar
ried Joe. His wife's gone out in her
pony-chay. / say, Jones, / wonder
whether Thompson's wife's ever sorry2
iodS she? The unconscious comments
of these, his warm friends. came crush
ing down or Robert Thompson's heart
and brain like bolt OF fire. That she
rejected Buruham for him, he knew,
when she came home to the old home
stead, and took care of his invalid
mother. Tenderly she had done it, too.
And-could she be wearing out her
life in hard work for him; she, the
mother OF bis boys; she whom he
loved well, for all his churlishness?
Robert Thompson stole away: he
could bear his thoughts no longer: and
he felt that he could almost kill him.
self for his blind heedlessness.
The afternoon wore on toward eve
sing. Mrs. Thompson had finished
her indoor work-the washing up of
the dinner dishes and the putting of
the rooms straight-and was going in
with an armful of fine things that she
had taken from the clothes-lines, when
the sound of wheels made her look
round.
GIVE brought that white ware, Mrs.
Thompson" said the brisk voice of
Grover, springing from his cart, and
lifting down carefully large hamper.
s'But I didn't order it, Mr.. Grover"
she rejoined, in rather frightened
voice.
1.-THE master did, though. Mr..
Thompson came down this afternoon
and said the things was to come TO
you at once. There's the dinner set
you admired, and tea set as we'll
Where shall I put emf"
"Bring them in, please" she an
swered family. He did as he was bid,
and then drove off.
Mrs. Thompson sat down by the
hamper of crockery and cried as if
her heart would break. They were
magical tears, too, for they washed all
the WEAKNESS and despair from her
face, and the shadow from her eye,
and heart. She forgot that she was
tired, or that the day was hot: she
only thought how kind Robert was
and what wicked woman she had
been for saying to herself in her tenn
per that she'd rather have had Squire
Burnham. Then she uupacked the
treasures, pulling them out from amid
the hay, and singing softly all the
while Oh! it was beautiful, that ware!
with its clear, Opaque white, and
here and there delicate tracing of
fuchsia or convolvulus.
Mr.. Thompson came in and found
her in the midst. "What is it, Jenny?"
he asked--the old fond name he used
to call her.
"Ob Robert!" taking a step toward
him. He opened his arms and drew
her close TO his heart, kissing her as
fondly and tenderly as he ever had in
the days OF his courtship.
ST have been brute, little wife"
he whispered huskily "Can you ever
forgive me?"
aForgive you? Oh Robert! I never
was 80 happy in my life! l have been
to blame. have not been as patient
and kind as might"
eyes, you have. You've been an
angel, compared to me. | have made
a slave of you. But all that is over
now. I did not think, Jenny; | did
not indeed"
"But-Robert-'
"You shall have more help in the
house, another servant. Wen get
her in, Jenny, long before the sewing
club night comes round"
sob Robert! how kind you are. |
feel as light as bird"
sand you are almost" he answered,
smiling a little sadly as he looked into
her eager face. "Well all turn over
new leaf, Jane. Heaven knows |
did not mean to be cruel
"Robert, you were never that"
"Well-we'll let it be: bygones
shall be bygones, if you will. OH
and I forgot to say that | saw Leeds
this afternoon. It's very dull time
just now, the poor fellow says, without
a lob on hand, so l thought I'd give
him one. They'll be here to begin to-
morrow morning"
"You-are-not going to have the
house done up?" she exclaimed, in
wild surprise.
Every square inch of it. And
once the painting and that's finished
we'll see what else we can do tomake
it look a bit brighter"
She hardly believed it; she burst in
to tears. "And / have been so wick
ed!" she cried. "Only to-day had
quite wicked thoughts, Robert. was
envying Mrs. Burnham; | was feeling
angry with everybody. 1t was the
Encouragement. Robert"
eyes, it was the encouragement"
he said quite humbly. awe will do
better for the future, Jane: I'll try an
other plan."
She cried silently for minute long
er-soft, happy tears; feeling that
light had superseded the darkness.
s'And it has all arisen from my try
ing to carry out for bit that blessed
proverb-sA soft answer turneth
away wrath" she murmured. "Rob-
ert, did you ever before see such love-
ly white ware?"
He Left Something.
A e. Il rrrhinh