Ellsworth American., 1877-06-14

outside
1T is long. We might have taken the
steam-cars for once" hesitatiDg.
NO; We must save every penny now.
There are the bills tor moving to pay
What Is the matter ?''-for a sudden change
had come over his wite's face as she looked
over his shoulder. He turned sharply,
and faced tall man In an oil-skin coat,
who was holding by a strap and watching
Mrs. Danford with what appeared at the
first glance to be a look of keen signih-
cance. 1t Instantly deadened out of his
face, and he turned TO Danlord pair OF
heavy black eyes as unmeanng as the fab
by. close -shaveu chteks below them.
"Why. thought that fellow was going
10 speak to YOU" he said, as he helped her
out of the car. He was used to seeing LIZ
zie attract notice, He always thought OF
her as his middle-agej wfe-Charey'
mother-unless when people turned to
look after her As she came Into a car, and
then he saw how singular and delicate was
the beauty that still hung about her, and
how fine the smile In her pale face.
"Whew! how it pours!" he said. step
up on this porch, Betty, until hoist the
umbrella"
Several other passengers had left the car,
and stood hudded together, struggling
with their umbrellas and the wind. Next
TO Mrs. Danford was the man In an oil-skin
coat. His mouth was mutlled in IL. and
the pelting rain drowned every other sound
hut il seemed rs though he spoke TO her.
Tomorrow at noon" she answered :;
Il shall be alone,
Now. little woman!' Danford hustled
up. lu2ging the valise and tapping um
brella. Usually she wonld have helped
him with one Of them, but now she hung
heavily on his arm, Tagging behind.
Tired out. Betty" Then, glAncing
down into her face, You've been having
one of those old headaches. Did you see
DR.. Thayer, az told you?''
NO, no. DR.. Thayer can not help me
Beside-, l have 40 headache. Come; there
is Nelly at the window.
There were fires In every room of the
little house, the square windows glewed
through the tracery OF vines. aud the wet
trunks OF the trees reflected the lights
through the rain.
See how pretty II i :" she said. stop
ping at the gate. Il told Charley 10 make
an illumination. We won't think OF cx-
pense-ju,t for this night"
That was right" Danford pushed on
hurriedv. He felt a choking at hi, throat
They had worked SO long for this home
and here il was al last-hSms
Anerward. when he tried 10 remember
the occurrences of the evening, Knowing
that life or death depended on his aCcur-
acv. he could recall little that was peculiar
In his Siic's conduct. She and the chill
dreu had dragged him all over the house
in fever OF delight and triumph. There
was not a closet or GRANNY left uue Xplored
Charley acted as Snowman. baby chung to
her mother a. usual. old black Sally went
before with the candle. the proudest OF all
His wife said little. a. was her habit. eX-
Cept when alone wi b him. He remem-
bered how some boys came to the door 10
make plans for tomorrow holiday with
Charley. and how anxiou,ly she asked who
aud what they were. why. It was ouly
the other day" she said. with a quaver in
her voice. THAT Charley wa, a baby Ia
my arms. and now h. has his fricnd.-hl,
plans. He is going from us out into the
world. And | have no hold on him
have no hold on him"
Nonsense. Lizzy." Mr.. Danford re-
piled. Never was a woman with as much
influence over her childIen as YOU. Wen
not let him leave Philadelphia until hes a
man. The boys safe enough when he
can come home at night TO such a mother
a. YOU"
lie remembered that she suddenly
quailed al this. and was silent. In a way
which seemed strange 10 him at the time.
When the boy came back, Danforl was sit
ting by the fire, his wife on a low stool be-
side him. her head on his knee. She had
some childish, undigniied ways. which
somehow made the boy and his father look
on her as a chum and a jolly good fellow.
Father" said Charley. with the self-as-
sertion OF thirteen, Il think after this
shall 90 10 meet you al the depot Il i
hardly proper for mother 10 be out alone
after dark
NO harm will come to me, my son"
she said, smiling.
Il don't want her TO act as II she were
poor woman. Sir, with nobody 10 look after
her." he cried, hotly. Ladies In fine
houses don't go about alone, ami mother
Is"
Mother has her fac 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 20 check once or twice, OF
how her brothers (who were kcntuckians) )
had both gambled their property away
Its in the blood" she said. III Char
ley should show any sign of it You'll watch
him. Richard, and be patient with him. \
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 ans
swer, however, she went on. Il know
you'll bear with Nelly's faults; you under
stand women so well, Richard. Nobody
could have borne with my folly as you did
when we were first married"
Are you so wise, now. them"
She laughed suddenly, aud 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 10 make the overworked little
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 int. the future to find misery
NO, there is no need. Maybe the mis-
cry will meyer come. God has always been
so good TO US" The little joke seemed TO
have brought her by sudden reaction into
her happy self again.
When she had gone tn her room with
Nelly. Danford opened his desk TO put
away the papers in his valise. He found
it in thorough order. all business docu-
ments belonging to household affairs sorted
and ticketed.
1.-The milk bill paid. and Mott. Betty
has W orked hard while l was gone" Mrs
Danford had some way of adding TO their
income-leather-work or banner painting.
We forget which. Beside these bills which
she had paid there were rwo or three rolls
of small notes. labelled. "For Charlev's
clothes for the winter" 'For Nelly's."
Danford laughed. His wife was usually
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 of, 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. "Oh, they will not
need it. | shall be here TO earn plenty
more tor them, and for you'll shall be
here, Richard" 4" She took up the sleeping
child and walked about with 1t, straning it
to her breast. Danford took il from her
gently, and laid it down. "How white and
fat her feet are ~ he said uuietly sCOysr