The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-01-10

than Ne gave way 10 inward irritation,
snapped Al her efforts To mend the fire
into blaze and brightness, and at last
burst out savagely; "Letthatire alone,
viii youP" XVI
Anne looked at him steadily, gathered
up Der work and left the room; her own
quick temper famed up % swiftly she
dare not trust herself 70 speak; she did
not know how her flashing eyes spoke
for her. At first the man was angry !;
what business had she ~ rsprove him
Tor mere snappishncssP Could not a
man do and say what he liked in his
own house,? What was = mans house
for II not to be free 10 do and say what
he liked therein? His memory recalled
Nelly's conduct when such doings and
sayings occurred in her lifetime; how
she shrunk aud quivered, the tears I'LL
ing her eyes and her lips trembling till
he was enraged at sucn ssfuss, +" and
went on out of more evaporation.
Then came back the dead face If that
vanished Nelly, the look Of relief and
peace that reproached him from her cof-
fin; asense Of justice babe him acknowl-
edge that Anne pursued the better
course; that Helen had suffered at his
hands and suffered needlessly; she never
left him to sulk in solitude; she always
dressed herself To soothe his moods; il
was she who apologized rs il she had
made him cross; she who covered and
cringed and even provoked him by her
timidity and terror as towards always
irritate tyrant. He did not like this
train Of thought: neither did he like TO
be left alone this stormy night with his
own reflections; for the wind howled
and the rain beat and something re-
called to him an old story Of house
that was founded upon sand, and he
could not Danish it.
Anne, meanwhile, went up stairs to
the nursery and sat down by her sleep
ing darlings; her thoughts, too, were
not comfortable; what il the course she
had taken should separate her from
these children who were Dc y as hearts
blood 10 her? Hot tears dimmed her
eyes as she faced the possibility; but
she knew she had done the thing she
thought right and best; she must trust
the consequences to God, whatever they
were; and bending her head above the
tranquil sleepers she prayed long and
fervently for strength to do her duty
whatever il was, and for their good and
peace in this world and the next who
ever might minister 10 them here. Then
she went to her room Gained and
strengthened.
Bot she made the mistake most COM
mon to women in judging of men; she
had not considered Ben Potter's sense
Of justice. II would not have been like
him or like most of his sex to resent a
slight vexation by real injury; there
are exceptions, no doubt; men can be
as unjust, rs dishonest, and as cruel as
the law allows, even 70 those for whom
they have protested deep affection; but
is most often the case that they mean to
be and are agnanimous--except 70
their w:ves-and nothing could have
been furt her from Mr.. Potter's thought
than to send Anne away from his house,
hold after AL she had given up to take
charge Of i simply because he was vex-
ed with her.
She wcs surprised the next morning
when he welcomed her with a pleasant
smile, for he could be very pleasant
when he felt like il, and said :. Anne,
YOU shouldn't have been vexed with me
last night; when am cross you mast
lay il to the right cause; it is dyspepsia
that's cross, not me-"
And he was more surprised at her an
swer, for Helen would have met such
dubious apology with a food % tender
assurance that he was not to blame;
that she was silly and cowardly, and
ought TO have known better than %
worry him when he was suffering; in
short, have begged his pardon for his
own ill-temper, and protested il was all
her own fauh. But Anne looked c0olly
into his eyes and said: ssAre yon so
weak man that dyspepsia can over
throw your good breeding and Your re-
ligionPr
Wh-ew,, calculated MIR. Porter:
"arn't you coming il rather strong,
Anne?'
.Am I?- said she gravely. 81 Ben.
you have two children TO bring mp; do
You wish them TO excuse their faults Of
spirit by their bodily pains and aches?"
He began TO walk up and down the
library uneAslly.
"Do you think that courtesy. kind
ness and patience are physical states Of
Christian sirtues?"
The children bounded into the room
just at this juncture. 50 rosy, happy and
sweet, that their fathers heart suddenly
gave leap Of unusual pleasure; wheth-
or 1t was the timely interruption or thei5
aspect that was so welcome, il might
net profit US to inquire; il is certain that
Anne's questions got no answer that
day, but perhaps for THAI very reassn
they echoed more and more through his
soul; his conscience was touched with
spark ~ singing fire; no looked back
on the eight years Of his marriage With
Helen and said bitterly, out Of the ssrife