Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-04-29

cllnE0 n men, oeEd0se yo0 s1t4 tae-
ney would 1sveF compensate iof
the constant separation. To-day 4 o. |
Ger i renewed. AIieF0nr cOnvf zion
this morning. I think your old ec-
ton will hardly haNe any weiglM 10
have accepted, an ieageT e NJ
I will usite ) : : ss'esy IS -
remittances. leave the ace8hlp lIy-
ing bank-note for the dress you desire.
I have sent for Aunt CoFdelia. as nsu-
al, to stay with you.
ERNEST MATHER.p
Not loving word, not regret for
the long separation.
Myra realized then how considesate
and loving her husband had been un-
der the wearing vexations OF her whIms
and caprices. Great tears rolled down
her cheeks as she bitterly rePToached
herself.
81 have made him believe / don't
care for anything but money" she
thought. "He leaves me this to con-
sole me for his absence. Oh Ernest,
come home again, and III wear calico
and sun-bonnet to church before I'll
tease. you for fnery again"
II was not an easy task to go TO DIM
ner and meet Aunt Cordelia, butt must
be done. It was no new thing TO see
Myra in tears when Ernest was away
on business; so she only expressed de-
sire 10 see any man alive she would cry
for, and said no more about the little
wife's red eyes.
The days passed very wearily. Aunt
Cordelia preached daily sermons to
Myra about extravaganza and other
feminine weaknesses. till the poor little
woman wished she was as homely and
i'll clad as the tormenter herself.
"You never see me with such dress
on in the house as that" the spinster
would say, with complacent glance at
her dyed skirts.
"I buy my clothes to wear" Myra
retorted. "lfI bad as much money as
you, Aunt Cordelia, I'D be ashamed to
90 about the house in such dresses"
And the spinster would shake her
head and groan audibly, plying ''Poor,
dear Earnest"
e You never see me-" was ever her
opening address. And Myra grew TO
hate the words, in the long months of
her forced companionshiP. For Elhest
did not return. Spring, summer and
autumn passed away, and December
was opening, yet still he did not come.
Every month a formal letter reached
Myra, inclosing check for her expen-
ses of such liberal value as proved Err
nest was making money: but each one
informed her that her husband was just
leaving the place from which he wrote,
and made no mention Of his next desti-
nation.
Heart-sick, penitent and oh so lone
ly, she fairly loathed the sight Of the
money that was accumulating in her
hands. Letter afier letter she wrote
and destroyed, not knowing where to
direct them. She was growing so quiet
and subdued that Aunt Cordelia's most
hateful speeches often went nnanswer-
ed.
She was sitting IN the drawtng-room
one cold, December morning, when Mr..
Agnew, Ernest's employer, came in.
81 am sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Ma
ther, but / wish to inquire il you have
heard from Ernest this week." be said.
mot since the first OF the month"
she replied.
"He wrote Us on the 9th that he
would remain in Cumberland until the
first Of the year, and was to send some
papers on the 7th. These have not
come, and we are embarrassed for want
of them. / telegraphed yesterday, but
have no reply. However, ii you have
not heard that he is i'll, he is probably
better"
"IIl ?" she iaItered.
"Well, | Judge from his last that he
has not fully recovered from the fever
he had, although he resumed business.
If you hear to-day, viii you be kind
enough 10 send US word 70
Certainly" Myra managed to gasp,
in choked voice, and Mr.. Agnew leit
ILL., "A fever Sick at hotel. and
she not nearl Ernest, her Ernest
all the love in the little woman's
heart rose in protest. She astonished
Aunt Cordelia by dashing into that
lady's room, crying. "Tske care Of the
house. 1 am going to Cumberland r.
and dashed out again as abruptly. The
trunk was packed. Myra never knew
what went into it. She hugged her
hoard OF money. Carefully she put il
IN the bosom OF her dress. She cried
aud laughed, and acted generally like a
lunatic. The afternoon found her seat
ed in an express tram. rushing to Err
nest as fast a. steam could carry her.
In q wide, pleasant room, Ernest
Mather lay upon his bed, dangerous
" ILL He had been for months try
ing 10 quiet his sick restless heart By
overworking hls body, keeping such
stress and labor in hIs work, that The
firm at home never ceased congratnla-
ting themselves upon their choice tFav-
eler.
He made money, supplying MyFa
with q generous hand, and vet saving
considerably. For what Bitterly
he thought that when be vas = very
rich man he would 20 home again and
try 10 make Myra contented. He tried
60 fancy be had ceased TO love her. but
the INCREASING craving of his heart for
the sight Of her face and the sound OF
her voice vas contFadicting this.
Work, work, work. That was bis
medicine for his mental pain. till the
overweight brain gavegwsy, the over
tasked body sUccumbed. and he lay hII
with the lever two weeks. Up again
before his strength was halt restored.