The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-09-17


the one sht so slyly confessed TO hin in
the soIt twilight Of summer evening ten
years ago. How proud and happy he had
fell. He vowed she should never want
for ANYTHING which he could procure.
But he had changed since. He had lit
tie To commence with. They had to
practice such rigid economy, and watch
every dollar SO closely, To l's able to
meet the payments on the far: that he
had learned to love money, not SD N lch
for the good ii could purchase IA for its
own sake.
When he came to dinner, followed b his
troop of. hands, he could not help IotIc-
ing how flush and tired she looked but
she was cheerful as ever The morning
cloud passed, and with the sweet spirit
of self-sacrifice that characterized her, she
bad buried her dead hopes and taken up
the burden of life again as best she
could.
Hiram Graham was not ignorant OF
this sacrifice, and IL touched him keeniy;
the thought of It troubled him during
the forenoon. He even forgot to esti-
mate what the probable yield per acre
would be AS the heavy sheaves were
shoveled off the platform and lay so near
together ON the shorn ground.
He could not deny that his wife had
worked AS hard as he for the past years,
and the economy he had praciiced had
been mostly in her domain. He began
to wish that lie had treated her wishes
more respectfully at least. But then he
could not help looking over TO where
the forty acres lay. What a choice bit
of land it was. How long he had want
ed it, And now, when it was almost
within his grasp, must lie let it go? And
even were he to Weld To Jennie's wishes
now, would not she know that he had
done SO reluctantly and against his
better Judgments And during the fore
noon he thought the matter over and
over.
Powers he called out as that indi-
vidual WAS leaving the field at night,
''if the folks at home can spare Miriam
da, let her come up in the morning and
help my wife"
''All right, she will be glad TO come, 4"
was the answer.
Harvest was over, and Mrs. Graham
spoke of discharging the girl.
"You had better keep her to help you,
said her husband.
NO. said Mrs. Graham, "when there
is no one except my own family, can
do the work easy enough alone. l be.
lievc like to work." added she, smil.
ing, Eat least am always happiest when
am busy"
"How long has it been since you have
been home TO your fathers on a visit?'
he asked, abruptly.
Five years ago last June, when sister
Ellen was married"
How prompt was the answer! Per
haps she had counted the time.
"How would you like to go and see
the folks this fall ~
What glad light came into hen
face and then faded, as she said reluct
antly:
"How can go?"
"Never mind about that. You have
earned holiday, aud none of my trans
actions will hinder you from enjoying
one You had better take the children
with you; the folks will want to SEE
them We will 90 to town to morrow
and you can get what things you need
and Miranda can stay and help you gel
ready. You will want to get off as soor
as you can, for yOu will want TO maxi
IA good long visit while you are abou
He appeared to be anxious to hastel
her departure; but Mrs. Graham wa
| too happy at the thought Of seeing til,
home OF her childhood again TO notice i
at the time.
"But what will you do without us,
we make too long stay?"
Don't mind about me. can keel
bachelors hall" he added laughing
Two week later Mrs. Graham hat
gone, and Hiram Graham had the hous
all to himself.
After the lapse of five weeks he wen
to the station to meet his wife and chill
dren They had enjoyed the most de
lightful visit, and all were glad and a
they drove homeward there was mucl
to be told and many inquiries TO b
made. AS they neared the house Mrs
Graham looked suddenly forward will
her husband watched her face and rub
bed his hands IN quiet glce.
What was that soft, lustrous grey
cleaning out from among the gree
leaves? Was she dreaming? No,
was the house with its green shutter
and porticos.
"Why Hiram Graham what have yo
been doing?"
She looked again. land a pick
fence! and grayelcd walk" and the
she couldn't keep the glad tears froi
coming.
Come, Jennie" said Mr. Graham
teasinglY, although his own eyes moi
tened with sympathetic happiness, I'D
not feel so bad about it. l may bay
worse things yet to show you. Their
how does that suit ~ he asked after the
had entered the house, pointing to I'll
, bay window. 81 don't understand sue
things, so got a workman whodid, yo
: see 1t is all complete, ready for plant
/ And here" he said, leading the wa
through the kitchen and throwing opt
the door, sis wood house, and there l
said, opening a door, is pantry TIL
T can't be beat anywhere. And this
something you didn't MENTION" he co
: tinued, approaching a neat sink in til
E kitchen and taking hold of the hand
: of cistern pump that stood in OF
; one end, up gushed jet of soft watt
> that told of u good cistern bencat
| "Look through the window and you wi
see d covered drain that carries away a
, the waste water. am going to fix il
j you can irrigate your flower gardC
> with it. You see l didn't do anythin
!. with these things" he said after the
: had entered the sitting room, glancin
+ deprecatingly toward the dingy color
papering, the dilapidated furniture an
thread bare carpet. al would rather tru
; that to you. And besides, l found tn;
, there was so much real enjoyment in
that would be generous and leave son
E of the pleasure for you. Here is Il
; money that is left" he added, presentir
J her goOdlY roll of bills.
) One pleasant day in autumn, and a
) was complete, and indeed, as Mr.. CIR
f ham said, it looked ike "a bit of Eden
) 81 do believe" she said, turning towaI
her husband with glad bright look
her FACET do believe that am just IL
! happiest woman in the world"
: He drew her gently to him Jennie
/ he said, 'what were you thinking abo'
that morning found you churning u
r der the locust tree, and looking intent
: ON that old stone building on the hill
, Her only answer was q merry laugh.
! did you ever think so before ~ a
] though he asked the question hesitatin
, ly, he looked very wistfuliy into her faC
for an answer.
/ mo, you dear, simple darling, and
! am sure ! never shall again." and lool
ing up archly, II didn't thenr'
! Six years have passed away, and OF
! bright morning in spring Mr.. Grahai
: entered the house. He had changed
three years; the slight roughness TIL
J had characterized him previously la
worn away; there was increased dign
; ty and manliness in his bearin
( His children had also grown to be
/ constant source of paternal pride and d
! light.
} % surety uOeS our lHueI nature CO.
! form to the plan of our outward su
3 roundings. He held up a paper he hs
} in his hands. There" said he, addres
} ing his wife, lis deed of that Soutf
/ | well forty, clear from encumbrance.
!. it had not been for you, he continue
= smiling, II should have owned it lor
3 ago, and the whole Southwell farm. to
4 perhaps But thank God that didn't
: he added earnestly. HIf had, won
have been so close over the work rack
e this time, that should never be able
< look up.
HOW IT LOOKED TO THE BOY.
}. A gentleman from the country arriv,
2 at Galveston hotel the other day wi
t his little boy. The little fellow had ne