The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-12-01

Poor. neglected. cilllu- cciOcN
astonisbed Herbert. "Why, Lima,
Essie fairly slaves herself out over
those children. | am sure | never
saw any better dressed or any neat
err
Lima merely shrugged her shoul-
ders. A month passed. Essle gain
ed strength in the genial atmos-
phere. surrounding Louie and her
mother. while Lima ruled Herbert :
home with a rod of iron. Herbert
began to experience a sick longing
for Essie's gentle presence. Lima
took him so very literally in all he
said. and yet he could not rebuke
her for what he openly wished.
A chair with tiny spot OF dirt
being declared absolutely filthy, was
upholstered and vanished at cost
of eight dollars. a dozen new shirts,
Eseie's last labor of love, being said
TO set like meal bags" were bestow'
ed upon a gardner and q new set
sent from a furnishing store. Har-
rvs blocks were burned at the
kitchen fire when Herbert stepped
upon one, and she would not have
such rubbish in the house" Every
window was thrown open after a
pettish declaration that the room
was as hot az an oven, and an hour
later the stove was fired up 10 smoth-
ering heat because he declared that
it was cold enough to freeze a polar
bear.
In short, with an apparently en-
ergetic attempt to correct ali short
comingS and put the housekeeping
upon a perfect basis, Lima in one
month nearly doubled her brother 5
expenses, and drove him to the
verge of distraction, keeping actual
account of everything.
But Essie, well and strong again
was coming home. On the day Of
her expected arrival, Lima, with a
solemn face. invited her brother into
the sitting room for 4 few minutes
private conversation.
Herbert, she said. very gravely
/ have a proposition 10 make to you
You are my only brother, and
need not tell you l love YOU very
dearly. 1t has really grieved me Il
the heart TO see how much there
is to find fault with in your beau
tiful home
Herbert twisted himself uneasily
/ in his chair but Lima continued
You know that mother is very
dependent upon me, Louie having
. the house and children 10 attend
to. but | think she would sacrifice
her own comfort for yours. SO, i
you wish, Herbert, | will come her,
permanently to keep things in or
der for you.
Here Lima was obliged to pause
and strangle laugh At Herbert's ex
preston Of utter horror and dismay
"You are very kind" he falteled
the instincts ola gentleman battlin.
with the strong desire to tell Lin;
she would certainly drive him era
w by SIX months more OF her mode
housekeeping
"Not at all. A man who hal
made an unfortunate marriage Ger
tainly needs all the aid and sympa
thy his family can give him."
The last straw was laid upon tht
camel's back: Herbert spoke u,
hotly,-
"You are entirely mistaken, Lima
| have not made an unfortunat,
marriage. If ever a man was bless
ed in a wife, | am that man"
You amaze me, Herbertl" Lin:
cried, in well feigned astonishment
Il do not see why you should b.
surprised. Essie is gentle, loving
orderly, a model housekeeper, ant
a perfect home angcl-God bles
her!"
Herbert, is that true?"
Certainly it is :rue."
81 cannot believe it, was the SLOW
response"
Cannot believe it, Whv?"
"Because"-and Lima dwelt i'm
pressively upon ever word-'Dur
ing the nine years of your married
/ life, though visiting here frequently
1 never heard you speak one wore
of encouragement or praise to Essie
/ never saw one look of approba
ton or appreciation of any effort
she made for your comfort upor
your face. Continually fault-fnd
ing, constant blame have changet
her from a happy, winsom girl to
pale, care worn woman. Even he
last illness was but the unbrokel
despair of a heart crushed under
load of daily censure and constan
striving for the appreciation neve
given. And You tell me now sh,
never failed in her duty to you
There is 4 grave error somewhere.
The sadly earnest tone, the face O
thoughtful gravity, sent every wor,
home to derbert's heart. IL
spoke no word in self defence a
LIMA slowly lett the room. In tn
profound silence that followed con
science reviewed the past, and h.
knew that nls sister had spoken tn
truth. Inc habIt of fault-fnding
meeting no resistance in Essieis gen
tleness, mad gained in force, till al
Its mOnstrOslty stood plainly reveal
ed III the experience of the pas
month.
In the days when Essie lay dan
gerously i'll, there had been no sci
reproach like this in her husband
sorrow. He had given his wife /;
fair home, an ample income, fre
quent social pleasure, many cost,
gifts, and loved her faithfully, Will
/ poisoning her whole life.
God help me-" he whispered, II
conquer this fault. Essie shall hea
no more fault-fnding, and if se'
her dropping, / will send her t,
mother ard have Lima back again.
Never had wife and mother WARN
er welcome than greeted Essie. Th'
children were unchecked in theil
loudest demonstration of delight
But Lima had to rush into the hal
to hide her eyes when Herbert, kiss
ing Essie, said
we must let mother have Lima
,aotu Jaor Che boa bao,, ,.a,,. l.,,,l