The Osceola times., 1880-07-17
TWO CROSS WORDS.

"Lucy, if you mean to sew on this
button do wish you'd do it. ] can't
wait all day"
Tom didn't speak bit cross, only
emphatically; but was out of temper
that morning, and my head ached badly
from sitting up the night before. Tom
had gone to superior the secend
time since our marriage-given by some
of his bachelor friends, and had come
home the verse for it. 1t had provoked
me intensely. So | had to follow him
to bed in silence, and awoke none the
better pleased after my slcep,on themorn-
ing lust alluded to. To make the matter
worse, Just as he spoke to me about the
button, the knife with which / was cut
ting the bread for his lunch slipped, in
ficting a deep cash in my hand, and the
baby awoke and set up her sharp little
cry from the CRADLE, all in the one and
the same moment.
"You can't wait as long as l did last
night, | reckon" / replied sharply
really angry at last. Don't hurry me
do all can, and more than l am able
to do with one pair of hands"
Tom dropped his sutton and turned
toward me with startled why,
Lucyw
Don't Lucy me-" retorted, throwing
down the bread and catching up the
baby, while the blood streamed from my
hand over her white gown. You've
done enough-youv'e broke my heart!
| wish | had never seen you-l wish
| was back again with my father
and my mother"
| | broke down with burst of hysteri-
cal tears, and seeing the blood on my
hand, Tom came over and knelt down
beside me.
"why, Lucy" he said, his voice and
eyes full of tenderness, you've cut your
hand. Why didn't you say so? Here,
give me the child while you bind it up
see how it bleeds."
He held out his hands TO. tho baby,
but / snatched her away and went on
sobbing,
"Don't cry, Lucy" he continued, strok-
ing the hair back from my forehead
"please don't; / know have done
wrong, dear, but / didn't mean to.
fell in with some of the boys, and they
persuaded me against my will, But
It's the last time, Lucy-it's the last
time"
Why didn't | turn to him then and
help and encourage himp Because my
mean, tyrannous temper got the best OF
my woman's heart.
''Oh, yes' | said, sneeringly, sit is
easy enough TO make fine promises-you
told me the same thing before. How
can you expect me to trust you now?'
Tom was spirited and quick-tempered
great, loving-hearted men always
are. He sprang TO his feet like fash,
and before l had time to speak or think
had left the room. | tossed the child
into the craddle, and ran to the door
but il was too late. He had gone.
just caught a glimpse of him turning the
corner.
| went back to the little breakfast
room; how blank and drear it looked
and what a sharp. singing thorn there
was in the very core of my heart
loved Tom and he loved me. We had
been married only eighteen months and
this was our first quarrel sat down
with the baby in my arms, needless OF
morning work and fell to thinking. All
the old happy days came back, and one
in particular, when we sat In Dumberry
wood. 1t was in autumn and all the
world seemed in a blaze of gold when
the sun slid down, and the squirrels
chattered overhead, dropping ripe nut
now and then into my lap, as sat there
with the last rose of summer in my hair,
knitting purse for Tom.
"Iucy," be said, as wove in the last
golden stitches, "you'ye knit my love-
my very life-up IN that purse. Tell
me now, before you finish it, how is it
to be? Am TO have you and-Oh! l
won't think of it even, Lucy; it would
be too dreadful"
"No, Tom," answered, "you are to
have the purse, and the hand that knit
it too."
Poor Tom! he cried then just like a
child-he, the bravest man in the vii
lage.
"No fault in him; only little too wild
too fond Of gay company. But you