The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-06-26

have proposition to make to you. You
are nay only brother, and need not tell
you that love you very dearly. It has
really greved me to the heart to see how
much there is to find fault with in your
beautiful home"
hertert twisted himself uneasily in his
chalr, but Lima continued:
You know that mother is very de-
pendent upon me, Louie having the house
ana children 70 care for, but | think she
would sacrlhce her own comfort for yours
50, II you wish, Herbert, I will come
here permanently to keep things in order
for YOU
Here Lima was obliged to pause and
st1angle laugh at Herbert's expression
OF utter horror and dismay.
"Iog are very kind, be faltered the
instincts OF gentleman battling with a
strong desire to tell Lima she would Ger
talnly drive him to the lunatic asylum
10y six months more Of her model house
keeping.
Not at a.. a man who mas made an
unfortunate marriage certainly needs all
the aId and sympathy his family can
give him
The last straw was laid upon the cam
els back. Herbert spoke hotly:
You are entirely mistaken, Lima! |
have not made an unfortunate marriage
II ever d man was blessed in wife, | am
that man"
You amaze me ,Hel bertr' Lima crled,
IN wel!-te!gned astonishment
Il dc no. see why you should be sur
pTlsed. Essie is ge2tle, loving, orderly,
8 mode house Keeper, and perfect
home ange!-God bless her.'
Herbert, is that trues'
Certainly il is true,
u canno: believe 1t was the low re-
sponse.
Cannot believe it," Whys'
Because and Linda dwelt impress
sively upon every word-"during the
nine years of your married life, though
visiting here frequently, I never heard
you speak one word OF encouragement or
praise to Essie. never saw one look of
appreciation of any effort she made tor
your comfort upon your face. Continual
taultifnding, constant blame, have changed
her from a happy, winsem girl to pale,
careworn woman. Even her last illness
was but the unbroken despair of a heart
crushed under q load of daily censure and
constant striving toI tie anpn ton nev
er given And you tel. NE new she Las
never failed in her duty to yor. There
is d grave error somewhere.
The sadly earnest tone, the face Of
thoughtful gravity, sent every word home
+n hoe ~ Ia
spoke no word Of selt-detence as Lima
slowly lett the room. In the profound
silence that followed conscience reviewed
the past, and he knew that his sister had
only spoken the truth. The habit of fault
finding, meeting no resistance IN Esse's
gentleness, had gained in force, TIL al its
monstrosity stood plainly revealed IN the
experience OF the past month.
In the DAYS when Essie lay dangerous
" i'll, there had been no selt-rep1oach
like this IN her husbands sorrow. He
he'd given his wife fair home, an ample
income, frequent social pleasure, many
costly gifts, and loved her faithfully while
poisoning her whole life.
''Cod help me, : be whispered, ITO con-
quer this fault. Essie shall hear no more
tault-fnding, ana II | see her dropping,
will send her 10 mother and have Lima
back again.
Never had vile and mother warmer
welcome than greeted Essie. The child
red were unchecked IN their louaest DEM
onstratlons 81 delight. But Lima had 70
rush into tie hall t. hide her eyes when
Herbert. kissing Essle, said
1--WE must let mother have Lima now,
Essle dear She has been very kind, and
worked hard tor nv comfort; but there IS
10 home fairy like my Essie.
The quick glad look IN his wltes soft
ewes tod Herbert that one step had been
taken IN the right direction. AS the days
glided by, and Essle found appreciation
meeting every effort to add 70 home COM
fort, d word Of praise for every little trl-
rmph ot cookery or needle work, her pale
face grew bright with untold happiness.
Grad ally the careworn expression was
ob!iterated by one Of content, and Her
bert found his own heart lightened by
the cheerful voice, the sunny smile, the
brirht eve III l1ssie he had wooed years
before.
And Lima making visit SIX months
later. told her mother on her return:
Herbert has learned his lesson by heart
mother lie appreciates Essie nov Al
her yalne, and he lets her know i.
Admiration.