Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-03-03


discomfort. =.
81 shall find something by and by,
the husband said bravely. .a.
1t was at this trying time that little
speck of humanity was put into Stella
arms. and its feeble cry told that the re-
sponsibility of motherhood was hers.
"I am the happiest man alive" ex-
claimed Clarence, carress1ng wife and
child. "The very happiest," he repeat
ed again, kissing the baby boy.
"Tet pride go to the dogs, Stella" he
added. remembering that now his re-
sponsibility was greater than before,
"They want workmen on the new city
hall. I'll take my hammer--iS will give
us bread"
She ought to have been contented,
ought to have thought with pride OF the
man who would thus brave the worlds
opinion.
He went in early morning, and came
home late ut night, as other workmen
did. his handsome face glowing with love.
But the very thought that her husband
was brought down TO the level of COM
mon laborer. hurt her.
Sister Bella had said that her tastes
were luxurious, and she wanted pretty
home now, and fine apparel for herself
and baby.
The people of the world i'll which she
had lived had never to count on their
money to know if they could buy new
dress. She had never been taught to
make the best of whatever circumstances
You may be placed III, and why should
she now?
The little privations she endured wor-
ried and vexed her. and in little while
the sweet-tempered woman grew moody
and down-hearted. She became careless
In her dress. and instead of the cheerful
little wife he used to see, he found q
gloomy woman and disorderly house,
But he never complained.
"Stella is homesick." he would say;
"and the care of baby is too much for
her. [ must make some money! and
his hammer rang with redoubled energy.
Yet every day her dlscontent grew more
apparent. The place and the people
were so repulsive to her refined and sen
sitive nature.
"How can you expect me to live
among such surroundings, Clarence?"
was her appeal when the husband begged
her to be Of good cheer.
''It's cruel in you," she sobbed. 81
want to be back again in my old home,
among my own friends"
The warm glow came to his face, and
he drew her tenderly towards him with
out a word. but there was q look piteous
to see In his handsome eyes, while his
resolve was to work still harder.
To conquer fortune, however, requires
sturdy strokes.
There came day, later little for
some days must be dark and dreary =
when it did seem that matters had come
to q crisis.
The city hall was finished long ago,
the Odd Fellows building completed and
the last stroke had been given to the new
church. Clarence must look for some
thing new. Jennie, who had minded
Freddy for two or three months, had to
go, and al the household cares fell upon
Stella's hands.
They had moved from place to place
since Freddy's birth, hoping to find
house with which Stella would be con-
tent. /.
But those people are all alike" she
said, "and [ may as well be in one place
as another" was her reply to Clarence,
when he suggested that they move into
new block.
1t was unwomanly in her to say this,
she knew, the moment the words escaped
her lips, and she thought to run after
her husband and beg his forgiveness,
but just then Freddy caught at her dress,
causing her to spill the water she was
pouring into the tea kettle, which only
increased her vexation.
6 You cross little troublesome thing!"
she exclaimed impatiently. ''Take
that!" laying her hand heavily on the
little bare shoulders ''I'm sick to
death with having you always hanging
to my skirts"
With this she let fall the earthen
pitcher she held in her hand. and drop
ping into the nearest chair, burst into
hysterical weeping.
Freddy, with the prints of her fingers
still red on his neck, toddled to her side,
and tried to climb into her lap. But she
pushed him away GROSSLY, with
"Go play with your blocks and horses;
[ don't want you near me- and her hand
was raised to lay on the rosy cheek. /
" Don't do anything you'll be sorry for
by and by, Stella" Clarence said, COM
ing into the room just then.
Something in his face stayed her hand
just on the moment, and she rose to her
feet, flushing with shame and anger.
81 thought you'd gone down town, )"
she replied, sharply. "Oh, dear. if I'd
minded Sister Belle l shouldn't have
been here. She was right. I had no
business to marry a poor man."
''You're not quite yourself this morn
ing, Stella and his eyes were full of
rnshed tears as he caught sight of the
red marks on her baby's neck.
" Do you suppose I can endure every
thing?" she cried spitefully.
6 You are nervous and tired, dear.
Come here" and he put out his hand to
clasp her.
She ghded from him and went into the
adjoining room. rt .ss.
Something wet fell on the baby's