The Portland daily press., 1880-05-03

W UC DIS SuC pduC HILL I1G lGlI COiloluClapix
annoyed that his wife could not see the adj
vantage of the proposed purchase that would
so materially add TO their mutual property.
And then he began to wonder what she was
thinking so silently about while she stood
looking off toward the distant hill. A little
jealousy crept in with the thought. The owner
of that fine mansion had once been q for
mioable rival Of his. There could have been
no reason for her choice but the one she so
shyly confessed to him in the soft twilight
OF summer evening ten years ago. How
proud and happy she had felt. He vowed
she should never want for anything which
he could procure. But he had changed
since He had but little to commence with.
They had to practice such rigid economy,
and to watch every dollar so closely, to be
able to meet the payments on the farm, that
he had learned to love money, not so much
for the good it would purchase, as for its
own sake.
When he came in to dinner followed by
his troop of hands, he could not help MOTTO
ing how flushed and tired she looked, but
she was as cheerful as ever. The morning
cloud passed; and with the sweet spirit of
self-sacrifise that charactized her, she had
buried her dead hopes and taken up the bur-
den of life as best she could.
Hiram Graham was not ignorant of this
sacrifice and it touched him keenly; the
thought of it troubled him during the after
noon. He even forgot to estimate what the
probable yield per acre would be as the
heavy sheaves were showed off the rear plat
form and lay so near tagether on the shorn
ground. He could not deny that his wife
had worked as hard as he during the past
years, and the econsmy he had practiced had
been mostly in her domain. He began to
wish he had treated her wishes more re-
spectfully, 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 wanted It'll And now, when it
was almost within his grasp, must he let it
go? And even were he to yield to Jennie's
wishes now, would she not know that he
had done so reluctantly and against his bet
ter Judgment? Ands during the afternoon
he thought the matter over and over.
Powers" he called out as that individu-
at home can spare Miranda, let her come up
in the mernlng and help my wife,
All right, she will be glad to Gomez 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
none but my own family can do the work
easily enough alone. believe l like to
work." added she, smiling; sat least l am
always happiest when 1 am busy
''How long is it since you have been home
to your fathers on a visit?" he asked, alb
ruptly.
Give years ago last June when sister FL
len was married"
How prompt was the answer. Perhaps
she had counted the time.
"How would you like to go and see the
folks this fall?"
What glad light came into her face and
then faded, as she said hesitatingly: ''How
can l goP'
"Never mind about that. You have
earned a play-day, and none of my transac-
tions shall 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 tomorrow, and you can get what
things you need, and Miranda can stay and
help you to get ready. You will want to get
of as soon as you can, for you will want to
make a good long visit while you are about
it,"
He appeared to be anxious to hasten her
departure; but Mrs Graham was too happy
at the thought of seeing the home of her
childhood again to notice it at that time.
'tBut what will you do without us if we
make too long stay?'
Don't mind about me. L can keep bach
elor's hail." he added, laughing Two weeks
after, and Mrs. Graham had gone, and Hi
ram Graham had the house all to himself.
After the lapse of five weeks he went to
the station to meet his wife and children.
They had enjoyed the most delightful visit
and all were glad and happy, and as they
drove hOmeward, there was much to be told
and many inquiries to be made. As they
neared the house Mrs. Graham looked sud-
denly forward, while her husband rubbed
his hands together in quiet glee and watched
her face. What was that soft, lustrous
gray cleaning out from among. the green
leaves? Was she dreaming? No; it was
the house withfts green shutters and porti-
cos.
"Why, Hiram Graham, what have you
been doing?"
She looked again. ''And a picket fence
and the most charming little gate! And a
graveled waikiki and then she couldn't keep
the glad tears from coming
"Come, Jennie" said Mr.. Graham, teas
ingly, although his own eyes nostened with
sympathetic happiness, ''don't feel so bad
show you. There, how does that suit?' he
asked, after they had entered the house,
pointing to the bay-window. 81 didn't I'M
derstand such things, so 1 got a workman
who did, you see; it is all complete, ready
for plants. And here" he said, leading the
way through the kitchen. and throwing
open the door, sis woodhouse. and there,''
opening door, sis pantry that can't be
beat anywhere. And this is something you
didn't MENTION" he continued, approaching
a neat sink in the kitchen and laying hold Of
the handle of cistern pump that stood in
one end, up gushed a jet of soft water which
told of a good cistern underneath. ''Look
through the window, and you will see a COW
cred drain that carries away all the waste
water. l am going to fix it so you can irri-
gate your fower-garden with it. You see 1
didn't do anything with these things,'' he
said after they had entered the sitting-room,
glancing deprecatingly toward the dingy-
colored papering, the dilapidated furniture
and threadbare carpet. Il would rather
trust that to you. And besides, found that
there was so much real enjoyment in it that
| would be generous and leave some of the
pleasure for you. Here is the money that is
left" he added, presenting her goodly roll
of bills.
One pleasant day in Autumn, and all was
complete. and indeed, as Mr.. Graham said,
it looked like ''bit of Eden.''
Il do believe" she said, turning toward
her husband with glad, bright look in her
face-''I do believe that 1 am just the happi-
est woman in the world"
He drew her gently to him. ''Jennie," he
odiu, Wua1 WeIe you Thinking ABOUT Lnat
morning found you churning under the To-
Gust tree and looking so intently at that old
stone building on the hill?"
Her only answer was a merry laugh.
"Did you ever think so before?" Although
he asked the question hesitatingly, he looked
wistfully into her face for an answer
mo, you dear, simple darling, and 1 am
sure never shall again." and looking up
archly, 81 didn't then"
Six years had passed away, and one bright
morning in Spring Mr.. Graham entered the
house. He had changed in three years; the
slight roughness which had characterized
him previously had worn away; there were
an increased dignity and manliness in his
bearing. His children had also grown to be
constant source of paternal pride and de-
light. So surely do our inner natures con-
form to the plan of our outward surround
ings. He held up paper he had in his
hands. There said he, addressing his
wife, sis the deed of that Southwell forty,
clear from circumference. If it had not
been for you," he continued. smiling, 81
should have owned it long ago, and the