Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-16

shadow deepenci visibly. 1t was only
a rag carpet to begin with, and had
been there evcr-ince sEe had, she knew
no! low lons before. II MAS faded and
very much worn. Oh! if she conla
only have " new one, she would have
her Piano and books II we'd in, and the
Ioo.l wonld not look SO very badly.
&" Ben abe said almost timidly that
nieht at the lea table, " I've been look
ing at tho par'or carpet, it's very badly
worn, couldn't We have n new one for
there ana put flat mere? Greene has
some very pretty, cheap ingrains.
Ana he'll keep them for all me. I've
no money to waste on carpets" replied
Ben as lie took up his b.. 70 go out
again.
II wonllnt say anything, Bon, if
Jennie wasn't coming, but Id like
things to look as nicely as possible for
her" pleaded Abrgic.
Well, if we amt nice CROUCH for
her, she'd better go somewhere else, We
shan't go to fixing up any way, were
we'll enough as We are" and Ben went
his way down town for the paper.
AS for Margie, she went about her
evenings work, with bright red spot
on either cheek, and al angry look in
her eyes.
l, was cruel in him, she worked harl
enough, she was willing, too. but there
was nothing but hardness, no kind
words or smiles, nothing beautiful,
nothing but hard work. Itmight have
been different, SO different! There was
DR.. Vail, who lived in the handsome
house on the hill, how happy his wife
always looked! She might have been
Mrs. DR.. Vail. There was lawyer Ben.
ton too, he had been in Europe with
his wife for the past year. She sat
down in he gathering dusk after work
was done, and thought it all out bit
tcrly.
Meanwhile, Ben had been to the store
and was on his way home, when it oc-
CURED to him, he would 60 round by
Jones, and SEQ if he could get HIN to
work for him. Just rs he turned the
corner, DR.. Vail drove by with his
wife. =
There were two ladies' just aaead OF
Ben, and he distinctly heard one say as
the doctor passed., Pretty ine turnout
isn't it!'
Indeed, it is" replied her compan-
ion, Il wonder if Msrgie Smith ever
feels sorry she isn't Margie Vail! l
should think she would. | feel sorry
for her whenever I see her. 1 believe
Ben Smith hasn't an idea in his head
beyond making money, if he had, he
would see he's killing his wife. How
she ever came to love him is more than
| can see, there isn't another woman in
town that would.'
Ben turned round suddenly and re-
traced his steps. He felt bewildered,
those few words had started such
train of thought.
Was he killing Margie? How would
the ola house seem without her2 Was
she ever sorry she had chosen him in
stead of those others? She had loved
him once-Ben's heart gave great
throb of Joy at the thought-had she
ceased TO love him?
For few minutes he walked ca,
deep in his thoughts, then, all at once,
he turned once more, and went down
again into the village.
An hour later he stood at his own
door, with look OF pleasure on his
face. There was no light within, and
he gropea his way through the kitchen
to the sltting-room. He could just see
Margie by the west window. He went
over AMI stood beside her, just as she
was thinking go bitterly how different
her life might have been.
Green has got somo very pretty in
grains, Margie, but found Brussels
l thought perhaps you would like bet
ter, if we fix up the rest of the house q
little to match" he said.
Thereupon Margie sat speechless for
an instant, then sprapg into his out
stretched arms.
"Oh! Ben" she criel, the tears
laining down her cheeks and it is my
opinion Ben's eyes were rather misty
also.
"Yon see, Margie," he whispered, u,
he held her close in his arms, Z" VA,
afraid you'd be getting sorry you
weren't Mrs. Somebody. else, and l
couldn't have that, for 1 wouldn't have
anybody in your place for all the
world
"OA! Ben" said Margie, rcpentan;-
L., " was almost, but If you will only
love LIE, meyer will be again" aud
Sh,. never wnI