The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-10


The little privations she endured worried
and vexed her. and in little while the
sweet-tempered woman grew moody and
own-hearted. She became careless In her
dress, and instead of the cheerful little wife
he used to see, he found gloomy woman and
disorderly house.
But he never complained.
"Stella is homesick," he would say; land
the care of baby is too much for her. i must
make some money" and his hammer, rang
with redoubled energy
Yet every day her discomfort grew more
apparent. The place and the people were so
repulsive to her refined and sensitive ma
ture.
allow can you expect me to live among
such surrounding, Clarence?" was her appeal
when the husband begged her to be OF good
cheer.
ats cruel in you," she sobbed. ~ 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 toward him without a
word, but there was look piteous to see in
his handsome eyes, while his resolve was to
work still harder.
To conquer fortune, however, requires
sturdy strokes.
|
days must be dark and dreary'-when it did
seem that matters had come to a 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 something new.
Jennie, who had minded Freddy for two or
three months, had to go, and all the house
hold 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 content
"But those people are all alike" she said
''and / may as well be in one place as an
other" was her reply to Clarence, when
he suggested that they move into Rev
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 hus-
band 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 veXa-
| ton.
'You cross little troublesome thingl" she
exclaimed impatiently take thatp lay
ing her hand heavily on the little bare
shoulders. Pm sick to death having you
always hanging to my skirts"
With this she let fall the earthen pitcher
she held in her hand and dropping 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
$50 play with your blocks and horses;
don't want you near me-" and her hand was
raised to lay on the rosy cheek.
"Dont do anything you'll be sorry for by
and by, Stella" Clarence said, coming 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. "0h, dear if I'd minded
Sister Belle / shouldn't have been here.
She was right. / had no business to marry
q poor man"
''You're not quite yourself this morning,
Stella" and his eyes we're full of unshed tears
as he caught sight of the red marks on their
baby's neck.
ado you suppose / can endure everything
she cried spitefully.
you are nevous and tired, dear. Come
here" and he put out his hand to clasp her.
She glided from him and went into an adj
joining room.
Something wet fell on the baby's head,
and he pressed him closely to his bosom as
ne caught the sound of her sobbing.
IL have heard of something new this
morning, Stella, and I'm going to New York
by the next train"
He tried to say it cheerfully.
you're always hearing of something
new" was her quick reply; "but what does
it amount to?"
$50 / am hoping for something better, and
! think L have found it now"
He rocked Freddy to sleep, put him into
his crib, then went to the door of his wife's
room.
"Are you going to kiss me good-by,
Stella" he asked, opening, the door very
softly. 81 may be gone day or two"
mo" she replied coldly, you'll be back
soon enough"
Il will come as soon as l can; but might
never return, you know"
''See if you are not back as soon as you
can come, with the same old story"
Clarence turned quickly, but she saw the
look on his face and never forgot it.
She heard him cross the room, and knew
he bent over Freddy's crib and kissed the
little sleeper again and again.
"Hell come back to me before he really
goes" she whispered to herself, starting and
going toward the door; but turn in the
street hid him from sight when she reached
the window. He had gone, and for the first
time without kissing her good-by.
"Well, we've been married long enough to
be done with such nonsense" she said at
last, by way of consolation; yet there was a
terrible ache at her heart, and she secretly
wished she could throw herself into her hus-
bands arms and tell him how sorry she was
for it all.
She sat quite still until Freddy awoke;
then with cry of terror she ran across the
hal. to the nearest neighbor, with please
come, Mrs. Wilson, my baby's dying"
Mrs. Wilson came, for though rough of
manner, she was kind of heart.
'Hes in ft," she said the moment her
eyes rested on the little sufferer bring
me some water, quickI" she called, "and help
to get off his Clothes
Stella obeyed.
"Hold him So" was her command, putting
him into the bath. 81 Will run home and
get some medicine Such women as YOU
| o,,,t a. c. r,otbors sba oo,t;ruoI