Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-07-05
Two Cross Words.

wait all day."
Tom didn't speak bit cross only en-
phatic but I was out of temper that
morning, and my head ached badly from
sitting up the night before. Tom had
gone to superior the second time
since our marriage-given by some of
his bachelor friends, and had come
home the worse for it. 1t had provok-
ed me intensely. So had to follow
him to bed in solemn silence, and woke
none the better pleased after my sleep
on the morning alluded. To make the
matter worse, just as he spoke to me
about the button, the knife with which
/ was cutting the bread for his lunch,
slipped, inficting deep cash on my
hand, and the baby awoke and set up
her sharp little cry from the cradle, all
in the one and the same moment
"You can't wait as long as l did last
night, l reckon" 1 replied sharply,
really angry at last Don't hurry me
i do all can, and more than l am
able to with one pair of hands,"
Tom dropped his button and turned
toward me with startled "Why
Lucy!"
Don't Lucy me-" I retorted, throw
ing down the bread and catching up
the baby, while the blood streamed
from my hand over her white gown.
you've done enough-you've broke my
heart 1 wish l was back again with
my father and mother"
| broke down with burst of hyster-
ical tears, and seeing the blood on my
hand, Tom came over and knelt down
beside me.
"Why Lucy" he said, his voice and
eyes full of tenderness, you've cut
your hand. Why didn't you say so?
Here, give me the child while you bind
it up-see how it bleeds.
He held out his hands for the baby,
but l snatched her away and went on
sobbing.
Don't cry, Lucy" he continued,
stroking the hair back from my forehead
-"please don't; l know L have done
wrong, dear, but didn't mean it. l
fell in with some of the old boys, and
they pursuaded me against my will.
But it's the last time, Lucy-it's the
last time"
Why didn't l turn to him then, and
help and encourage him? Because my
mean, tyrannous temper got the better
of my woman's heart.
''Oh, yes" said, sneeringly, ''it is
easy enough to make fine promises-you
told me the same thing before. How
can you expect me to trust you now ?"
Tom was spirited and quick tenn
pered; great, loving-hearted men al
ways are.
He sprang to his feet like a flash,
and before l had time to speak OF
think, had left the room. l tossed the
child into the cradle and ran to the
door, but was too late, he had gone.
just caught glimpse of him turning
the corner.
went back to the little breakfast
room how blank and drear it looked,
and what short, singing thorn there
was in the very core of my heart.
loved Tom and he loved me. We had
been married eighteen months, and this
was our first quarrel. I sat down with
the baby in my arms, needless of my
morning work, and fell to thinking
All the old happy days came back, and
one in particular, when we sat in Dunn
berry wood. 1t was in autumn, and all
the world seemed in blaze of gold, as
the sun slid down and the squirrels
chartered overhead, dropping ripe nut
now and then, into my lap, as | sa
there with the last rose of summer il
my hair, knitting a purse for Tom.
| Lucy" he said. as | wove in tht
last golden stitch. you've knit my love
my very life-up in that purse. Tel
me now, before you finish it, how is i
to be Am l to have you and-oh
won't think of it even. Lucy, it woult
be too dreadful"
"No, Tom," l answered. 'you are t.
have the purse, and the hand that kni
it too."
Poor Tom, he cried then just like ;
child he, the bravest man in tn
village.
mo fault in him. only little to-
wild, too fond of gay company. but yo'
must tame him. Lucy, as your mothe
did me"
That was my old fathers advice o.
my wedding day. My heart smote m
dreadfully as l recalled it to my min
that morning Had / done my duty
Had followed the example of m
mother, who never let fall and unkin
word?
But Tom would be home to his dir
ner. The thought brought me to m
feet. | did my work briskly, and wer
about cooking just such a dinner as
knew he liked. The plum pudding wa
done to perfection, the baby in a clea