Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-27

81 used 20 think how happy 1 snouiu
be if ever | persuaded her to come
here he thought. at is two years
why, | declare, it is two years tins
very day that we were married l
wonder if she remembers 1t But 1t
isn't very likely when she says she hates
me-"
Did she rem ember? All, in that very
remembrance lay the sting
All that morning, while she got break
fast at 5 o'clock, and washed dishes,
swept the rooms, made beds, churned
butter and prepared a hearty lunch for
sly men. her heart turned back to that
other morning, twenty-four months ago
when the bright-eyed country maiden
rose at four O'Clock to complete her
preparations for her wedding day.
How good, how kind, how handsome
he was them How his eyes fol-
lowed her! How his love blessed her.
Was it all her fault that the bloom
and beauty of life had departed IN those
two years
Looking back she could see no day IN
which she had not at least tried to do
her duty.
And looking in her glass, she saw
how the light and glow OF youth mad
PASSED from her face while accomplish
ing the task uncheered by the approval
of the man she loved.
.George has kept his color and his
good locks because his work lies out of
DOORS she unused, but have worked
in this old kitchen until l look oid
enough to be his motherp'-she paused
with a bitter Taught almost wish |
was his mother, then he would be suited
with what did ~
Noon came. The Il O'Clock whistle
sounded sharp and clear nom the rae,
tory in the village a mile away anu
before the whistle ceased little Inquire
stepped out on the side porch OF the
Brewster house and blew horn.
"There's woman for you" sad Sol
onion Wyse. admiringly. Dinner 10
the minute-and won't 1t be q good
one"
The dinner indeed was a success.
Every dainty of the season ana the
farm was there, skillfully cooked and
neatly served on a table in the cool dim
ing room-a table covered with a
snowy cloth fresh from its folds, ana
glass and china.
In the centre of the table stood a
great china bowl full of red roses, that
perfumed the room. Her cheeks were
red, her eyes shone dark and bright,
and her words and smiles were ready
for every one save George.
AS she sat, grave and silent, at the
foot of the table, he looked at her
wOnderingly.
She wore a dress of silver gray alpaca
that had been her travelling dress when
they were married.
A large white apron with blo
shielded the glories of the costume
But why did she put it on? surely
she could not think Of going vlsiting
that afternoon, with six haymakers TO
get tea for and the milk OF eight cows
to attend to afterward.
The question burned upon ms tongue
u, he fingered moment behind the
other men,
But he finally went out without ask
ing it. The wife, who was AFRAID she
hated him, seemed almost like stran-
ger, although she looked so much on
this occasion like the girl he had mar
ried just two years ago.
AS George neared the door OF the
wood-shed where the men were loung-
ing away the rest of their incoming, ne
heard his own name uttered by Solo
mon Wyse, in tones of anger,
Involuntarily he stayed his steps.
dyes | knew George from a baby up,
and | always said he'd make likely
man. But | vow it's Il shame to see
how he treats that pretty little creature!
Such lunch this morning and such a
dinner this noon, in such nice, cool
room, with the red roses and all the
rest of it, and she Just as pretty us a
picture, with her red cheeks and bright
eyes and her wavy hair, and dressed as
neat rs pink too And he sitting
there as glum as cross old man OF
ninety. was ashamed Of him.
owe heard he does nothing but find
fault with her all day long" said q sec
ond voice. "My wife says If l threw
my mother into her teeth, rs George
does his in Lettys, she'd run away
from me before she was day older:
"And serve you right" chimes IN a
third. .I'lltell you what my wife says;
She SAYS it is COMPOUNDED mean and
small of George not to keep a woman
here to help his wife. And when saw
the dinner to-day that the pretty little
thing had got for us, all alone, ! thought
so too. Hang me if | hadn't half a
mind to stop here this afternoon and
help her wash up that great pile OF
dishes. and let the hay go to thunder
It's enough to kill the woman to have
all that work to do. And George is
rich. What on earth is he thinking
about? But he'll be sorry year or
two hence, when we have to come here
on different Grand
"To carry her out in colin, SAID
solomon Wyse. Eyes, ! suppose 1t Will
come to that if some of us don't talk
seriously to George. She don't look at
all strong now, and her hand trembled
when she changed my plate. It's a
burning shame, and if none of you Will
talk to George about it, | will,
They moved oil to the bayfield,, talk