Iron County register., 1881-12-29
lierably, he said with white, quivering


"Emma, have had enough of this
life. Your extravaganza and your
nerves combined are more than can
bear. I've never known q single week
of happiness since the day / married
you. 1 came home to-day with my
heart full of love for you, and all the
way from Barnville was making reso-
lutions to begin the New Year in hap
pineSs and peace. But it is of no use to
try, and the best thing 1 can do is to
leave you. Good-by, and may you be
happier without me than you have ever
been with me-"
And he hurriedly left the room.
"Johni John!'' called Emma.
After an hour or. so had passed, she
went to seek him, but he was gene.
Hannah had seen him leave the house
with a sachel, but he had not spoken to
her, or left any message for his wife.
So Emma went back to bed, and after
crying till she could cry no more fell
asleep, and for time forgot her trou-
bles. Il
And thus the New Years Day closed
with storms without ard within the old
farmhouse.
As the days went slowly by and John
did not return, Emma began TO realize
that he had meant what he, said about
leaving her; that she must live alone,
without. a husband s love and protection.
One night she lay awake many hours,
and looked the situation fairly in the
face. She felt sure John was safe-he
was not one to commit any desperate
acts-and she had only herself to con-
slider. - ]'-
sI see now how wrong I was," she
thought, as the gray dawn of the cold
January morning came stealing into her
room. s'I only wonder he staid as long
as he did. How strange that I never
saw how wicked it was to act so! But
my wretched nerves were to blame for
it ALL. Well, I've made up my mind to
one thing
What that one thing was her course
during the next few months showed very
plainly. -
Z She sent for her mother, and, after
telling her the whole story frankly, asked
her to make her home at the farm for
the present, to which the indulgent wo-
man consented without murmur. Then
Emma went to work. She took the
affairs of the farm into her own hands,
hired the men, overlooked the work,
made bargains with the produce dealers
and market-men, took in cattle to pas
ture on the great meadows, and devel-
oped such an extraordinary talent for
business that her mother was continual
ly lost in a sea of astOniShment and ad-
miration.
There was no talk of nerves now. En-
ma had no time to think of them. She
worked in the garden among the vege-
tables until she became as brown as a
nut, and stronger and more robust than
she had ever been before. She took
entire charge of the dairy, and derived
a considerable income from her butter
and cheese, and never did hens lay as
did Emma's. The neighbors said it was
wonderful, and predicted that she would
make fortune by her fowls. And ev-
erything was conducted on principles of
the most rigid economy, for Emma
wished to carry out Johns precepts as
well as she could, and do just as she
imagined he would have done. Not a
dollar did she go into debt, and the in
terest on the mortgage was promptly
paid when due.
And thus nearly two years went by,
and it was again the end of the old year.
Emma sat up to see the New Year in,
and her thoughts were very sad ones.
She had been longing and hoping each
day that passed to see John return, and
now that two years had gone by, and he
still made no sign of repentance or for
giveness, a terrible fear took possession
of her mind that he was dead. But she
tried to put this aside, calling it one OF
her old nervous fancies, yet she would
have given ten years of her life to see
him walk into the old farmhouse this
New Years Eve.
she murmured to herself. 81 am strong
er in mind, heart and body, and never
think of my nerves."
She went to the window and looked
out. 1t was just such dark, stormy
night as that on which she had watched
for John two years before. But how
different were her feelings now!
"If he would only come back" she
thought, tive could begin the New Year
together, and I know I am strong
enough now to keep my good resolu-
tions. He should never have cause for
complaint again. 1t makes my heart
ache to remember that he said he had
never known weeks happiness in his
married life."
When the clock struck twelve, Emma
gave up her lonely watch, and, wearied
out, fell asleep. And her dreams were
pleasant ones, for she dreamed of John,
and saw him coming home through the
storm to forgive and love her again.
1t was still showing when Emma
awoke the next morning. She dressed
and went downstairs, where Hannah
already had a brisk fire and a singing
kettle.
"I mean to celebrate New Years Day
by getting up a real nice breakfast, "
said Emma. "Hannah, run down cellar
and get some eggs-half dozen will
do"
The girl disappeared down the cellar
stairs, and Emma bent over the pan of
milk she was skimming.
She did not hear the kitchen door
open, did not know any one had en-
tered, until she felt rush of cold air,
and turning to see the cause, she saw
close beside her-John! ... 49,.