Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-04-04


wife was busy preparing dinner.
II used to think how happy should
be if | ever persuaded her to come here. "
he thought. sit is two years-why, l
declare it is two years this very day
that we were married wonder if she
remembers it But it isn't very likely,
when she says she is afraid she hates
me-"
Did she remember All, in that very
remembrance lay the sting
All that morning. while she got
| breakfast at five o'clock, and washed
the dishes, swept the rooms, made beds,
churned butter and prepared a hearty
lunch for six men, her heart turned
back to that other morning twenty-four
months ago, when the bright-eyed coun-
try maiden rose at four o'clock to COM
plete her preparations for her wedding
day.
How good, how kind, how handsome,
her George was then. How his eyes
followed her, how his love blessed her
Was it all her fault that the bloom
and beauty of life had departed in those
two short 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 had passed
from her face while accomplishing the
task, uncheered by the approval of him
she loved.
George has kept his color and his
good looks because his work lies out of
DOORS" she mused, "but have worked
in this old kitchen until l look old
enough to be his mother. His mother"
| she paused with bitter laugh-I
almost wish | was his mother, then he
would be suited with what | did,
Noon came. The twelve o'clock whis-
tie sounded sharp and clear from the
factory in the village mile away and
before the whistle ceased little figure
stepped out on the side-porch of the
Brewster house and blew horn.
"There's woman for you," said
Solomon Wyse, admiringly. "Dinner
to the minute-and won't it be good
one p
The dinner was indeed success,
Every dainty of the season and the farm
was there, skilfully cooked, and neatly
served on table in the cool dining-room
"a table covered with a snowy cloth
fresh from its fold, and 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 won
derfully.
She wore dress of silver gray alpac-
ca that had been her travelling dress
when they were married.
A large white apron with bib
shielded the glories of this costume.
But why did she put it on? Sure she
could not think of "golng visiting" that
afternoon, with six hay makers to get
tea for and the milk of eight cows to
attend to afterward.
The question burned upon his tongue
as 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 stranger,
although she looked so much on this
occasion like the girl he had married
just two years ago.
AS George neared the door of the
woodshed where the men were lounging
away the rest of their nooning, he heard
his own name uttered by Solomon Wyse,
in tones of anger.
Involuntary he stayed his steps.
"Yes, l knew George from baby up,
and I always said he'd make likely
man. But l VOW it is 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 as a pic.
ture, with her red cheeks and bright
eyes and her wavy hair, and dressed as
neat as a pink, too And he sitting
there as glum as cross old man Of
ninety. l was ashamed of him."
"I've heard he does nothing but find
fault with her all day long" said sec.
ond voice. "My wife says if l threw
my mother into her teeth, as George
does his in Letty's, she'd run away from
me before she was day Older"
''And serve you right" chimed in g
third. "I'll tell you what my wife says
She says it is confounded mean ano
small of George not to keep 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 &