The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-07-28


ed in the midst of 4 smiling plain which
stretches to 4 line of low wooded hills on
the north, and loses itself in the far
horizon in every other direction. 1t is a
sleepy town, full of old houses and old
traditions, and prides itself rather on its
ruins than on its famous wooden manufac-
ture. 1t is built in the form of a cross
indeed, its main street IS called Cross
the one toward Woolleigh. with its ia
nous old castle are the best houses, in
which the smaller gentry and the profess
sional men live.
AT the end of the Wooileigh road was
DIR. Enderby' house, large and old-iash-
Toned; and hither he brought his wife
Margaret not long after their first meet
ING in the Cloverleigh woods. II was a
change from the intense quiet of her girl
hood to large circle of friends. and \
few secret enemies. But she was John S
wife. and her sweet gayety filled his
house with sunshine; and she shaped
herself home in all gladness. The old
red-brick house had pleasant rooms,
filed with comfortable furniture, softly
cushioned chairs, and low tables, and
plenty of flowers; there were no dingy-
looking dados, no sad-loo1ing diselOred
blossoms worked on kitchen towels. As
Margaret was not aesthetic, she preferred
cheerful chintz and soft velvet.
Her own sanctum was a small room
overlooking the garden, and furnished
with soft shades of green. There were
oak shelves filled with her favorite books,
writing-table, and a few low chairs.
At the window were white lace curtains.
and ON the mantelpiece jar OF Venetian
glass that looked ike a fragment OF sun
set. Near the window was a stand OF
flowers that varied according to the sea-
sons. In spring there We're primroses
and violets-even few tulips; in sum-
mer roses and mignonette; in autumn
and winter ferns and MOSES, with per-
haps red geraniuni to light them up.
Outside in the garden, was a great elm
overhanging the lawn, and the flower
beds were as old-fashioned as the house
In this room of Margarets, John En-
derby loved to rest in his intervals of
leisure. watching his wife with an inter-
est and a strange timidity that grew
deeper day by day. Poor Margaret felt
| him further from her. and shadow fell
across her life that the birth of her little
son could not wholly chase away. When
the child was about nine months old it
happened that she was often alone, for It
was an unhealthy autumn, and DIR. En-
derby services were in greatrequisition.
not only among the rich, but also arnonp
the poor-for he was gentle as well as
skillful. Now and then he would come
in and resume his old habit of silently
watching and listening to her talk about
little Jack. How she loved that child
What sweet music his tiny fingers dis
coursed on that mothers heart-strinvs !
One afternoon her husband came in as
she was sitting with ths~ child on her
knee-a briohf.- ssrit.h6 ienhrnwn-eved
boy veff-Nsies Of tlseupr 4 - M, srs5e.sf1y
stretched out his dimIs az farms to his
father, then with child$misehief with
drew them, and hid his face on his moth
er bosom with q cooing laugh. She
bent her head down on the fluffy curls,
and caught his little bare feet in her
hand Che had pulled OF his shoes and
socks the tiny rogueD and she kissed the
rosy toes with lovely mother worship,
. Look, john she said; isn't he the
most wonderfully sweet child, this prec-
ious baby? What should we do without
him?i
She wis flushed and laughing, arms
and heart full too; but a sharp pang
flashed through him.
lie answered. quietly, Yes. he is a
line boy for his age,n and. bending
down. kissed him; but be went away
after that without further speech. 1t
often happened so now, and Margaret
could not divine the cause: so she was
hurt, and turned more and more to the
baby for comfort.
On this occasion the doctor went TO his
study, locked the door and sat down to
wrestle with himself, also to take stock
OF ms forces for that wrestling.
Terrible and sweet revelation to the
mani He had, as the phrase goes, fall
en- In Overwhelmingly with his wife.
ms then, was the meaning of his 81
fence, ms Jealousy, of the tearing away
OF his old pleasant friendliness toward
her This love of his was no flame that
would flash and die out, but the strong
white heat, the very soul of the heavenly
fire. = ''-o
de remembered now how she had said,
: am not worthy" Now he understood
she had loved him at that time-how
lar away 1t seemed-witf1t the whole force
OF her being; and newell. with self
depreciation and some wcil-deserved
seif-blame. he saw his blindness and the
terrible risk he had run. He wanted
only MS Wife; his Margaret; but what il