The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-09-07

lunch and dinner dragged so slowly.
As he rode round and round the field
with the sharp rattle of the moving ma.
chine he guided in his care, his mind
was continually busy with Letty's looks,
ard her words, and his eyes turned often
to the cream-colored farmhouse, behind
whose spruce green blinds his wife was
busy preparing dinner.
II used to think how happy l should
be if ever persuaded her to come here, !"
he thought. SIT is two years-why,
declare, it is two years this very day that
we were married! wonder if she re-
members it! But it isn't very likely when
she says she hates me-"
Did she remember? All, In that very
remem brance lay the sting!
All that morning, while she got breaks
fast at Eve O'Clock, and washed dishes,
swept the rooms, made beds, churned
butter and prepared hearty lunch for
six 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 followed 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 accom- plishing the
task uncheered by the approval OF the
man she loved.
George has kept his color and his
good looks because his work lies out OF
DOORS" she unused, "but have worked
in this old kitchen until look old enough
to be his mother."-she paused with
bitter laugh-'I almost wish / was his
mother, then he would be suited with
what didr
Noon came. The Twelve o'clock whis-
tie sounded sharp and clear from the fac
tory in the village mile away; and be-
fore the whistle ceased little figure
stepped out on the side porch of the
Brewster house and blew horn.
There's woman for you" said Solo,
mon Wye, admiringly. DINNER to the
minute-and won't it be good one!'
The dinner was indeed Q success. Ev-
cry dainty of the season and the farm was
there, skilfully cooked and neatly served
on a table in the cool dining room-a ia.
bic covered with q snowy cloth fresh from
its folds, and glass and china.
In the center of the table stood q great
china bowl full of red roses that per-
fumed 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, ct the foot
of the table, he looked at her wondering
~.
She wore dress of silver gray alapaca
that had been her travelling dress when
they we're married.
A large white apron with bib shield
ed the glories of the costume. But why
did she put it on? Surely she could not
think of "going visiting" that afternoon
with six haymakers 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 9th.
or men.
But he finally went out without asking
it. The wife, who was afraid she hated
him, seemed almost like q stranger, al
though she looked so much on this occa-
sion like the girl he had married just two
years ago.
As George neared the door of the wood
shed where the men we're lounging away
the rest of their incoming, he heard his
own name uttered by Solomon Wyse, in
tones of anger
Involuntarily he stayed his steps.
Eyes, knew George from baby up.
and always said he'd make likely man.
But vow ISIS . shame to see how he
treats that pretty little creature! Such
lunch this morning and such dinner
this noon, in such nice, cool room, with
the red 70 es and all the rest OF is! and
ahe Just as pretty as picture. with her
red cheeks and bright eyes and her wavy
hair, aud dressed as neat a. pink, too!
And he sitting there as glum ~ q cross
old man Of ninety. was ashamed o.
him."
1--we heard he does nothing but find
fault with her all day long" said . SEQ
ond voice. my wife says If threw my
mother into her teeth the way George
does his in Letty's, she'd run away from
me before she was day slider"
"And serve you right" chimes IN .
third. IN tell you what my wife says.
She says it is COMPOUNDED mean and small
Of George not TO keep woman here TO
help his wife. And when saw the din
ner to-day that the pretty little thing had
got for us, all alone, thought 70 too.
Il - 4 I'D A. ok<~~,