The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-15


her home and the village of Greenock,
with it's one taper spire and sloping roof
and blank white walls, bare now of the
summer verdure. She had done her
household work, polished every article
capable of polish, and soaped and sanded
all the rest. At the last she had swept
to do what she chose, to rest or gossip
possible to her while spot beneath her
roof was out of order. Just now she
felt neither like gossiping or sewing;he
heart was very full, and she found it
necessary to stand still and think awhile.
Only that she was not used to it, she
would have cried, she was so very sad.
It seemed to her that the happiest peo-
pie were those who lay in their green
graves in the churchyard, with crossed
hands upon their bosoms, and feel quiet
from all earthly going to and fro for
evermore.
Not that Hannah Gneldt was tired in
body or weary with the toll of house
hold duty; for she was strong in frame,
and her health was perfect, Us her hands
were willing. It was on her humble
heart the burden lay, her spirit that was
worn with earthly travail and care.
'"Twenty-three years to-day I've been
his wife," she muttered, land I've loved
him we'll, and worked hard and faithful
to keep things decent, and it has come
to this at last. Things had been bet
ter, says he, If he had married Miss
Lesterp"
Yes, that was what Farmer Gneldt,
harrassed by toll and debt, had said that
very morning; and it seemed to Hannah
like the confession of long repentance
forced from her husbands lips at last.
poor man! wish could help him, !"
she sighed; leaning on her broom beside
the door. II doubt he's right about
Miss Lester"
With that her eyes fell and rested by
chance on the doorstep.
II can mend that, anyhow" she
said: land have time, for my work is
DONE"
So she hung the broom up and peeped
into the oven, and put her kettle on, and
than, hooded and shawled, crossed the
fields to where the farm joined that of
Simon Gray.
On one spot here men at work break
ing up the stones lying about. Hannah
Gneldt nodded to the old farmer, and he
came to meet her.
81 want smooth stone," she said.
"May have one?"
81 wish you'd take EN- ALL" said the
farmer; lot of rubbish. You see I'm
clearing away what they call the old
graveyard at last. Wife talks to me O.
sacrilege and disturbin' bones. Bless
you, there amt been none for years and
years; and these hard times man can't
let land go to waste. tell wife she
don't knew nothin' about it. What do
you want to do? Have bit around the
well?"
mo, 1 want q STEP" said Hannah.
''That great white one is just the thing"
Aud she pointed to o slab near by.
ike shall bring it over tonight"
said the farmer.
:'No," said Hannah; ST can roll it
along. I wish / could tell what that
was" she said. 'Some ones age and
name All! there were sore hearts when
that was new. / hope when I die Oliver
will have written over me that was a
good wife. I've tried hard to be-.
ought to know that big letter. Wait
bit. believe it's 2"
Then she turned the inscription down
ward and washed the other side clear
and white, and fitted it into place.
She received little credit for her work.
Oliver only muttered:
"You needn't have published the fact
that / couldn't afford . porch to the
place" And NO one noticed the step
afterward, save Hannah when she scrub.
bed and swept it.
Matters were very bad at the Gneldts.
Oliver brooded over the fire in speech
less sorrow, and grew grsysr and balder
each passing day. Hannah kept ruin off
Q little by making home of the poor
house and feast of the humble fare by
her housewives skill. She might even
have been cheerful but for the memory
of that luckless speech.
Working in her garden one day when
the first spring grass was growing green,
Hannah heard footsteps. and, lifting her
bead. saw two gentlemen beside her, and
arose precipitately. with womanly
anxiety about her ankles, not strictly
covered, perhaps, ny her cotton gown.
The nearest geptleman, an elderly man,
with bright. dark eyes. addressing her;
MN. 0neldt, I presumed" !.
eyes, dr. s. (,
She asksd him 10 walk In and he did
60, the other following. In the little par
lor they sat down. .-n
"You are Nm. Hannah Gneldt. Oliver
Gneldt's wifef'
Eyes, sir; il 10 about-about-excus
- ~nv, 1<-,lr 1sko n 1n-wo. ouI 7 kanv -