Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-08-13
"But not by wearing my
tin shook his head.

So1a all her days, With rose IN her
hand, and her hair frizzled. in that
preposterous fashion, all over her
eyes? But / warn 'em, they need
never come to me for help! Esther
has treated me with too much inso-
lence for me ever to receive her
again"
II am sure she did not mean any
thug" said Mrs. Martin, apologet-
ically.
We'll, then, her words belied her
meaning" remarked Thomas Martin,
grimly COMPRISING his lips.
But Stephen Smith was apparently
sundaunted by the possibilities of ruin
predicted by Farmer Martin, for he
married Esther and went to- the city
to live, within three months.
81 give 'em just year to come
back here and eat humble pie! !' said
Martin, vlndictively.
"Oh, Thomas; don't talk so J"
said his wife. Gone would think
you would be glad to have some evil
befall them !''
"And SO / should" said Martin,
viciously grinding his teeth together.
'That girl needs lot of humbling,
and hope she'll get it,
Three years afterward there came
one of those terrible droughts that
undo farmers life-work in a sea-
son, and sweep away his prospects
as an autumn wind sweeps away a
sere forest. The cattle died, a pest
Hence broke out among the flock of
sheep, which Thomas Martin had
just bought; a high wind blew his
best barn over, and disaster stared
him in the face on every side.
It's no use talking," said he. I
cannot meet this years interest on
the mortgage. The place will have
to 60"
"Oh, Thomas - groaned Mrs.
Martin, who, poor soul, now lay all
day on a hard, wooden lounge, and
groaned to see how wofully she was
needed at the helm.
Il can't help it," said Martin.
Everything is against me-
"It's only five hundred dollars, .
said Mrs. Martin. ''You might bor-
row it.
''Who'd lend to me, I'd like to
know?'' said Mr.. Martin, remember
ing with sigh how he had hardened
his own face against every humble
suppliant in the golden days of his
prosperity.
''There's EstheT's husband," sug-
gested Ruth. sPve heard that he
is doing well in Boston. And, after
all, Esther is my own sister,"
Mr.. Martins features contracted
into hideous grimace. Of all the
bitter cups which circumstances had
held to his lips of late this was the
bitterest.
But it had to be swallowed. There
was no help for it.
II didn't suppose Smiths folks
lived as genteel as this said he to
himself, as neat maid led him
across an octagonal vestibule, floored
with black and red marble, and fra
grant with flowers, under the golden
fringe of an antique portiere, into
large, tastefully-furnished room,
where the singing birds, the open
piano, the low satin sofa all betoken-
ed no lack of money.
Yes-Mr. Smith was at home.
He had not gone to the store, and
presently he came in, waving well
comes to the man who had married
Essie's sister.
'Lend you a thousand dollars ?"
said he. ''Of course we can lend
you a thousand dollars. What is
money for if not to help each other
with. Oh, Yes. We've a snug lit
tie sum laid up in the bank, and we
live very comfortably. My busi-
ness? Yes, it's tolerable, but it nev-
er got US all these things glancing
at the soft arabesques of the carpet,
the graceful folds of the crimson silk
curtains, and the easel filled with
proof engravings. ''That is my
wife's DOING
"Eh?" said Mr.. Martin, staring
around him.
eyes," said Mr.. Smith, with a
certain, quiet satisfaction. ''Essie
is an artist, you know-a designer.
She invents patterns for the paper
hangers and uphosterers. They are
glad to pay her fifty dollars week. .
"Fifty dollars week !' exclaimed
Thomas Martin. "Why, that's more
fifty dollars is, | mean-than poor
Ruth made by all her poultry for g
year. Well, / never!"
In all his life he had never respect
ed Essie as he respected her now.
'.She has money laid up" said
Stephen Smith. 'sAnd if she's the
girl / think she is, she won't grudgt
it to help her sisters husband in {
pinch
Gall and bitterness-gall and bit
terness! But, thought poor Martin
with sigh, how was Stephen tt
know all that was come and gone?
Essie's light step, on the passage
way, sounded at this instant; ant
! she came in, dressed in picturesque
-