The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-12-14

| saw now the llght and glow OF youth
had passed from her face, while ac.
complishing 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 | 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
whistle 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.
"Thcre's a woman for YOU said Sol.
omon Wyse, admiringly. "Dinner to
the minute and won't it be good
one ?'
The dinner was indeed, success
every dainty of the season and farm
was there, skillfully cooked and neatly
served on table in the cool dining
room-a table covered with snowy
cloth fresh from its fold, and glass and
china
In the centre of the table stood q
great china bowl full Of red roses that
perfumed the room. Her cheeks were
red, her eyes shone dark and bright,
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.
deringly.
She wore dress of silver gray al
paca that had been her travelling dress
when they were married.
A large white apron, with a bib
shielded 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 td
get tea for and the milk of eight COWS
to attend TO afterward.
But he finally went out without ask
ing it. The wife who was afraid she
hated him, seemed almost like stran.
ger, although she looked so much on
this occasion like the girl he had mar
ried two years ago.
A. George neared the woodsheed,
where the men were lounging away
the rest of the nooning, he heard his
own name uttered by Solomon Wyse
in tones of anger.
1nvo|untarily he stayed his steps.
eyes, l knew George from a baby
up, and | always said he'd make like
ly man. But | vow it is shame to
see how he treats that pretty little
creature Such a lunch this morning
and such dinner this noon, in such a
nice cool room, with the red roses and
all the rest of it and she is Just as
pretty rs n picture, with her red cheek,
and bright eyes, and wavy hair, and
dressed as neat as a pink, too. And
he sitting there as glum as a cross
old man of ninety | was ashamed oi
him"
'.Ive heard he does nothing but fine
fault with her all the day long," said {
second voice. "My wife says if l threw
my mother into her teeth, as George
does his in Letty's, she'd run ava,
from me before she was day older.
"And serve you right chimed in ;
third. l tell you what my wife says
She says it is confounded mean aht
small of George not to keep a woman
here TO hel p his wife And when
saw the dinner; oday, the pretty little
thing had got for us ali alone, though
so, too. Hang me if hadn't half ;
mind to stop here this afternoon anC
help her wash up that great pile o
dishes, and let the haying go to thun
der. It's enough to kill the woman tC
have all that work to do. And Georg
is rich. What on earth is he thinkin.
about ? But he'll be sorry for this il
a year or two hence, when we have t.
come here on different Grand"
ITO carry her out in a coffin o. sal
Solomon Wyse, "Yes, l suppose
will come to that if some of us don
talk seriously to George. She don
look at all strong now, ard her hand
lrembled when she changed my plate
It's burning shame-and if none G
, you will talk to George about it,
will
But when George Brewster ioine
them, Solomon Wyse deemed it pr,
dent to defer the proposed "talkin
to- for his brow was black as nigh
/ and he had no more to say to his neigl
bors now than to his wife at the Dime
table
This, then, was the way in whic
? they spoke of him bahind his bacl
, these men who labored beside him, an
took their wages from him and pr
tended to be his friends.
t And his wife she was afraid she h
| ted him. To whom could he turn /,
f comfort-with whom could he expe
< true friendship, if she who should ha,
1 been nearest and dearest was an enem
e in diguise? ? Lost in moody reverie i
paid little attention to his work.
| And at three o'clock in the afte
) noon there was a sudden uproar in Il
hay tield-a tramping of hoofs, rus
of terrified men, confusion of voice
8 and among them all George Brewst
lying on the ground beneath the mo,
b ing machine, his right arm and Il
broken by the wheels, his mead cut al
d bleeding with his heavy fall.
+ Meanwhile Lefty, in the cream colo
d ed house, had not been idle.
!. Tying on great calico apron
l. place OF the white one, she had quiet
n washed and put away the dinner dis
n es aad reduced the dining room to {
l. der
Tea was easily arranged, since
d was to consist of cold dishes, wi
&c glasses OF milk for the men.
- She threw clean table cloth oy
v the whole as soon as it was fnishe
n and went up stairs into the spare cha
v Der to pack her trunk.
e Yes, Lefty had made up her mi
at last, She was going away.
e. Life had degenerated into slavel
unbrightened as she fancied; by !
)t of love.
d Sand slavery will support one al
re where" thought Lefty, as with tren
a ling hands she locked aud strapped
ID trunk and fastened her few lines
ar George upon the lid.
ID AT the porch door she paused