The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-07-14
BOTH SIDES OF A sTEP.LADDER.

Mrs. Bronson was crying as if her
heart would break. The cause of her
crying lay in an experience of the day
before, but her temper had sustained
her so far-till ten o'clock the next
morning-when anguish had taken the
place of anger, and she had abandoned
herself to grief and regret.
A carriage drove up to the door
and the bell rang. Mrs. Bronson, dry
ing her eyes as we'll as she could, ran
down stairs sure of whom she would
find there.
"Oh, Aunt Eunice - she exclaimed,
opening her arms to receive serene
faced and white-haired old lady who
stood smiling on the doorstep. I'm
so glad you've come"
The welcome shone in her eyes and
needed no words, Notwithstanding the
flushed nd tear-stained face at which
Aunt Eunice looked wonderingly.
1--WE been housekeeping more than
a week." Mrs. Bronson explained, as
she led the way into the little sitting
room. 81 hoped to get to rights before
you came, but you see l couldn't quite
accomplish it,
"And somebody has been painting
and papering, l see. This is delight
4 ful!'',
Mrs. Rowland looked about the
room with evident pleasure.
at is certainly delightful to have a
clean house, but I'd give more just
now for clean conscience"
Mrs Bronson's lip trembled and the
tears began to fall again.
Tell me all about it, my DEAR and
Mrs. Rowland drew the younger
woman down beside her upon the sofa
with tender invitation of confidence
and mute promise of unlimited sympa'
thy.
1t was not easy for Mrs. Bronson to
begin the telling. She touched the
plain gold ring on her aunt's finger
a wedding ring.
Eve had my first quarrel with
Harry" she said at last, in queer
broken voice-the result of her effort
to keep her self-control-''that is
we've had dreadful time, but il
always takes two to make quarrel, as
well as bargain, doesn't itP"
''And there was only one in THU
caseP" Mrs. Rowland asked.
"Only one-and / was the one
That's the worst of it. You see, nevel
worked so hard in my life as have tn,
last week. Why, Aunt Eunice, I've &C
tually scrubbed fioors!'' and she spread
out her plump little hands with {
comical gesture. II hired woman TO
two days-I couldn't afford to have. he
longer-and between us we got the car
pets down. But there wasn't singh
thing in place when Harry came hom
last night; nothing, l mean, except tn
furniture. All the books and knick
knacks were piled into the closet an
the pictures were standing around
you see every picture-nail was pulle
out of the wall and it was anything bu
easy to drive them in again, so far VI
\ Well, l asked Harry to wipe the dishe
for me after tea, so we could get to wor
las soon as possible. OF course, SUI
posed he'd help me and be glad to
Y. But what doyou think, Aunt Eunice
lie lust came into the sitting-room
Arew himself down on the lounge, an
ok newspaper out of his pocket!
yer was SO astonished in my life.
too astonished to speak, even, so
1T speak. l went for the step-laC
dragged it along to the mantle
hand climbed up on it to poun
teat nail into the wall. My han
- ssn't big enough either, and
" hand awfully--see there" an
nted to little bruise on one I
Sers. Then l got down agai
fd that Madonna, your weddin
Haunt Eunice, and managed
on don't know how-to get
thenail. Just as was pullin
sci6 away, Harry became col
lhelbhat was about. oh, let n
posi- he cried, as pleasantly |
took rev down his paper, an
was the ladder. By that tin
- noticinTious. Think of his n
~ that timpot trying to help me
hatefullJo, thank YOU SAID
%ely yoI possibly could; ''tisn
I'd feel any particular i