Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-07-27

away az some bits Of pasteboard with q
lead pencil, or up in her room where
never went. Slie came down, singing
away, with large package in her hand,
aud soon John came up with the ponies,
and tl,cy drove OF 10 town together,
laughing like two children. hope none
Of the neighbors noticed them. Any way:
they never saw him conduct himself In
that way with mo.
When they came homo she was al
tired out, and they had big roll Of stun
thoy dumped down in the entry
ats something for you, Janet, I" she
said, laughing hyrterieal-like. "It's
carpct-rags."
unrolled II, and there were twoni
yards of bright ingram carpet
"Myra," said I, [" this is wicked o1
trayaganco, for knew her money wa
all paid out.
"But il isn't" she said. laughing II
earned il myself by drawing and paint
ing those hits Of sketches. / sold them
all, and can sell all can do That was
my way II cutting carpet rags"
Well, we put the carpet down, and il
did look pretty though 1 didn't say 30.
II isn't my way 10 spoil anybody with
nailery, and saw Johns wife was get
ting the upper hand too fast. Tho neigh
bors were beginning TO notice her. and
that foolish cd minister, when his wife
came back. had been over there and
she led the singing in church and pre-
tended she had got religion, and all the
time she never scrubbed floor, on
washed dish, or put her hands TO the
churn.
John can afford to hire help" she
said b. me one day, "and I'm not very
strong. and my mother died Of consump-
ton" Then she began TO cry like
baby. aud John came in aud looked at
me ~ IL il was my doing
must say she could succeed in doing
all sorts Of useless things-raising flow
ers in every nook and corner. making
pets Of all the animals, and painting. on
playing on the organ. She was real orna.
mental. and suppose some folks
Thought she was pretty. John did for
one. I don't know that she made me
much work either. She did her own
washing az long as John would let her,
and kept her room neat enough, though
il WAS mostly Uttered up with flowers
and birds and her sketches, and AT
first she sang from morning till night,
and she did have a real lovely voice.
I'll allow that, but after while she
didn't sing and didn't talk much, and
then John began taking her meals up
10 her. The first time l saw him getting
tray ready, | said; ..|
"It's good thing you were brought
up to be handy. John. seeing you've got
an invalid wife"
He didn't say anything then, but a
few days after he came 10 me and said
Janet. get girl as soon M van can
anu ret aunt BETSY come over and stay
with Myra; she is nervous and low
spirited, and needs company"
"Well, ! suppose you've guessed the
upshot of it all a little daughter was
born 10 John, and il seemed 10 me that
miracle WAS worked in the house. Per
haps had never really loved Johns
wife-sho was so different in her ways
from me-but when l heard that baby
cry, felt thrilled TO my very soul, and
| just threw my work-apron over my
head and cried for the first time in
years.
MyIa didn't get strong. and the day
went ON and still she didn't get up. ana
] felt il was my duty 20 go and tell her
that she mustn't favor herself that way
that she couldn't lie abed and lot stran-
gers take care Of her child, and that
she'd never get strong till she'd got out,
but ! made up my mind 10 speak in
gentler sort Of way. l had been think
ing il over and about concluded 10 let
Myra live her own way and not try to
make her over, especially since John
seemed so well satisfied with her, and
went upstairs and opened the door
softly and stepped inside. John was
standing at one window looking out AT
the sunset-it was all red and gold, and
the room was in flame. He turned us
I came in, and the tears were rolling
down his cheeks, never saw John
cry before since he was grown mani
"what is itS" l whispered, going up
close 10 him.
He made a motion with the back Of
his head in the direction Of the bed.
went over there. Aunt Betsy was in a
rocker by the side Of it, reading tho
Bible Myra was looking at the sunset
uloh at her baby's sleeping face. l,w
not dull To see things. and l saw there
what made my heart turn oold-it was
tho valley Of the shadow u death
That all happened these three years
ago. There is simple rustic cross up
in the graveyard with "Myra" carved
on IL. aud little Mvra and / 90 pn thara