Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-06-02

so insulted in all my life.
For week or two didn't see much
of her; she was either ont with John
sketching," as she called it, dabbling
away at some bits of pasteboard with a
lead pencil, or mp in her room where l
never went. She came down, singing
away, with large package in her hand,
and soon John came mp with the ponies,
and they drove off to 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 me.
When they came home she was all
tired out, and they had big roll Of stuff
they dumped down in the entry.
ITS something for you, Janet" she
said, laughing hysterical-like. Its
carpet-rags."
l unrolled it, and there were twenty
yards Of bright ingram carpet
"Myra," said I, this is wicked ex-
travagance, for l knew her money was
all paid out.
"But it isn't" she said, laughing II
earned it myself by drawing and paint
ing those bits of sketches. 1 sold them
all, and can sell all can do. That was
my way Of cutting CARPET rags"
Well, We put the carpet down, and it
did look pretty-though didn't say so.
1t isn't my way to spoil anybody with
flattery, and l saw Johns wife was get
ting the upper hand too fast. The 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 che never scrubbed floor, or
washed dish, or put her hands to the
churn.
John can afford to hire help" abe
said to me- one day, "and I'm not very
strong, and my mother died of consump-
ton" Then she began to cry like a
baby, and John came in and looked at
me rs if it 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, or
playing ON the organ. She was real orna-
mental, and l suppose some folks
thought she was pretty. John did for
one. / don't know that she made me
much work either. She did her own
washing as long as John would let her,
and kept her room neat enough, though
it was mostly Uttered up with flowers
and birds and her sketches, and at
first she sang from morning till night,
and she did have 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 ny
10 her. The first time l saw him getting
tray ready, said:
cts good thing you were brough,
mp to be handy, John, seeing you've go'
An invalid wife,"
He didn't say anything then. but I
few days liter he came to me and said
Janet, get girl as soon ~ you can,
and let Aunt Betsy come over and stsl
with MyrA; abe is nervous and low
spirited, and needs company"
"Well, Isupposs you've guessed tn
upshot Of it all little daughter WA
born 10 John, and ii seemed to me tina
miracle WAS worked in the house. Per
hsps l had never really loved john
wifs-she was 30 different in her way
from me-but when heard that bah.
cry, 1 felt thrilled 10 my very soul, an
I just threw my vork-apron over N,
head and cried for the first time b
yeArs.
Myra didn't get strong, and the day
went ON and still abe didn't get up, an
l felt il was my duty TO 60 and tell he
that abe mustn't favor herself that way
that she couldn't lie abed and let strsu
gers take care Of her child, and tbs
she'd never get strong till shsd got out
but made up my mind to speak IN
gentler sort Of way. had been thinl
ing il over and about concluded to Il
Myra live her own way and not try
make her over. especially since job
seemed SO well satisfied with her. and
went upstairs and opened the dos
; softly and stepped inside. John Va
standing at one window looking oat |
the sunset--it WAS all red and GOLD, On
, the room was in flame. He turned |
l came in, and the tears were rollin
down his checks, ! never sav job
: cry before since he WINS grown man
: "what is itY' whispered. going Y
: close to him
He made motion with the back
. his head in the direction Of the bed
: vent over there. Aunt Betsy was in