Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-08-16
would hire me to make myself such a

who you are talking to-"
"Yes, do" said Essie, with emphasis.
"To a Bluebeard, to a stock, n stone, a
man who is grinding his wife's life out
on the pitiless wheel of money making
No, wouldn't live rs Ruth does, not
if you would put me in palacev'
Mr. Martin grew green and saffron
by turns.
"Humph"' said lie. Zine ideas you
have got at this fashionable boarding
school Of yours. Well, if you don't
like my offer, you're not obliged to
accept it. BE fine lady, If you please,
and see where it will land YOU"
BY way of answer, Essie marched
out of the room with all the dignity OF
a royal princess. She only stopped in
the kitchen long enough to kiss Ruth,
who was in the midst of baking.
Poor darling" said she, "ITow l
wish l could carry you off with me.
For stay, | won't"
Life is hard work, Essic," said Mrs.
Martin, beginning to cry, in spite of
herself; land its a woman's duty to
| help her husband"
And mean to help mine when |
have one" said Essic, blushing bright
ly. "But not by wearing myself out"
: Mr.. Martin shook his head.
III stephen Smith is foolish enough
to marry that saucy gypsy, she'll
lead him a pretty life" said he. Il
wonder il she expects to sit on a
satin sofa all her days, with rose
in her hand, and her hair frizzlcd. in
that prcpostcrous fashion, all over
! her eyes? But | warn 'em, they need
never come to me for help, Esther
[ has treated me with too much insolcn"c
for me ever 10 receive her again"
Il am sure she did not mean any
thing" said Mrs. Martin, alphabetically.
"Wcl, then, her words hclicd her
meaning" remarked Thomas Martin,
/ grimly COMPRISING his lips.
But stephen smith was apparent
ly undaunted by the possibilities Of
ruin predicted by Farmer Martin, for
he married Esther and went to the
city to live, within three months
II give 'cm just year To come
back here and "a, humble pie" said
Martin, yindictiycly.
"Oh. Thomas; don't talk So" said
/ his wife zone would think You
would be glad to have some evil
bcfal them"
"And so I should" said Martin.
I yiciou-ly grinding his teeth together.
That girl needs a lot Of humbl.ng,
and hope she'll get IT,"
Three years aftcrward there came
one OF those terrible droughts that
undo a farmers life-work in q sea
son, AMI sweep away his prospects As
an autumn wind sweeps away serc
forest. The cattle died. a pcstilcncc
I broke out among the flock of sheep,
which Thomas Martin hal just bought:
/ a high wind blew his best barn over.
and disaster stared him in the face on
every side.
ITS ~ use talking" said he. Il
cannot meet this years interest on the
mortgage. The place will have to 60"
"Oh. Thomas" groancd Mrs. Martin,
who. poor soul, now lay all day on
hard wooden lounge. and gr5anel to
see how wofully she was needed at the
I helm.
Il can't help it," sail Martin.
Everything is against me"
"lt's only five hundrri dollars" said
Mr2 Martin. You might borrow it,
who'd lend to me. dixie to know
said Martin, remembering with a sigh
I how he had hardened his own face
against every humble suppliant in the
/ golden days Of his prosperity
There's Esthcr's husband" suggest.
cd Ruth. ave heard that he's doing
well in Boston. And. after all. Esther's
my own sister"
Mr. Martins features contracted into
a hideous grimace OF all the bitter
cups which circumstances had held to
his lips Of late this was the bitterest.
But 1t had to be swallowed. There
was no help for It.
81 didn't suppose Smiths folks lived
as gcntecl "a this" said he to himself.
as a neat maid led him across an
octagonal vcstibule, tloored with black
and rel marble. and fragrant with
flowers, under the golden fringe Of an
antique portiere, into a large, taste
fully-furnished room, where the sing