Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-09-13

| lulOs. Sdlu MIS- MAI ill., oPOiOSObiOoAlJ
We'll, then, her words belled he
meaning" remarked Thomas Martin
grimly COMPRISING bis lips.
But Stephen Smith was apparently
undauHted by the possibilities Of ruiz
predicted,by Farmer Martin, for he mar
ried Esther and went to the city to live
within three months.
Il give 'em just year to come back
here and eat humoIe-pie" said Martin
vindictively.
"Oh, Thomas; don't talk so!" said hi:
wife. One would think you would be
glad to have some evil befall them
And so | should" said Martin, vici-
ously grinding his teeth together. That
girl needs lot of hum bling, and hope
she'll get it."
Thrse years later there came one OF
those terrible drouths that Judo farm.
er's life-work in a season, and sweep
away his prospects as an autumn wind
sweeps away a sere forest. The cattle
died, pestilence broke ont among the
flock eff sheep, which Thomas Martin
had just bought; high wind blew bis
| best BARN over, and disaster stared him
in thS face on every side.
Its no use talking" said he. 81 CAN
not meet this years interest on the
mortgage. The place will have to 60 y
"Oh, Th mas greAned Mrs. Martin,
who, poor soul, now lay all day on hard
wooden lounge, and groaned to see how
wofully she was needed at ths helm.
II can't help it," said Martin. "Ev-
erything is against me-"
Its only five hundred dollars, said
Mrs. Martin. You might borrow it."
Who'd lend it to .se, I'd like to know ?"
said Martin, remembering with sigh
that he had hardened bis own face
against every humble suppliant in the
golden DAYS of his prosperity.
There's Esther's husband" suggested
Ruth, "I've heard that he's doing well
Ia Boston. And, after all, Esthsr's my
own sister"
Mr.. Martins features contracted into
n hideeus grimace. OF all the bitter
cups which circumstances had held to
his lips Of late this was the bitterest.
But it had to be swallowed. There
was 10 help for it.
Il didn't suppose Smiths folks lived
as gentsel as this" said he to himself, ss
neat maid led him across ALI ucLagoual
vestibule, hoored with black and red
marble, and fragrant with flowers, uu
der the golden frisge of an antique pOr-
there, into a large, tsstefully furnished
room, where the singing birds, the open
piano, the low satin sofa all betOkened
no lack of money.
Yes-Mr. Smith was at home. He
had not yet gone To the store, and pres
emily he came in, waving welcomes to
the man who had married Essie's sister.
!. Lend you thousand dollars?" said
he. "Of course we can lend you thou
sand dollars. What is money for if not
TO help each other with. Oh, yes. We've
snug little SUN laid up in the bank.
and we live comfortably. My business
Yes, it's tolerable, but it never got US
all these things" glancing at the soft
arabesques-of the carpet, the graceful
folds of the crimson silk curtains, and
the easel filled with proof engravings.
That is my wifes doings."
"Eh ?" said Mr. Martin, staring around
him.
Yes" said Mr.. Smith, with certain,
quiet satisfaction. "Essie is an artist,
you know-a designer. She invents
patterns for the paper hangers and up
D. x
fifty dollars a week"
Fifty dollars week. exclaimed
Thomas Martin. why that's more
fifty dollars is. | mcmillan poor Ruth
made by all her poultry for year. Well,
| neverr
In all his life he had never respected
Essie as he respected her now.
"She has money laid up" said Stephen
Smith. And if she's the girl l think
she ls, she won't grudge to help her Sis
tors husband in a pinch"
Gall and bitterness-gall and bitter
nsssl But, thought poor Martin, with
a sigh, how was Stephen to know all
that WAS coms and gomez"
Essiss light step on the passageway
sounded at this instant and she came in,
dressed in picturesque brown linen
blouse; her hair still shading her fore
head, like fringe of floss silk, after The
old. graceful fashion.
Yes" she said brightly, when her
brother-in-law' errand was stated to
her; "of course you shall have it. l owe
you as much as that, l think, Thomas,
were it only 10 erase from your memo
~ that last scene Of our parting. How
defiant and iusOlenJ it was, to be sureT
and she laughed the sweetest of mellow
laughter. BUT | insist upon it still,
that my theory wds correct; a woman
can work. without becoming di Judge"
perhaps she car,' slowly and un-
willingly admitted Thomos Martin
perhaps she can! But it didn't use to
be 50, ia my mothers days"
And he sighed 10 think of poor Ruth
broken down in the meridian OF her
days, by the cruel necessities that drive
the wife of an American farmer to her
doom. Was it his own fault? Perhaps
it was.
Essei's thousand losn was the straw
which saved him from 6gurative drown
ing. He paid the interest, bought new
flock of merino sheep, and weathered the
storm.
The next year when Essie came to the
farm TO assist her sister, for the first
time she found Ruth sitting on the pi
azza, and watching the little lambs play
in the sunshine with listless, heavy |
eyes.
Yes" said Ruth, 81 can't work any |
more But Thomas is very kind. He |
don't grudge the hired girls wages, aud |
he is always saying he wished he had |
taken more care of me in the old times. |
But It's too late now. You were right, |
Essip, when you said you wouldn't stay |
here, and help with the hOusework."
Yes" said Essie, fOndling the thin
hand " hich lay on the arm of the rock
ing chair. Il think was right.
Forest Graves.
Democrats and the Wool Tariff.