Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-12-24
THE WIFE's SISTER.

nThe Deceased WIfe's Sister Bill
hos sgsin failed 70 pass the House OF
LOr1s.n
Twas holding the evening newspaper
in nv hand, glaEcing over it heedleSSly
when NV eve caught these words.
rsad them indlfferently, and then | lie.
tbe newspaper fall, never thinking that
are long the words would bs impressed
IN letters of fire on nv brain.
had not been long enough married
IN have become accustomed to evenings
without Hugh. though | was often
obliged TO spare him as best | could.
Life and all lis delights for me centred
in him. had seemed differeAt wo-
msn since lie had married me Circum-
stances had been all against me once,
shaping NE 10 their cruel pleasure. but
that seemed long ago now. / believed
the fiuty spirit within me had died
when he married me. Such softening
powers have unexpected blessings, and
II certainly had been unexpected that
[ rather than one of twenty falreI ,
sTeeter girls, had been chosen by Hugh
Deyerel.
] had been shy soul always, self
contained, silent, never able TO tell
hin how dear lie was to ne but per-
hsgs NY love was all the deeper because
Of that very retlcence.
He Was not hero perhaps 10 any one
but me-tO me he was all the world.
Nh 1 baa l..r. iaal.uS Of INV Iahv
even at its birth, lest it should come be-
tween us and take Inc away from him,
till had learned that il must always
be second TO both of US!
Hugh was mill-Owner, and rising
man "What could keep him down ~
thought proudly, as | sat that night
and waited for him. 1t was Saturday
night, aud be would be later than usual,
| knew, IS he had the hands to pay.
Sitting up WAS tedious work. | had
often TO possess my soul III patience.
His mill was in Manchester; We lived
IL the pretty suburb Of Ringsend /; and
could scarcely expect him home III less
than three hours.
The house was very still upstairs
baby was asleep, outside January snow
was falling hakily, deadening the sound
Of passing vehicles, enwrapping Ring
send in a ShrOud.
lpuShed the newspaper from me lm-
Iatlently-what was any Act of PaTlia-
ment to NE .-and, folding my hands,
Iresumed my waiting for Hugh.
4 ring at the dOor-bell which echoed
through the house startled me. The
door was opened, a familiar footstep
sounded through the tiled hall, and, sit
ting up, rubbed my eyes; it was Hugh
WHO stood under the gas-light. | re-
member Yet the vet CLEAN of his hair,
and how the snOw-fakes fluttered to
lhe ground as he shook his overcoat.
Il left Prescott to pay the men. |
lOpe You are not sorry to see me back
lew hours earlier, little woman 2" he
sad, STOPPING to kiss me.
/ was five feet sly, but by the side of
sA ieet two | was diminutiye enough.
Il AIN 50 glad | feared something
was wrong when YOU were gone"
Nothing new-Only | am always
glad to leave that old mill now since
Il has been paying SO badly | have
ceased to love it''-with laugh.
And business is no better ?"
Oh, DO-rather worse. | should say;
America has ruined Us, and you know
our mil was not leader at any time.
should not wonder if we had to lessen
our expenditure. Could you be con-
tett 10 wear year-old bonnet and go
ilio smaller house, Helen ,"
looked at him and smiled in an
s"er. | could have been happy In a
dungeon with hin-and dress had never
oceh one Of my weaknesses but it
va. was my self-cOntained way not to tell
niLl 50, and thought he understood.
Oh, by-the-bye, l have a letter for
you /" he said, feeling in all his pock-
Gus IT came to my office" He ex-
Iscted 1t at last, and threw it into my
Efeign stamps, foreign postmarks,
eack edge. l looked at it before open
lug II and read it through before /
handed 1t to him.
twas from my sister Katherine, Mrs.
in4shiorth, whom had not seen since
pc were children. Her husband, Cap
s an Bashforth, had lust died in India,
anl sue was coming home, for the for
F'sl soil winch hid his dear remains
20 raa grown hateful to her, she said, and
sue legged NE TO have a corner in my
Ies lsSII ready 10 receive a mourner who
Hau no fnepd left but me.
vi course she must come to u.s."
Aagh decided.
DO you think Soin said doubtfully.
ta' telI no desire for a third person In our
g., on, yes, dear She Is young and
aiGnuleSs A. ~ and alone; the least we can
W Is TO ask her here.''
% 20 my sister Katherine came to live
WIN ~ US, In answer to our invitation.
I'll though older than l, she looked much
iiounger, having that fragile, appealing
&c. uty that does not fade till it yanishes
snS sSselher yet, in spite of her beauty
uu .i,'a ner WIDOWS cap, did not-fgura-
N'eiy-take her to my heart.
,o,5i 5AireyOu glad to see me?" she asked,
~ tlihg both my hands. and looking up
f"r r. nie with impid eyes of the color of
ioiget me-nOts.
sts,. am" | answered briefly, feeling
tsinliana ,I anu AWKWARD beside her then.
sSs SshAlhg thls was but scant welcome, ]
, s.TS,, But | am not gushing"
h.a tasn . you think l am 2 Is 'gush' a
'Aa 'hiRx that You have none =" she