The Iola register., 1884-05-30

front Of her small frame house, with tn
heavy water-pail by her side, and wa
wistfully watching the wild geese fl,
over wretched settlement away up ii
the Wisconsin pine forests. 1t had beel
a trying winter for the little family, fo
Dick, the husband and father, had beel
i'll for nearly month during the coldes
weather, and, as their home was mort
gagged, it had taxed Hannah's strength
to the utmost to provide the few com
forts he required, and save small sun
toward the first payment of the mort
gage, which came due in the spring
but she was brave little woman. ant
worked on faithfully, taking in washing
or sewing for the mill-hands and lum
bermen. SO that by the first of April sh,
had saved nearly enough money tt
make the first payment on the home.
Only this morning she had been quite
cheerful over the prospect, until let
ter had been brought to her from kel
native village in Illinois. 1t came from
former lover, who was now engaged
to be married TO her sister Ruth. Frank
Dennison was wealthy young mer.
chant, who bad once sought Hannah
McLean's hand in marriage. When
she refused him and married Dick Bar.
ry her father had refused to speak to
her, or see her. Dennison had hear d
OF Hannah's poverty, and how hard she
toiled. and now had written q letter OF
friendly advice, suggesting to her that
would be well for her to leave her
husband and come home for time at
least. He was cautious in the wording
of his letter, yet the tone of it panied
her. She read it carefully and then
put it away out of sight, in her work.
box. She was angry at its patrOnizing
tone, and womanlike wished to spare
Dick the unpleasant feelings the read
ing of it would occasion his proud nat
ure. Therefore she intended to treat it
with quiet contempt and to speak of it
to no one.
That evening when he came home
she left him with the child, while she
stepped into ne;ghbor's upon an er-
rand. Dick went to the work-box to
find pencil to cast up his accounts
with his employer, as he had been at
work for several days. Seeing Dem
nison's letter lying there he. of course.
read it, and wondered why Hannah had
not told him of it before. He was in
1ignant at its tone. But the chief pain
came from suspicion that his wife
mad been influenced by it and intended
20 act upon its advice, else why should
she have kept it from him? He knew.
Ill her loyalty, her goodness, but his
ack of ia tn was in himself, in his pow
n to keep her love since he had failed
% make the happy, comfortable home
or her that he had intended to when
hey were married. yet he was fully
conscious that buried beneath mass of
aults and weaknesses there was man.
mess, ay, a power of self-sacrifice for
hose he loved that Dennison, prosper
'us and pompous, was utterly incapable
# even comprehend:ng.
This was a new blow. and Just as he
'egan to take fresh heart in the spring
Weather and was maturing plan which
'ade fair to succeed-a plan that would
nable him to take Hannah away and
lace her in pretty cottage amidst the
lowers and trees of some genial eli
nate-he meant to surprise her with
his. 1t depended upon the answer his
mployer, a capitalist and owner of a
anch in California, would give him
within the next three DAYS, and now,
erhaps, she was coldly thinking of
eaving him
She came in looking quite cheerful
nd smiling kindly. He had folded the
etter. placing it carefully lack in the
OK. Richard sat with bowed head.
carcely looking up as she came in. and
hannah rocked little Jack to sleep
,oking wist ully at her husband.
''iou are i'll. am afraid you are
'orking too hard before your strength
as returned. That attack of pneu-
lOnia has left you weak she said.
He made no reply. Then hoping to
eguile him from his sorrowful mood.
he continued cheerfully: Il am so
lad spring has come. As soon as we
an lind time let us have the gar len
lowed; l mean to have a fine garden
MS summer.
Il don't think we can make any
lans. Hannah, for the future. You
'ere foolish to marry me, and 1 was
Kicked to ask, you, but l loved YOU.
h. we'll, better leave me to my fate;
ake the boy and go home" |
He sail this, more in the hope of
earin her denial of any such thought
nan really meaning it. But her loyal,
heart was stung to be
nus dou tel, or it was posi- lie she |
1ought that he really was tired nf her.
'h! that was cruel, maddening
bought! She loved him, vet he must
OF think she would weakly cling to a
IAN who did not care for her, who i
'ould not also cleave to her through
very storm and trouble. She clasped /
ack's lrtle sleeping form to her heart,
nd paused a moment before replying. |
he did not choose that he should find |
er vo ce trembling.
Very well. but supposed YOU had !
lore independence and pride than to
How your wife to go back to those who !
Tould insult you."
Dick, whose head seemed to be on fire |
nd his heart like ice at this their first
uarrel, arose abruptly and left the |
ouse. 1t was late when he returned |
nd the subject was not renewed. Han
ah found he had prepared his own
reakfast and gone away much earlier
ian usual the next morning.
1t was late when she awoke from
'oubled sleep. All that day she went
YER in her mind their brief married