Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-12

decided to stop at home for hurried
lunch on my way to the Office.
Supper had been waiting. The wife
was kind and cordial, but trace of
tears on her cheeks showed the dis
appointment she was too good to voice.
In our cosy sitting-room stood my
table, drawn close to the CRATE; my
chair and slippers beside 1t, and pens
and paper in place.
Il have looked for you since four, y
was all she said, But | know,
dear that business kept you away SO
long"
- But we won't give up the story,
I said, decidedly. We may rot get
the hundred dollars on account OF a
hurry about our work, but we will
make sure of one Of the fifties. "
Fifty dollars, said Mary, would
buy the chamber set, and cheap,
pretty ingram, and we could put off
the pictures until your salary is rails
ed. eve We're always postponing
things to that golden Utopia. We had
in imagination spent and respent d
dozen RAISES" " 1t cost little and was
| BtbLbI liAtl running III hCbbsJ
| kissed her good bye and started
to the office When / reached the
street she raised the window to call
after me: BE sure and decide upon
your subject, Jack, as we must com
mence it tomorrow"
My usual hour of reaching home
was 3 A. NJ This time it was after
four. A second edition had kept as
| walked the three miles too tired in
body and mind to think of my story
or anything else. | was just then
more interested in the character of
powder mill explosions, as related to
newspaper reports, than in literature
and the fact that an expected promo
ton of the city editor to the intellect
nal department of the Neptune, with
bestowal of his long and honorably
worn shoes on some one else, might
lead TO the lettering of my position,
kept me closely to the practical side
of life. | went to sleep almost before
| was mdressed, and forgot to give
even a dream to the subject that had
grown very close to the dear little
heart at my side.
/ All day and evening sessions of the
National Society for the Organizing
of South African and East Indian
Missions, held me close for the next
week. and the mere mechanical labor
Of following long drawn speeches, and
copying yoluminous reports, aud
resolutions which many "whereases'
so used up my mental and vital en-
ergy, that | had heart and thought
for nothing else. lost some of the
best points in my projected story, and
was compelled to explain the plot in
full to my wife, lest ] should lose it
altogether before the long deferred
time of placing it on paper, should
dawn upon us.
perhaps we can get few hours
rest on Sunday" l said, land then we
will take off our coats and go at it.
OF course | can't expect to strike the
fifty dollar class, with the time at my
disposal, but we will be satisfied to &C
in at forty, ell, little one2'
"Of course we will, my dear, she
said brightly. lone can get fair
chamber set-but / guess we will have
to let that go until your salary is a
| little more, and we will put the forty
dollars into the book case you have
wanted so long 1t is bargain2"
1t was signe1, sealed, and deliver
ed with a kiss.
Sunday came, and with it a scatter
ing of the reverend gentlemen who
had participated in the mission de
alterations and debates, to the various
pulpits of the city and suburban
Follow them around said the city
editor on Saturday night, and get
something of the services held by a
dozen of the best of them. When
that is out of the way, drop over and
get old General Snodgers opinion on
this COMPOUNDED tariff debate. He has
been in Washington, and ought to
have something fresh. And, by the
way, | am going out of town and l
wish you would come around about
eight O'clock and run tho local work
for the rest of the night
When Mary called me on Sunday
morning, | dressed slowly and put off
Il square look into her face as long as
possibly COlllu, / huCW Sut hdt
been out on Saturday looking at book
cases, and had set her heart ON seeing
that story dashed into with vigor and
energy before 3p m, and perhaps
whipped into shape by evening.
When l drew up to the table, she
moved the sugar bowl and milk pitcher
to one side, gave me half-hopeful
and half-pleading look, and simply
said, "Well2"
I temporized.
MARY, we ought to have d new set
Of curtains for our sitting -
Yes, but they can wait
twenty-five dollars would buy
them and hang them
II know it, but tke twenty five dol
lars?'
"Oh, that's all right Itell YOU the
pilot is too deep to work pin the time
we have. Suppose we lay aside the
story ON hand and reel Off a little
sketch that will strike the twenty five
dollar grade. You know that /
can do that at any time. Shall we do
Iit.'
Whatever YOU think best of course.