Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-29


mon laborer hurt her.
Sister Belle had said that her tastes
were luxurious; and she wanted a pretty
home now and fine apparel for herself and
baby.
The people of the world in which she had
lived never had to count their money to
know if they could buy new dress. She
had never been taught to make the best OF
whatever circumstances she might be plac-
ed in, and why should she now?
The little privations she endured wor-
ried and vexed her, and in a little while
the sweet-tempered woman grew moody
and down-hearted. She became careless
in her dress, and instead of the cheerful
little wife he used to see, he found q
gloomy woman and disordered house.
| But he never complained.
s'Stella is homesick," he would say; and
the care of baby is too much for her. l
must make some money!" and his hammer
rang with redoubled energy.
Yet every day her discomfort grew more
apparent. The place and the people were SO
repulsive to her refined and sensitive ma
ture
'How can you expect me to live among
such surroundings, Clarence ?" was her
appeal when her husband begged her to be
of good cheer.
'It is cruel of you," she sobbed. 81
want to be back in my old home, among
my old friends
The warm glow came to his face and he
drew her tenderly toward him without a
word, but there was look piteous to see
in his handsome eyes, while his resolve
was to work still harder.
| 10 conquer fortune, however, requires
sturdy strokes.
There came day, later little "for
some days must be dark and dreary''-
when it did seem that matters had come to
crisis.
The city hall had been finished long ago,
the Odd Fellows building completed and
the last stroke had been given to the new
church. Clarence must have something
new. Jennie, who had minded Freddy for
| two or three months, had to go, and all the
cares fell upon Stella's hands.
They moved from place to place since
Freddy's birth, hoping to find house
with which Stella would be content.
"But those people are all alike" she
said, ''and I may as well live in one house
as another" was her reply to Clarence,
when he suggested that they move into a
new block.
| LII WdS uuWOudIlly lOT utT W Sdy ILLS,
she knew, the moment the words escaped
her lips, and she thought to run after her
husband and beg his forgiveness, but just
to spill the water she was pouring into the
tea-kettle, which only increased her vexa-
tion.
"You cross little troublesome thingp"
she exclaimed impatiently. "Take that ?,
laying her hand heavily on the little Dare
shoulders stI'm sick to death with having
you always hanging to my skirts"
| With this she let fall the earthen pitcher
she held in her hand, and dropping into
the nearest chair, burst into hysterical
weeping.
Freddy, with the prints of her fingers
still red on his neck, toddled to her side,
and tried to climb into her lap. But she
flushed him away Grossly with
"Go play with your blocks and horses; l
don't want you near me; and her hand was
raised to lay on the rosy cheek.
| "Don't do anything you'll be sorry for
by and-by, Stella" Clarence said, coming
into the room just then.
| Something in his face stayed her hand
just on the moment, and she rose to her
feet, flushing with shame and anger.
81 thought you'd gone down town." she
replied sharply. ooh, dear! if I'd minded
sister Belle l shouldn't have been here.
She was right. had no. business to mar
ry a poor man."
"You're not quite yourself this morning,
Stella" and his eyes were full of unshed
tears as he caught sight of the red marks
on their baby's neck.
"Do you suppose I can endure every
thingP" she cried spitefully.
"Yoa are nervous and tired, dear. Come
here" !" and held out his hand to clasp her.
She glided from him and went into an
adjoining room.
Something wet fell on baby's head, and
he pressed him closely to his bosom as he
caught the sound of her sobbing.
81 have heard of something new this
morning, Stella, and I'm going to New
York by the next train."
He tried to say it cheerfully.
"You're always hearing of something
new,' was her quick reply, "but what
does it amount to?"
so am hoping for something better,
and l think have found it now?'
He rocked Freddy to sleep, put him in
his crib, and then went to the door of his
wife's room.
:'Are you going to kiss me goodbye,
Stella? % he asked, opening the door very
softly. 81 may be gone day or two"
'No," she replied coldly, ''you'll be back
soon enough"
81 will come as soon as l can, but
might never return, you know"
'See if you are not back as soon as YOU
can come with the same old story"
Clarence turned quickly, but she saw the
look on his face and never forgot it.
She heard her husband cross the room,
and knew he bent over Freddy's crib, and
kissed the little one again and again.
s'He'll come back to me before he really
goes" she whispered to herself, starting
up and going toward the door; but turn
in the street hid him from sight when she
reached the window. He had gone, and
for the first time without kissing her good
bye.
s'Well, we've been married long enough
to be done with such nonsense" she said
a terrible ache at the heart, and she secret
ly wished she could throw herself in her
husbands S arms and tell him how sorry she
was for all.
She sat quite still until Freddy awoke,
then with cry of terror she ran across the
hall to the nearest neighbor, with ssPlease
come, Mrs: Wilson, my baby is dying"
Mrs. Wilson came, for though rough of
manner she was kind at heart.
"He's in fit," she said the moment her
eyes rested on the little sufferer. Bring me
some water, quick" she called, s'and help
to get off his Clothes"
Stella obeyed.
"Hold him 80" was her command, put
ting him to the bath. Il will run home