The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-05-21

wife was cordial and kind, but q
trace of tears on her cheeks showed
the disappointment she was too good
to voice. In our cosy sitting room
stood my table, drawn close to the
CRATE, my chair and slippers beside
it, and pens and paper in place.
Il have looked for you since f."
was all she said. But | know, dear,
that business kept you away"
But we won't give up the story"
said, decidedly. 1--WE may not get
the huadred 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 a cheap
pretty ingram, and we could put off
/ the pictures until your salary is
raised" we were always postpon-
/ ing things to that golden Utopia.
We had in imagination spent and
respent dozen raises. 1t cost
little and was better than running
in debit
| kissed her goodbye, and started
to the office. When | reached the
street she raised the window to call
after me:
"Be sure aad decide upon your
subject, Jack, as we must commence
/ il tomorrow"
My usual hour of reaching home
was a. IN. This time it was after
4. A second edition had kept us. |
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 litera-
ture and the fact that an expected
promotion of the city editor TO the
intellectual department" of the
| Neptune, with a bestowal of his long
and honorably worn shoes on some
one else, might lead to the bettering
of my position, kept me close to the
practical side of life. | went to
sleep almost before | was undressed,
and forgot to give even 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 organic
ing of South African and East Indi-
an Missions, held me close for the
next week, and the mere mechanical
labor of following long drawn
speeches, and copying veluminous
reports, and resolutions with many
"whereases" so used up hy mental
and vital energy, that had heart
and thought for nothing else. lost
some of the best points In my pro-
iected story, and was compelled to
explain the plot in full TO my wife,
lest | should lose it altogether be-
fore the long deferred time OF plac-
ing it upon paper, should dawn up
on US.
perhaps we can get few hours
rest on Sunday" / said, land then
we will take off our coats and 90 at
it. OF course | can't expect to strike
the $50 class, with the time at my
disposal, but we will be satisfied to
90 il at $40, eh, little one ?"
"Of course we will, my dear" she
said, brightly. "One can get fair
chamber set-but | guess we'll have
to let that 20 until your salary is
little more, and we will put the SAC
into the book case you have wanted
50 long. Is it a bargain ?"
1t was signed, sealed, and deliver
ed with a kiss.
Sunday came, and with it scat
tering Of the reverend gentlemen
who had participated in the mission
deliberations and debates, to the va
rious pulpits OF the city and subur-
ban churches. Follow them
around. said the city editor on Sat
urday night, ''and get something of
the services held by a dozen of the
best of them. Whes that is out OF
the way, drop over and get old Gen.
ISnodger's opinion ofthis confounded
tariff debate. He has been in Wash
ington, and ought to have something
fresh. And, by the way, | am going
out of town and | wish you would
come around about s O'Clock and
run the local work for the rest OF
the night
When Mary called me on Sunday
morning, | dressed slowly, and put
off a square look into her face as
long as / possibly could. | knew she.
had been out on Saturday looking
at bookcases, and had set her heart
on seeing that story dashed into
with vigor and energy before 5 p. m.,
and perhaps whipped into shape by
evening.
When | 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, "Well?"
1 temporized.
MARY. we ought 20 have new
set of curtains for our sitting-room."
Yes, but they can wait"
"Twenty-fve dollars would buy
them and hang them"
81 know it, but the twenty-five
dollars ?"
"Oh, that's ali right. l tell you
the plot is too deep to work up in
the time we have. Suppose We lay
aside the story we have on hand and
reel off little sketch that will strike
the S25 grade? You know that | can
do that at any. time. Shall we do
it?"
Whatever yo,, think best, of
course. We do need the bookcase,
but the curtains would add greatly
to the appearance of the room
When will your sketch get itself
commenced" ?"
That's easy enough. I'll give it
a send-of tonight, after my other
work is out of the way, and will
show it to you in the morning. 1t
will hinge on an old farmer who
thought be had seen ghost in the
ravine into which the Ashtabula
railroad bridge went tumbling on
that awful winters night"
u