The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-01-05
Never had two hours between lunch

was continually busy with Letty's looks,
and her words, and his eyes often turn
ed toward the cream colored farm
house, behind whose spruce green
blinds his wife was busy preparing din
ner.
81 used to think how happy should
be If l ever persuaded her to come
here" he thought. at is two years
why, 1 declare it is two years this very
day that we were married! wonder
If she remembers it. But it isn't very
likely, when she says she is afraid she
hates me.n
Did she rememberp An, in that re-
membrance lay the sting.
All that morning while she got
breakfast at five o'clock, and washed
the dishes, swept the rooms, made the
beds, churned butter and prepared a
lunch for six men, her heart turned
back to the other morning twenty-four
months ago, when the bright-eyed
country maiden rose at four O'Clock to
complete her preparations for her we'd
ding day.
How good, how kind, how hand
some her George was then. How his
eyes followed her; how his love blessed
her.
Was it all her fault that the bloom
and beauty of life had departed in
those short yearsp
Looking back she could see no day
in which she had not at least tried to
do her duty.
And looking in the glass window she
saw how the light and glow of youth
had passed from her face, while ac-
complishing the task uncheered by the
approval Of him she loved.
George has kept his color and his
good Looks became his work lies out of
doors" she mused, "but have worked
in this old kitchen until 1 look old
enough to be his mother. HIS mother''
she paused with a bitter laugh-"I
almost wish was his-mother, then he
would be suited with what did,"
Noon came. The twelve O'Clock
whistle sounded sharp and clear from
the factory in the village mile away;
and before the whistle ceased a little
figure stepped out on the side porch of
the Brewster house and blew horn.
''There's woman for you," said
Solomon. Wyse, admiringly. "Dinner
to the minute-and won't it be a good
one?"
The dinner was, indeed, success,
every dainty of the season and farm
was there, skillfully cooked and neatly
served on table in the cool dining
room-a table covered with snowy
cloth fresh from its fold, and glass and
china.
In the centre of the table stood a
great china bowl full OF red roses that
perfumeu the room. Her cheeks were
red, her eyes shone dark and bright,
her words, and smiles were ready for
every one save George.
AS she sat grave and silent at the
foot of the table, he looked at her WON
deringly.
She wore dress of silver gray al
paca that had been her travelling dress
when they were married.
A large white apron, with a bib,
shielded the glories of the costume.
But why did she put it one Surely
she could not think of "going visiting"
that afternoon, with six haymakers to
get tea for and the milk of eight COWS
to attend to afterward.
But he finally went out without ask
ing it. The wife who was afraid she
hated him, seemed almost like stran-
ger, although she looked so much on
this occasion like the girl he had mar
ried two years ago.
AS George neared the woodshed, =,
where the men were lounging away
the rest of the incoming, he heard his
own name uttered by solomon Wyse in
tones of anger.
1nvoluntarilY he stayed his steps.
eyes, 1 knew George from baby
up, and always said he'd make like
ly man. But 1 vow it is shame to
see how he treats that pretty little
creaturel Such lunch this morning
and such dinner this noon, in such a
nice cool room, with the red roses and
all the rest of it; and she is lust as
pretty as picture, with her red cheeks
and bright eyes, and wavy hair, and
dressed as neat as pink, too. And
he sitting there as grum as a cross
old man of ninety. was ashamed of
him.
''Iye heard he dees nothing but find
fault with her all the day long," said
a second voice. "My wife says if
threw my mother into her teeth, as
George does his Letty's she'd run away
from me before she was a day older.
"And serve you right chimed in a
third. / tell you what my wife says:
She says it is confounded name and
small of George not to keep woman
here to help his wife. And when l
saw the dinner; to day, the pretty little
thing had got for us all alone, Thought
so, too. Hang me if hadn't half a
mind to stop here this afternoon and
help her wash up that great pile of
dishes, and let the haying go to thun-
der. It's enough to kill the woman to
have all that work to do. And George
is rich. What on earth is he thinking
aboutH Bnt hell be sorry Tor this In a
ear or two hence, when we have to
come here on different errand."
''To carry her out In coffinp" said
Solomon Wyse, eyes, 1 suppose it
| ,,,;1l oon,a 10 tboE 20 .o,,o 90 -, lo. "a