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

and get some medicine. Such women al
you amt fit for Mothers" she continued
returning with her hands full of bottles.
ooh, Freddy cried Stella, dropping OF
her knees, eff you will only get well, l viii
try SO hard to bearzeverything."
ssAnd what trials have you to bear p
asked Mrs. Wilson,, s".You have pretty
home" looking about the room, eff it was
put in order"
'It isn't like the house I am used to-"
'Young people don't expect to begiI
where the old ones left off. They mus
make their own homes"
81 never understood it SO. Sister Belle
is the only mother I ever knew, and hel
advice was never tv marry poor man.
$50 you keep finding fault and complain
ing when your husband istrying IN every
way to make an honest living. u IL isa won
der that you haven't driven him to drink
long ago." i.psyss al y1s,s..lT
'But my husband is good man" re-
piled Stella warmly, resenting the last part
of the speech.
ssHe has shown himself to be good
man"
The woman said it in good faith, wrap.
ping Freddy in soft fannels, and admins.
tering a quiet potion. She had been
catching the movements of this couple
ever since they came to live in the house.
my baby will get well, won't he ?" was
said pleadingly, and the poor thing sobbed
again as if her heart would break.
eyes indeed.''
s'And you will stay with me through the
night % forgetting she was one of "those
people,"
'I'd stay with you whole blessed
week" replied true-hearted Mrs. Wilson,
s'if could make you wife worthy of your
husband''
''Tell me what, and I shall do it faith
fully and willingly, and without complain
ing"
All through the long night hours, while
Freddy lay between life and death, Mrs.
Wilson worked over him bravely, and told
the girl-mother chapters in her own life
experiences. There were passages over
which Stella wept bitterly and when morn
ing dawned, giving back the child from
danger, in place of the tickle unreasonable
woman, there was one ready to meet life's
work with a firm purpose and strong
heart.
She tidied up each apartment, and in
stead of going about in dowdy wrapper
put on fresh dress, arranged her hair be-
comingly, and changed the pucker about
her mouth for her own rosy lips.
''You're pretty little thing" Mrs. Will
son told her, when she had fastened knot
of blue ribbon in her hair.
'See after baby, now. I'll look in now
and then through the day, and tonight
will come back to you. Your husband will
be here tomorrow morning!'
= 'sYes, replied Stella, with bright look
in her eyes; ''he will be here by ten
o clock"
After all, it was long time to wait she
thought She was so impatient to tell
him-and she would kiss him as many
times as he wished.
eyes, indeed" she exclaimed joyfully,
bending over Freddy's crib, "we'll kiss
papa hundred thousand times, won't we
dear p!
'T do wish Clarance would come" she
kept saying next morning "What de-
tains him ?'' she continued when the clock
was on the stroke of 12.
''What if" and her heart lay like lead
in her bosom as she recalled the look she
last saw on his face. "What if he never
comes backP' she murmured, going into
her own ROOM
'NIrs. Wilson," she called, 'swhere is my
husband ?" -,
In an instant the dear good soul was be-
side her, resting hand tenderly on the
aching head.
/True-hearted woman! She shrank from
saying that it had been dreadful on the
Sound, and that steamer had collided
with the New York boat. ''Her husband
travels by boat" had been her conclusion
Stella caught at her arm, the sound of
her voice answering Freddy, and with the
cry she fell.
Poor, tired, and inexperienced wife and
mother Was the ordeal so ordered :?
With the aid of a neighbor, Mrs. Wilson
laid her on the bed.
'sRun for the doctor,' she said to Miss
Williams.
''But you don't know"
81 do" she interrupted. sMrs. Hen
shaw Will have a run of nervous fever, and
whether her husband is dead or alive can't
say.''
When Stella opened her eyes again it was
nearly night She knew no one about the
bed, but talked to Clarence. and Freddy.
and sister Belle.
She was going to help her husband, now
She could earn money by teaching music or
painting, or might have few pupils in
dancing" she added. tBut forgive me
for striking" and her arms were put up
as if to clasp something, when she was
dazed again.
Late that evening Clarence came in sight
of home. Contrary to Mrs. Wilson's con-
lecture, he came by different route.
He had not thought to telegraph. ssBut
Stella won't worry" he said, eff | am
late"
The light faded from out his eyes and his
facs turned CHASTITY white when he looked
into the rooms.
'Both gone ?" he groaned walking from
the bed to the crib.
"No, no." Mrs. Wilson said comforting
1y. "Baby's better and your wife will
come out of this. All she needs is a little
nursing, and that she shall have" turning
aside her head and drying her eyes with
the corner of her apron.
What would we do if such as she were
not stationed along the walks of life?
1t was painful to listen to the wild
talk.
s'IfI might endure it," Clarence said so
many times. When at last Stella awoke
from the terrible dreams, her husband was
bending over her.
Clarence she said very softly at first
Clarence" she repeated, putting her arms
about his neck, 'ff you'll forgive me for
striking Freddy, I'll kiss you, o, SO many
times %
Foolish fellow he cried like baby.
'Listen, Stella, he said, as soon as he
could command his voice, s'listeni did get
the situation, and you can have everything
you want" touching his lips to cheek and
forehead, "and you are going to have such
pretty house in Brooklyn -
"All l want is your love-" clasping him
close, "and that Freddy may get well. Pm
ready to be poor mans wifer'
A saloon keeper in Miamsburg, Ohio, is
circulating his business card, with the fol-
lowing on it's back: s'To all whom it may
concern-Know ye that, by the payment of
1925, am permitted to retail intoxicating
liquors at my saloon in this city. To the
wife who has drunkard for husband, or
a friend who is unfortunately dissipated,
say, emphatically, give me notice in person
of such case or cases in which you are in
terested, and all such shall be excluded
from my place. Let mothers, fathers, sis
ters, and brothers do likewise, and their
l. L. u