Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-05-29
AFTER TRIAL.
Good Words.

Ruth Marvin and Alfred Trenholm
were married. Their means were moder-
ate, some would say scanty, with which
to begin life together. But they were
young, when hope is strong and the
future rich with possibilities, and so they
looked confidently into the coming years
and feasted on the fancies which they
felt sure were waiting there.
Alfred Trenholm was an assistant
book-keeper in large wholesale house,
an occup patton which he honored only in
so much asst yielded him maintenance;
but his ambition reached into other fields,
and it was cherished fife-aream that
some time he should follow his nearer
taste.
In tho meantime he met Ruth, and
prudently fitted to the background. He
forgot all else, and SO only short distances
lay between the first dawn Of love, the
wooing, andthe wedding.
4 Now, hand in band they must leave
the glamour OF the past and step into The
sternfiess OF life. with all its intense rea.
Gsfn. Ruth was true in heart and brave
in purpose, and accepted, with grateful
pride, her part in the work that lay be-
fore them.
The little home in the suburbs of the
great city was made as bright as any
home could be. The tiny kitchen, with
its appointments, shone like the rehec-
ton Of industry itself. The coy parlor
had its windows curtained with plants,
and trailing vines, and the rich colors of
exultant blossoms, through which the
sunshine swept in waves of gladness.
AltogetheE, it was graceful, smiling
home nest-a place full OF warmth, and
life, and love. Alfred was proud of his
home and of his wife, and went each day
to his duties with renewed buoyancy and
courage.
There was. besides this, novelty
about it which all feel when they first
set up their own altar and establish their
membership in the great society of the
home world, and both Ruth and Alfred
were charmed with this new sense of
possession, and gave themselves up to
its fullest enjoyment. Friends came
and went, and joined with them in many
little pleasures, and it seemed as though
successive years would leave only bright
ness with them,
Kut life has clouds as well as sunshine
and when hard times came and Alfred's
salary was reduced, shadows yelled the
little home with somber drapings.
A closer economy must follow and
simple expenditures must be abridged,
for Ruth was brave in self-denlal and
rigid in her maxim of "making both
ends meet"
She worked harder and planned more
that real comforts might not be missing,
and little by little the traces of care were
stamped upon her features.
At the end of two years little daugh-
ter came and straightway opened fol
them the gates of born love. But
responsibility marched beside, and each
looked into the others face and felt how
lame and prisoned were their resources
in the presence OF their infinite desire to
bless this treasured one with all that is
best in life.
After this Alfred grew restless and his
duties more and more irksome, until the
old dream of the past reused itself into
living passion.
He almost cursed his own impiatence
in marrying before he had realized his
ambition and attained success in prac-
tice, for the study of law had always
been his ideal, and he felt that he could
have done it honor. Taste, talent and
inspiration all pointed in that direction
whilst the stern duties of his position
held him increasingly to the grinding
wheels of miserable pittance.
Nor was it altogether a selfish strug-
gle in his mind, for, always mingled with
bis feyered fancies were the faces of wife
and child, for whom he longed to do SC
much.
The more he reasoned with himself the
more he felt the disappointment not that
this was SO much heavier. but host OF
unattsinable desires forced themselves
upon him and crowded around, even
seeming to jeer and mock him with theiI
presence, until he yielded at last, went
home with heavy heart and clouded
brow.
"Why, Alfredr' quickly exclaimed
Ruth, s'what has happened? Tell me
quickly, what has happeneds Tell me
quickly what has gone wrong with yor
to -day?"
..Nothing to-dayr' he answered, hal
desperately, forgetting for the time al
else bat the morbid spirit controlling
him.
Meanwhile, one by one, baby Margare
unfoldel her little charms, and won he
way into the queendom of both hearts
They called her Blossom now, for sh'
gave color and cheer and fragrance tt
the hearts that were often troubled witt
the pressure of cares about them.
At home, Alfred struggled hard to
hide the unrest that was upon him, and
to keep only pleasant words for wife and
child, but one day ha had been more
than unusually tried. Tickets to {
courpe Of lectures, that he had mnch de.