The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-10-16

without pound in the world, except as
NO look upon our little home here as q
small fortune. Most fortunately for us
our winter supply was provided by our
good old relative who LETT us this place.
We shall get through the win
ter without suffering-though wc do
miss our mutton and bcef-and In the |
spring my husband will be able to plant
again. and provide for another year.
From our poultry we have an OCCASION
nj meal and plenty of eggs. and really
we isould be very happy and comforta-
bic " II were not for the cold. We have |
only such light fragments Of wood rs
we can pick up about the place, and un-
for us. our uncle must have |
been very orderly man"
"And you have been cold? it is a |
shame. with plenty going to waste all |
around you!" exclaimed the old lady.
"Ohl we did not mind for ourselves.
but when our little Edna complained, it
went to our hearts"
"Well, there'll be no further need of
that You are welcome to all the wood
your husband.will cut or of my land.
/ live with my son, but still control
my own property; not but what ho
would gladly take care of his old mother
il she hadn't cent in the world. still II
is very foolish thing to give up ones
rights ! always do rs Iplease in every
thing. But" returning 10 her hostess
story, "remcmbcr. my dear, you have
at least one friend in this country, who
will do any thing in her power for you.
must 90 now. but tomorrow l am
coming TO see you again. Goodnight.
"Good-night. But, Mrs. Bathurst.
you are not going alone. Henry, you
will see our friend home, will you notP'
"Certainly, my dear" answered Cap
tain Gerald. who had been u silent
listener to the conversation. He felt
that he did not stand a, high in the esti-
nation of his caller as did his wife, and
he felt, too, that once alone with her.
he would have to give an account OF
himself, which might be rather en-
barrassing. Still he could not shirk the
duty Of offering his escort to one who
had put herself to so much trouble to
serve him.
He was not wrong in his conclusions.
for they had hardly left the house before
his companion began with: II like your
wife very much, Captain Gerald. You
ought to be a very good man with such
q good woman. I'm glad she didn't
suspect the real object OF my visit"
II can never thank you enough for
saving her that blow. Poor thing! she
has had enough to bear. She told you
threw up my commission and left tho
army, but she did not tell you that it
was because was such cowardly fool
that could not keep from drinking and
and gambling whenever l got with u
certain set of fellows, until listened to
her, and cut loose from them entirely.
That was the reason. And even now,
in spite of the good step and resolu-
tions, sometimes feel that am fail
ure here, and that there is nothing for
me but gambling or suicide. There,
you see you inspire us both to confide
in you"
Mrs. Bathurst was touched and flat
tered by this second confidence.
During the evening, one nclghbor al
tor another dropped in at John Ba-
thusts, and sat taking around the fire
in rather fragmentary style. Evidently
their interest did not lie within-doors.
They would break Off in the midst of a
sentence to listen, or glance out of the
window, and finally they all filed out
into the clear moonlight, and scattered
about in the pine grove, which made
such black shadows on the snow.
Mother Bathurst looked from her win
dow rs they disappeared, and smilingly
resumed her knitting. About eleven
o'clock she heard them re-cnter the
house, and she descended to the sitting
room.
"Why mother, not in bed yct?" said
her son.
'No; l wanted to see you after your
evenings work." she replied. with q
twinkle in her bright, black eyes.
''Well, there was no work done, un-
less you call it work to stand around in
the cold and snow for couple oil
hours" said he rather sheepishly.
Then you didn't catch your thief
Well. John, l caught your thief"
"Why. what do you mean, motherP"
asked her son, rising from the hearth.
II went over to Captain Gerald $,
and told him that if he needed wood he
could cut all he wanted to on my wood
lot by the swamp, but that he'd better
not come to your wood-pile tonight,
for you were waiting for him. While
you cat your apples and nuts. boys, I'm
going to tell you about my visit to the
Captain"
Mrs. Bathurst told her story so elo.
quently, that the company was Il very
quiet one when she had finished. After
pause, her son said:
"Well, it's pretty hard ease. o.
course, cant understand why Il man
should be too proud to come and ask !;
ncighbor for the privilege of cutting his
winters wood-it's done every d.y-ol
why he didn't hunt up work.
Zone thing" as he picked the last
fragment of hickory nut from its shell
1--WE mustn't let him get discouraged
and go back to his old habits, or worse
I've plenty of light work l can give
him, and Isuppose the rest of You have
too. But after this l expect he'll bl
pretty sensitive; so guess we'd better
let mother manage the business for us
You know, mother, you must make hin
feel that we are his friends. Anyhow
we must see him along"
Then he sat thinking, and after look
ing around at his companions, said witt
smile: "And since mothers Woo
isn't seasoned. suppose, boys, we con
tribute few dry logs from my pile to
night?"
And once more Mother Bathus
watched them from the window. Thi
time they passed out from the PIN
grove shadows, each with generou
log on his shoulder, and stole silcntl'
over the snow toward Captain Gerald
house. alt is better to prevent tina,
| Il. 81, Il 4. f,,sn II ,