Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-10-07

! c..I,N :, "ie not yourself this morning
9tel,a, and mis- eyes We're full Of mn
shed tears. as he saw the red n1arl-s
ON the baby's neck. ''' NC
DO you think can endure evar,,
thingE she cried spitefully.
GU are nervous and tired. dear
Tome here, and he put out his
hands to clasp her, but she tnrna5
away rom him and left the room
something wet fell on the hah,.,.
mead, and he pressed him closejv e.
ms bosom as he caught the sonnd =,
her sobbing. iu y
4 have heard of somethinpn new this
morning, Stella, and Pm poing 70
New York by the next train.
You are always hearing OF some.
thing new" was her quick reply. .bnt
what does it amount tor
l am hoping for something better
ana think I've found it now
lie rocked Freddy to sleep mt hin,
INTO hls crib, then went to the door III
his wife's room. y
Are you going to kiss me good bye.
day or two" o"' @
No" she replied coldly; "you'll be
back soon enough
But | might never return. Won
know so'
See ifyou are not back in a dav
or two with the same old story"
Clarence turned quickly and left
her. She heard him cross the room
and knew he bent over Freddy's crib
and kissed the little sleeper again
and again.
He'll come back before he's really
gone, whispered she to herself going
toward the door, but turn in the
street hid him from sight. He had
gone, without bidding hergood-bye.
We'll, we've been married long
enough to be done with such nonsense, y
she said, by way of consolation, vet
there WAS a terrible pain in her heart.
She sat still till Freddy awoke, then
with cry OF anguish she ran across
the hall to the nearest neiehbor with
Please come. Mrs Wilson. NV
baby is dying"
Mrs. Wilson came, for though rough
IN manners she was kind in heart.
He is in fit" she said, the mo.
u.
some water and help get off his
clothes"
Stella obeyei.
Hold him so, till run horne and
get some medicine, she said, putting
him in the bath. "Such women as YOU
amt tit TO be mothers. shecontlnued,
returning with her hands full of bot
ties.
II have so many trials to bear"
moaned Stella.
Nonsense, replied Mrs. Wilson.
"lou have s. pretty home if it was
put in order"
81 am used 20 better"
Young people can't begin where old
ones left of. They must make their
own homes"
II never understood it so. My sis
ter advised me never to marry a poor
man."
"And so you keep finding fault and
complaining when your husband is
trying in every way to make an honest
living. 1t is a wonder you haven't
driven him to drink long ago"
"But my husband is good man"
replied Stella. warmly, resenting the
last part of the speech.
"He has shown himself to be good
man"
The woman said it in good faith.
wrapping Freddy in soft fannels and
administering a quieting potion. She
had been watching the movements of
the people ever since they came to live
in the house.
"My baby will get well, won't hep"
was said pleadingly, and the poor
thing sobbed again as il her heart
would break.
"Yes, indeed"
"And you will stay with me through
the night?" forgetting that she was
one of ''those people.
.'Pd stay with you a whole blessed
week." replied true.hearted Mrs. VIII
son, eff | could make you worthy OF
your husband"
Tell me what shall do and I'll do
it willingly and without complaining"
All through the long night, while
Freddy lay between life and death,
Mrs. Wilson worked over him bravely
and told the giri-mother chapters in
her own life experiences. There were
passages over which Stella wept bit
terly, and when morning dawned,
giving back the child from danger, in
place of the tickle, unreasonable wom-
an, there was one ready to meet
LIES work with firm purpose and
strong heart.
She tidied up each apartment. and
instead of going about III q dowdy
wrapper put on a fresh dress, ar
ranged her hair becomingly, and
changed the pucker about her mouth
for her own rosy lips.
You're pretty little thing, Mrs.
Wilson told her when she had faaten-
ed a knot OF blue ribbon IN her hair.
ssSee after baby now. I'll look in
every now and then through the day
and tonight / will come back to you.
Your husband will be here tomorrow
morning"
Yes Stella replied, with bright
look in her eyes. Hell be here by 10
O'Clock"
After all, it was long time to wait
she thought. She was so impatient to
tell hin-and she would kiss him as
many times as he wished.
ayes, indeed" she exclaimed, joyful
ly, bending over Freddy's cot, I'VE IL
kiss papa a hundred thousand times,
won't we dear?" :.
~ do wish Clarence would come,
she kept saying next morning What
detains him?" she continued, when the
clock was on the stroke OF z. What
/ if-and her heart lay like lead in her
bosom as she recalled the look she
last saw on his face-"what II he new
err comes back" she murmured, going
into her own room. ''Mrs. Wilson"
she called, where is my husband?" !.
In an instant the dear, good soul
was beside her, resting hand tender
ly on the aching head. True-hearted
womapl She shrank from saying 1t
had been a dreadful night on the
sound. and that steamer had collid-
ed with the New York boat. Her
husband Travelled by boat" had been
her conclusion.
Stella caught at her arm, the sound
of her voice answering Freddy, and
with a cry she fell. Poor, tired, IN.
experienced wife and mother. Was
the ordeal so ordered? With the help
OF a neighbor Mrs. Wilson laid her on
the bed.
run for the DOCTOR" she said to
Miss Williams.
"But you don't know
al do" she interrupted. Mrs.
Henshaw will have run OF nervous
fever: and whether her husband Is
dead or alive, can't say"
When Stella opened her eyes again
il was nearly night. She knew no one
about the bed, but talked to Clarence
and Freddy and sister Belle. She was