The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-02-06

stirred at last like smooth, deep SEE
in great storm. Then he covered
his face with his hands and cried. The
darkness fell he sat there still in the
rocking-chair facing the fact of his
wifes thoughtlessness and his own
disappointment. She had been SC
pretty, SO merry and trig and neat
when he first knew her. She did not
wear Haunting colors like many other
girls. Hattie looked like a little lady,
he had told himself many times, and
was proud to notice how many people
turned to look at her as she went along
the streets. 1t had been hard work to
win her, for she had many other ad-
mirers, and John Weber was a plain
fellow who had more money in the
bank than some young men, but who
would not spend any more than he
could help on new cravats or cheap
shows and needless nonsense.
Nell Stince, for one, had said he
was stlngy, and wondered why he did
not give his promised wife all sorts of
gilt jewelry, and one particular feather
fan, which winked its spangles entirely
from a jeweler's window. Nell Stlnce
sneered at the presents this honest
lover did buy she even rallied at his
toolishness in buying a house and pay
ing for it before he married. She
would rather have paid rent and spent
all that money for something worth
having. She and her husband were
both deep in debt already, but it mat
tered nothing to them ga short life
and merry one," Jim Stince was fond
OF saying to his admiring audience on
the street corners. They had one girl,
little monkey of a thing, rugged in
greasy silk and dragged feathers. Nell
Stince was Hattie's evil genius. They
had worked IN the same shop together
before they were married, and Hattie
would be worth twice as much if he
could keep her to himself, poor John
thought. Hattie had married him be-
cause she loved him. He reminded
himself of that proudly.
He was not dandy like the other
fellows, but alas, Hattie seemed to be
getting tired of him lately and of her
small house, which they had pu. in
order so lovingly in the early days of
their married life. She was tretful and
dissatisfied, and when John sat there
in the dark and remembered his mother
and their dear, old fashioned, simple
country life-the farm, the honest,
friendly neighbors-he grew bitterly
impatient of all the shams and make
shifts of the town-the life that was all
for show, and made "what other folks
would say its only conscience. The
sauciness of the first part of his wife S
letter and the cajoling of the end gave
him equal pain. "She ought to know
me better than that he told himself
over and over. Go down to spend
Sunday with the Stinces-he would die
first.
Poor boy, he had waited SO patti
emily for his own holiday. He had
never worked harder in his life than
through this last month, and it was to
make sure of good time with his wife
and baby at the end. He had found
the years expenses hard pull any
way the doctors bill had been very
heavy, but this extra work would make
everything square. The extras of every
mouth always counted about the same
and he tried to save little as he went
along-he had always been used tc
saving. This very night, when he
asked the boss if he could take his
vacation, he had been given a hearty
permission. Take two weeks while
you are about it, Johnny" said one o.
the owners, who stood by. 81 guess
we can get along. You deserve it, and
| wish we could scare up more fellow:
like you p
Two whole weeks What couldn
he do in that time? The baby should
go up to the old farm and see hi:
Grandmother, who had never taker
him into her arms vet he should rol
in the grass where his father used te
roll and get solid and strong-poor
little beggar His round, weak face
didn't have the look that John Weber
believed that baby's ought to have
though he didn't know much abou
babies. "Mother'll know how tc
cosset him. said John more thar
once land she'll set Hattie on he
feet, too, and make some of those ole
herb teas for her that she used to Sc
SO much by. Wormwood-that'l
make her hungry and Hattie should
go down to Harborside and they would
find snug place TO board the first few
days and go out to sail once or twice
and dear me, how good it would al
be . Hattie should not know a wore
about it until they were ready to star
the next day-it should be a surprise
"You always want your own way" sh,
had accused him more than once O
late now he would Joke her well ant
see if his way wasn't good one some
times Oh, poor Hattie how coulc
she have gone away
That was long, sad evening 70
kind-hearted Johnny Weber to spenc
alone. 1t was not only his wife's goin,
away on stolen holiday that troubled
f him he had lost his truest faith in tn,