Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-11-26

placed near the fire, though it was
hours before he could use them. His
spectacles, his newspaper, and t."
book he was reading, she had laid out
on the old-fashioned square light
stand.
''He will be tired and cold when
he comes,' she murmured. "Poor
John; he's had a hard time lately,
working SO hard, and he so poorly
But he never complains. And the
living lately hasn't been what it ought
to be, though he never finds fault. |
never did believe in scrimping on
food land will set better table now.
! And we'll take some time to rest and
ride. 1t is something to be thankful
| for, to have the burden lifted, and
know John will feel it SO. wish
had little meat or something hearty
for his supper, he will need it. | will
have warm biscuit, and open a jar of
straw berries, and will make an ONE
lette. 1t will be nice to have more
time to do for him.. and take comfort
with him. There never was better
husband. He never spoke roughly
to me before, and this time he was
tired and anxious"
The afternoon trains had all gone
bv, save one that went at half-past
five The sun was setting and the
shadows were gathering grayly over
the fields. 1t was cloudy, and the
wind blew up coldly from the west.
"John never allows me, but it is
getting late, and he isn't here, and |
think I'll go after the cows" AMI she
hastily slipped on hood and shawl
and made all safe within the kitchen,
drew the bolt of the outer door, and
hurried out through the woodshed,
and across the fields to the pasture.
1t had been a mild autumn, with late
rains, and the grass was yet green
and the herbage tender, so they still
turn"d out their cows.
John, meanwhile, was hurrying
home as fast as old Rufus. the staid |
roam, would carry him. He, too, was
mindful of the gathering shadows,
and he now and then cast a keen look /
around him, and a satisfied glance at |
the back of the wagon. Hurry up, |
old Rufe! The little woman will be
lonesome and worried. And | want
to make up for speaking so harsh to
her to-day. | guess she'll open her
eyes, though, when she sees what I've
got"
But there was no light in the win.
dows as he drove into the yard, and
ma ing his way at length through the
only unbarred door, and striking a
match, he found that the room was
empty. He noted, somewhat touch
ed, all the significant preparations
for supper.
"Something extra she's getting us,
an it's just like her. An I'll be bound
she's gone after them cows She had
not ought to ha' done it. What if
she should have one of her bad spells
out there all alone? And there's al
ways tramps about. I'll have to 60
find her.
But he had not heard the soft tread
of the COWS in the grassy yard, nor
step in the shed, and in
another moment she stood in the
all the evidences of her
loving, ,unblaming thoughts about her,
and wistfuI look in her eyes. And
Johns own grey eyes glistened with
her close for minute, while every
drop of bitterness and every bit of
hardness and wounded feeling melt
ed away from either heart.
"But you haven't told me where
all the money. came FROM" said Eliz-
abeth, an hour later, as she sat at
that bright tea-table. 81 thought it
was Thanksgiving enough To be to-
gether, and have our home, and it's .
all extra to have the real things
KEY and cranberries, and nuts and
raisins and the sugar and spices and {
all. But twill be ever so nice. And q
Jennie coming too How nice that
you happened to see her J?
"Well," said John, sit was money
[ never rightly expected TO see again,
east of all to-day, though it did come !.
'ound pretty handy. 1t was young
chap that worked with once. Three
or four years ago, one day when | !
vent to town, / met him. He was
lead broke sick and in trouble. His !,
'nlks were sick or dying, some of 'em !,
1t home, and he hadn money to get :
here. I'd just drawn my pension, !,
md of course / shelled out, and told
lim twas all right. And I'd never ;
seen him till to-day He's all right ;,
low, got job in town, and an old ;.
lncle has just left him a nice place
here. Ali he needs, as | told him,
vas a wife. But he says he's in no
hurry, don't know but he'll live alone :,
INV way. But that's neither here nor
here. He hailed me to-day as soon
Is he set eyes on me had a good deal .,
% say about that little good turn / p
lid him once, and insisted on paying '
ne with interest. Would have treb- Z
ed it if I'd have let him. And it
came in first-rate for our Thanksgiv-
ng fixin's. And he's all alone, SO | :
made him promise to come to dinner