The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-10-25


found that she was not as much IA
tiguek as she had often felt after a
days lounging with a novel Her
husband thought it only a new within,
but as it was not an expensive one, he
could not complain. When he wanted
to take her driving, she playfully told
him she was learning to walk-horses
were not safe.
The first step, she thought. Now
for the next. 1t came to her almost
by magic. In a little rear ballroom
sat Margaret Devices, clicking away at
her typewriter A strong, clear
headed girl who had maintained her
self these ten years, and had put by
her savings. She was soon to be mar
ried to a stalwart young farmer, the
lover of her early youth. They had
worked and wa tied. From the first she
took an interest in the young wife. and
it was given to her energy and COM
mon sense to help a suffering sister.
Together they plotted and planned.
Eleanor's lassitude passed away under
vigorous rubbing and brisk walks.
Margaret's trousseau was a thing to
be considered. From Eleanor's sur
plus stock of stylish gowns and gar
ments the country girls outfit was
deftly concocted. Eleanor could sew
neatly and rapidly. When all was
ready the snug sum of two hundred dol
lars lay in her writing desk. Her grand
piano, too large for the new quarters,
was removed from the storage room to
dealers, and was sold for three hun
dred more. She wrote at once to an
uncle in Kansas City; told him of her
little efforts, and asked what she
should do with her mite. He was a
real estate man and promptly invested
it in lot in the rising town of Duluth.
In exchange for her services as
seamstress, Margaret taught Eleanor
the use of the typewriter. When she
was married she left the instrument,
for the summer months, in EleanOr's
care. A nominal rent was agreed up
on, and this was easy to pay, as Mar
garet's engagements were transferred
to the new operator, while she, her
self, attended to chickens and COWS,
and her six-feet of husband.
Eleanor's energy did not stop here.
She obtained pupils on the typewriter
at five dollars each. She shipped lot
of old party-dresses, crushed and out
of style, to the cOstumer's on --
street, and saved the proceeds. Every
lowance of pin money she put at least
half of it in her ''strong box"
1t was hard to hide all this activity
and cheerfulluess from him, but she
did. With her woman's enjoyment of
little mystery, and her high resolve
to show herself worthy of him, she
kept in the old rut as nearly as posi-
BILE when he was at home. He saw
that she was stronger and it hghtened
his labors.
My little woman does not ride or
read any more" he said one evening
in the indulgent tone he used toward
her.
why, yes, do read. Don't you
see my little library thereP"
''Y es, but it seems 10 me miss
something"
He missed the litter of thrashy nov
els he had wont to see.
Il told you l was learning to walk"
she added, with a smile. IL really do
walk somewhere every day"
That pleases me most of ALL" he
said in his CHEEKY way; ''but what will
DIR. Buell. thinkP"
II don't care one bit; have long
since cut his acquaintance.
The end of the year rolled around.
Eleanor watched her husbands face
with ever-increasing anxiety. One
evening he sat buried in thought from
which all her endeavors could not
rouse him. He did not feel well, he
said. All night he tossed and NUT
tered. Calculations and figures were
uppermost
He was up early, as usual, and away
Eleanor fastened her preparations and
carefully counted her little hoard-the
earnings of months. Early in tho
| afternoon she came home with the pro-
ceeds of her last batch of type-writing,
glowing with exercise and the happi-
ness of contributing at least several
hundreds to meet her husbands cred
itors. He was there, lying on the sofa,
pale and hopeless. Forgetting all else,
l she uuuB u0T56Al DSSlu6 1l1Iu Will a SOD.
''Oh, Harry, my dearest, what is itP
Tell me what 1t is that is killing you;
l have a right to know"
1T is ruin, Eleanor. I have brought
you poverty-you whom 1 would have
died to make happy"
You are talking in riddles Harry"
she exclaimed, rallying from her
alarm. "Am I not the happiest wom-
an in the worldP And don't you see
/ how well and strong I amp
She coaxed the whole story from his
lips. Then, with affected Hghtness,
she said: ''Is that ALP Why, you
frightened me terribly; I thought you
were ill-had caught some horrible
disease or other. See here" AS she
| spoke she ran to her desk, took out her
treasure and poured it into his hands
in her impulsive fashion.
| Eleanor! What is this?"
''ThisP Why this is only your wife's
selfshness and laziness in another
| form"
Then her story had to be told. Their
combined afforts still fell short of the
required sum, but she triumphantly
produced the deed TO the Western land.