Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-07-11
Pm sorry for YOU:


Joanna he said petuantly, Its
very strange you cannot protect me
from Interruptions, when | have so
often told you how important il is to a
brain-worker to keep his thought-cur-
rents intact
What Interruptions, Clarence?"
THE door-bel rang twice-the
second time as if someone were deter
mined to jerk it out by the wires"
IL didn't hear it. Who was it.
Clarence?'
"A stout young woman who had
heard that you wanted girl"
"Oh, Clarence" with a face of re-
lief ''where is sheP Did you tell her
-n
Lsent her about her business. The
fact is, Joanna you don't need a SER
vant-Im always willing to pay for "a
washerwOman-aud that last novel of
mine hasn't seemed to bring IN much
money rs yet We must really aconD-
misel OF late | have been puzzled to
account for how the money goes"
Joanna redeemed and closed her lips
firmly.
If say one word. ! shall say too
much she thought with an odd sensa-
ton, as if her veins were filled with
boiled hot water
She pushed past her husband to an
swer the inarticulate summons of the
wailing baby.
There is limit to all endurance.
she thought; "aud mine is reached at
last"
Mr.. Eyebright spent the evening
with friend, two or three DAYS after
wards. When he came back ne found
the house empty, with the sole excep-
ton of Bridget, the washerwoman,
who sat, half asleep, over the kitchen
fire.
"Hallo" said the author Where
is Mrs. EycorightPn
Gone home to her mother" said
Bridget, rubbing her eyes. AN TUX
the childher with her. If ye phase,
here's the kays."
"What has she gone home to her
mother fOrM
"An' it's me that don't know said
the woman imperturbably. "An' if We
phase, here's the kaysl'
Mr., Eyebright went to Mss Ballen-
tyne.
Jessie is her friend" said he to him.
self with a feeling of dismay-"Jessie
will know"
"Well," said Miss Ballantyne, who
was sewing at spangled costume for
the approaching masquerade, I'm not
at all surprised. | only wonder that
she hasn't done it before. Poor dear!
And such an overworked drudge as she
has been!"
"A-drudge! My wifePn
"Why, were have your ewes been,
Clarence, that you haven't discovered
it before?N said Jessie composedlv.
''In family like yours there ought to
be at least two servants kept, aud poor
Joanna has done the work Of both.
She has never had any recreation, for
she hadn't decent clothes to 90 any
where. Her nights have been broken
by sick children, her days devoted to
the insoluble problem of how to make
something out of nothing. Oh yes--I
can't blame her Tor leaving your
And Miss Ballantyne went on to give
her friends husband very compre-
hensive piece of her mind on more
subjects than one.
81 shall never forgive Joanna for
thisP said Mr. Eyebright with resent
ment
Better say you will never forgive
YOURSELF" retorted Miss Balantyne
with spirit. For it is all your own
doing"
Mr.. Evebright went home to the
solitary hearthstone. There was no
wife to ask him for money. There
were no children to disturb the flow of
his ideas, vet the sixth chapter in his
novel was not written according to his
plans,
He did not 90 to bed that night, but
sat up, staring at the dying Goals Of
fire. Mentally he arraigned himself
before the bar of evenhanded justice,
with Joanna and Miss Ballantyne for
witnesses. Mentally he tried, con-
demned, and sentenced himself
81 have been a brute!n he thought.
He took the earliest train to Cedar
Vale. where Joanna's youthful years
had been spent, and went straight to
the old homestead, fully expecting to
be received with the frozen GOODNESS he
deserved.
Joanna was out in the orchard, help
ing Guy and johnny to gather red
striped apples
At the first sight Of her husbands
face she ran ioyfully to meet him.
clarence! Have you come for me
yourself? Oh, how good Of you-aud
with all that you have to dol she
cried.
"Joannal Dear wife! How vas it
that YOU could find it in your heart TO
leave me2' he exclaimed with some
emotion.
ITO leave you, Clarence? Why,
never thought of such a thing! ex-
claimed Joanna. Didn't you get my
note, telling you that mother was taken
suddenly III, and had sent for me?
told Bridget"
Hang Bridgetln said Mr. Eyebright.
"She told me nothing. She gave me
nothing but bunch Of keys, and a
strong impression that she had been at
tine brandy-bottle. And then went to
Jessie Ballantyne, and got a lecture
three-quarers Of an hour long And
the worst Of it was, dear, thai felt
3 .....,-....,l ,.,.a,.g. rr,.5.I q 80"