Mohave County miner., 1889-07-20

probrious title Of "old maid" III this
10 matrimony. why. deliver me from
it-thats oil have TO say. Well, 10,
I'm sorry for you'll"
And Miss Bsllsntyne took her leave.
Mrs. Eyebright looked sadly at her
little ''sxpenss book"
At that moment she heard her hus-
bands voice In the hall, raised. as II in
some annoyance.
Joanna" he said petuantly. 'it's
very strange you cannot protect me
from Interruptions, when I have 30
often told you how important It is to
brain-worker to keep his thought-cur-
rents intact"
"What Interruptions. CiarenceP"
'The door-bell rang twice-the
second time a. II someone were deter
mined to jerk it out by the wires"
II didn't hear it Who was it.
Clarencep"
"A stout young woman who had
heard that you wanted = girl"
'Oh. Clarence" with q face of re-
lief "where il shee Did you tell her
-"
IL sent her about her business. The
fact 10, Joanna, you don't need SER
vant-Pm always willing to pay for a
washerwomau--and that last novel Of
mine hasn't seemed TO bring 10 much
money as yet. We must really ecOno-
misc! OF late l have been puzzled TO
account for how the money goes"
Joanna reddened and closed her lips
firmly.
III say one word. / shall say too
much" she thought with an odd sensa-
ton, as il her veins were filled with
boiled hot water.
She pushed past her husband TO an
swer the inarticulate summons Of the
wsiling baby.
There is n limit to all endurance"
she thought; land mine is reach ed at
last"
MIR. Eyebright spent the evening
with . friend, two or three days after
wards. When be came back he 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. "Whers
il Mrs. EyebrighlP"
"Gone home to her mother" said
Bridget. rubbing her eyes. ''An' tux
the childher with her. II ye phase.
here's the kays."
"Whst has she gone home to her
mother forr'
"An' it's me that don't know" said
the woman imperturbably. "An' ye
phase. here's the ksysr'
Mr.. Eyebright went to MISS Ballen-
tyne.
Jessie is her friend" said he to him.
self with feeling Of dismay-''Jessie
will know"
WELL" said Miss Ballantyne. who
was sewing at q spangled costume for
the approaching masquerade, "Im not
at all surprised. only wonder that
she hasn't done it before. Poor dear!
And such an overworked drudge as she
has beenl"
"A-drudge! My wifea"
why, were have your eyes been.
Clarence, that you haven't discovered
it beforea" said Jessie composedly.
"In . family like yours there ought to
be 1T least two servants kept. and 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
cant blame her tor leaving you!"
And Miss Ballantyne went on to give
her friends husband . very compre-
hensive apiece of her mind" on more
subjects than one.
II shall never forgive Joanna for
this" said Mr.. Eyebright with resent
ment.
"Better say you will never forgive
yourselfr" retOrted Miss Ballantyne
with spirit ''For it 10 all your own
doing"
Mr.. Eyebrig't went homo to tho
solitary hearthstODe. There was no
wife 10 ask him for money. There
were no children to disturb the flow OF
his ideas. yet 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 1t the dying Goals Of
fire. Mentally he srraigned himself
before the bar Of evenhanded justice,
with Joanna and Miss Ballantyne for
witnessed Mentally he tried, con-
demned, and sentenced himself.
IL have been q bruter' he thought
He took the earliest train to Cedar
Vale. where Joanna's youthful years
had been spent. aud went straight to
the old homestead, fully expecting ia
be received with the frozen cOldness he
deserved.
Joanna was out In the orchard. help.
ing Guy and Johnny to gather red.
striped applea
At the first sight of her husband.
face she ran joyfully to meet him.
"Clarence! Have you come for me
yourselfp Oh, how good Of y0u-snd
with oil that you have to dol she
cried.
/ .Joannai Dear wife! How was II
that you could 6nd it in your heart tt
leave me?" he exclaimed with some
emotion.
ITO leave you, Clarcncea Why,
never thought Of such 4 thing!" ex
claimed Joanna "Didn't you get my
note. telling you that mother was takel
suddenly i'll, and had sent for me3
told Bridget"
Hang Bridget" said Mr.. Eyebright
''She told me nothing. She gave M
nothing but bunch Of keys. and 4
strong impression that she had been a
the brandy bottle. And then went II
Jessie Ballantyne. aud got lecture