The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-22
luxurious suite.

would lull restless cnlld.
The move was made. and Eleanor
found that she was not as much Ia
tigued as she had often felt after
days lounging with novel. Her
husband thought it only a new whlln'
but as it was not an expensive one. ne
could not complain. When he wanted
to take her driving, she playfully told
him she was learning to wafk-horses
were not safe.
The first step, she thought. Now
for the next 1t came to her almost
by magic. In 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 ny
her savings. She was soon to be mar
ried to 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 suffering sister,
Together they plotted and planned.
Eleanor's lassitude passed away under
vigorous rubbing and brisk walks.
Margaret's trousseau was thing to
be considered. From Eleanor's sur.
slus stock of stylish gowns and gar
ments the country girls outfit was
dcftly 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
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
! time her husband handed over her al
lowance of pin money she put at least
half of it in her ''strong box"
1t was hard to hide all this activity
| and cheerfullness 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 lightened
| 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, l do read. Don't you
see my little library there?''
" es, but it seems to me l miss
something"
He missed the litter of thrashy nov
els he had wont to see.
81 told you / was learning to walk. -
she added. with smile Il really do
walk somewhere every day.
THAT pleases me most of ALL" he
said in his CHEEKY way; but what will
DR.. Buell. think?"
Il don't care one bit; 1 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 we'll, 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 the
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 severa,
hundreds to meet her husbands cred
ltors. He was there, lying on the sofa,
pale and hopeless. Forgetting all else,
she flung herself beside him with a sob.
"Oh. Harry. my dearest, what is itp
Tell me what it is that is killing YOU:
have right to know" II
lit is ruin. Eleanor have brougnt
you poverty-you whom l would have
died to make happy"
You are talking in riddles Harry"
she exclaimed. rallying from he,
alarm. "Am l not the happiest WON.
an in the world? And don't you see
how we'll and strong amp"
She coaxed the whole story from his
lips. Then. with affected lightness.
she said: us that all? Why, yo,
frightened me terribly; thought you
were ill-had caught some horrible
disease or other. See here AS she
spoke she ran tn her desk, took out he,
treasure and poured it into his hands
In her impulsive fashion.
Eleanor! What is this?'
This? Why this is only your wife's
seinshness and laziness in another
form"