Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04

frmed gambler The pas sion for gaming
which possessed him was intense. and
hen luck was I'm his way he ceased To
trouble himself about trying to write any
til nc.
So. now and then gambling, and, when
very much pushed for ready money. writ
ing Ii tie he had contrived, with the
$ all income which he received from his
fathers trustees TO exc out an existence
and to keep up an appearance, however
threadba'e, before such society as still
cknowledged him,
In wicker char, near the open window
OF the long studio as 1t is still called, one
fine warm evening I'm June, sat Mrs. At
wood. A handsome woman, with sad
| earnest face, deeply intent upon manu-
| featuring chlldren's clothes out Of some OF
her husbands cast-of garments, Blanche
Atwood scarcely looked the age to which
! she reall owned Her five and twenty
years had brought mach trouble with them
| the last SIX I any rate and ii was only
/ her buoyant and determined disposition
| which enabled her - brave her trials AMI
| present hap y ext rior 10 the world In
general. Now she was alona, and there
was no need to wear the mask.
| Presently sh dro p'd her work upon
her lap, ami, I; ising Ter eyes wearily,
|
"A uuar,er past eight How late George
is to night +" she urmured. ''lle said he
would be certain to come home at seven.
| Poor fellow--it Is a dull home for him.
l wonder ii he has been fortunate enough
| to get his story taken?
"if you please, M exclaimed q mid
! die aged woman. suddenly entering the
ROOM ''hadn t better bring Il your sup
! per? There it Is, all get'in' spo;lt! |
/ can keep asters 'ot for i'm in the hoven.
/ DO ave q little mouthful OF someth n,
I there's dear! 1t amt goo for you ago
| in SO ong without nothink.
! 80, thank you. Iii eth, replied
Mr.. Atwood, smiling. at is kind of you
to think Of me; but really | am not in the
least hungry. | would far sooner wait
until your master comes home. He won't
be long now. "
Very well, m remarked Elizabeth
aloud. Then she added To herself as she
went back to the kitchen, "Drat I'm and
| is ways that's wot | say Always a car
in on with is grand airs and S fine
friends and err starvin' of 'erself and
workin' of 'er finger-endS oil TO keep them
bles ed ba bes, It's a Sha ne, that's wot it
Is and FIR two pins I'd up and tel i'm
so! But no: ed give me my month, | sup
pose; VI 10 cave or as We known since
swadd.n' closes, and 'er cherubs is wot
Lizbuth 'Awk rs could never bring 'er
cart to face"
And izabeth Hawkins, having thus
far reiievej her mind sat down with her
lee upon The kitchen fender and had
goo cry.
When she had gwen full sway TO her
emotions she got up and walked into the
scu lery, AMI having rubbed her face
So erely with the wet corner OF rough
towel. she began to feel herself a gaD.
Now | feel better she ex laimed.
There amt nothing in this world, to my
IN nj, as does one more good when fe lin
low and upset than cry. Not that | Il
let her see sign of it OH me-not me 49,
b ess er cart no. She's pie lty to try 'er
and worrit err without Ii buth 'Awkins
, a-upsettin of 'er. A lamb, that's what
she is-a blesse lamb but for i'm h,
my, if that amt is blessed step; and
there G comes up the garden path, with
is 'andsom, face and is 'eartles, inside,
ust as bold as brass Anso 4 cab too to-
night -'ansom cab; and er a stntin of
erself of The VERY foo she eats } all,
I'd 'ansom cab i'm If e belonged to me
Yes, sir; supper cutie ready, sr; I'll
bring it up in minute sir
Elizabeth last re mark was in response
TO a manly voice shouting own the sta rs
to IN ulre II there was anything to ca in
the house.
1t was characteristic of George Atwood
that his first tho lghts upon his return
home were not TO II wife who ha spent
the ay in shaving for his household S
co fort II for his children, as to wheth
or they were well or aling.
IL wonder what on earth Blanche has
got fit to eat, was The sole idea that oe-
Cured to him as he opened the front door.
Whe her Blanche ha had anything to
eat herself all day was not likely 10 trouble
him Luch.
Mrs. \ wool had no. heard him cone
In but when he called on. from the top
OF the stairs to Eli abeth. she spran
up fro n her chair, with an express ion of
JOY upon her face, and hurr out to WEI
come h m.
''Dear George," she cried, chow tired
and hungry you must be.'-and she made
q movement Is though She would have
kisSel him.
Tire Yes. There, there hat will
do blanche Can you see when fellow
doesn't care about ute so much affection?
Get Us something to eat, for goo lness'
sake. Embraces will keep, am hungry"
- es, dear you mus lie. | iii not
submssi,cy - GU said you would be
home by seven, YOU know and had such
II &C little supper ready 70: you. There
is some beef-steak pie, and
- cry well, then. Let us have it up
without any more palaver; We can talk
about il a forwards "
Mrs. Atwood waited patiently until her
husband had eaten his supper. She pre-
tended TO eat also. but whatever appa tie
she may have had before had gone from
her now.
BY degrees he seemed TO recover hi /,
temper, and after he had pushed away his
plate and lighted cigarette he said
''Well you don't ask ne how | got on
TO-DAY? | "a old Morton out that story
sent him. He has had it nearly two
months. or course he will not have Ii. |
need not tell YOU that-my luck's dead
out-that $ wha 5 the matter with me.
The old beggar had the chec to find fault
with It, In sort OF half-hearted way. At
last asked him straight out what was
the matter with L.? Then lie began To
t.tt .r A. f,,,.