The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-02

by the window with papa and watch the
game. Oh; Hector, forgot to tell you!
and who do you think the bridegroom wasS
oh, you would never guess, so / might as
well tell you. 1t was Percy Whitman. and
such display as was made. Not at all like
our humble union"
,," why didn'tyou take him, then ?" growled
MI; Hnnter, whose feelings were somewhat
., T,led py the proposed change in the house.
lie wanted you at one time, didn't he 20
Urphie laughed gleefully.
didn't want him." she said. 81 had
rather. have you than dozen Percy whit.
mans"
And then, springing up, she threw her
arms around her husbands neck, greatly to
the cnlldren,s establishment. and, IL the
truth be told, to his own as WELL
we VIII need some wood for the mornin g
hector, said Orphies that night, as her
husband was preparing to change his boots
for the comfortable slippers he had COM
manded Kathie TO bring him.
she had found so much to do, and had en-
tered so heartily into the duties awaiting
her, that her wedding day had passed very
theirs roof.
Father never chops the wood. ventured
Rosa Bell. seeing the look of surprise ON her
fathers face. Mamma always did 1t, and
when she died looked after the kindlings."
Orphies gave the batch Of dough she was
kneading vigorous turn.
THAT isn't woman's work." she said with
determined shake of her head. "Come Ar
thur. help papa in with the wood, and then
we will hear all about the base ball match.
isn't strong enough to cut those great logs.
That's your work. He will bring it in as
fast as you get 1t ready, and baby and will
come and see that you do 1t properly.
Catching the little one in the round, white
arms bare to The elbow, and dotted here and
there with patches of flour, 0rphies danced
out into the woodshed, followed by the
grumbling Hector and the amused children.
Didn't tell you father had found his
match p whispered Rosa Bell to her bro
Their. HE never did this in his life, and
yet he doesn't say word; I'm glad she's
come"
"If she keeps on the way she has begun,
I'll stand a chance of getting out to play
once in while,, answered doubling Arthur.
Il had just jolly good time this afternoon,
thanks to her, and If never get another, |
can look back on that"
Orphies had been married a week, when
people began to look for open war; but if
there was any the young wife kept 1t TO her.
self.
TO be sure, life was not all sunshine, but
she had expected few rainy days to creep
in.
She had married Hector Hunter in spite
of the reputation he bore. Why she had
done so no one knew, but probably Orphies
her let, she was sunny, sweet-tempered and
happy in her new home, just as she had been
in her old.
True to her word, Orphies went to work to
enlarge the dining-room. She had painters
and carpenters. masons ahd plumbers, till
Mr.. Hunter was beside himself with rage
and threatened to go away If that state of af-
fairs continued
0rphies calmly listened to all his speeches
and when the room was finished to her salts
faction nulla6 HE 40 ~ chair infa tho
comfortable corner, brought out a new pair
of slippers and fOot-stoOl, then present ted
him with the bill and the most charming kiss
In the world. Strange to say he paid the
former without word, and returned the lat
ter with interest.
Still holding her tight but invisible rein;
and atoning for her harsh measures by the
most loving caresses, 0rphies at length sue
ceeded in snbduing her nnruly steed and get
ting him to bend to the yoke.
But her ideas of improvement did not end
With the enlargement of the dining-room.
A tw0-story u was added the following
Spring. The parl0r was refurnished and
great piano for Arthur's especial benefit was
brought from the city.
my children shall be taught to love their
home, said the determined little mother
when her husband battled against what he
called a foolish piece of extravaganza.
Rosa Bell is quite old enough to go into So
cety. Young Tomlinson is partial to her;
where can have chance of judging of his
character than to endeavOr to meet her on
street corners or at the village postoffice.
Books and music have an ennobling Influence
over the young. and had rather have Ar
thur master of the piano than of the billiard
table. In order to keep our boys and girls
we must exert ourselves to please them.
Give the husks at home, and they will most
assuredly seek the wheat elsewhere"
To this speech Mr.. Hunter replied in curt
DIlt 0pplSiVQ W0r0e He ad ha W. q mas
ter OF his own children, and as to having bis
house filled with company from morning till
night, he would not. 1t was out of the Ques-
tion. He couldn't afford it. Gas was expen.
furniture was something TO be thought of.
But, after following Rosa. Bell about from
corner to corner few evenings, and break
ing up few private interviews with young
Tomlinson, after listening to Arthur boyish
bets over a game of billiards, and breaking
up Kathie's intimacy with the girls employed
as cash in Blind and Co. Is store, he gave
n, and quietly put all the responsibility on
his little wife,
Though young in years, Orphies was a
told you So" passed her lips. Calmly accept
ing the burden, she carried 1t along as she
had Intended to do when fate gave her Hec-
tor Hunter for a husband. And the man
whom all the villagers had feared on account
of his crabbedness said never word. Books,
papers, music and paintings found their way
into his home. His house was always open
to the young, and the old were always wei
come to the warmest place beside his hearth.
When Rosa Bells engagement with Young
Tomlinson became public, and people con-
graduated him on his enterprising son-in-
law, he smiled quietly. When Arthur came
home from college loaded with hon0rs, he
blushed with pride; and when Kathie re-
ceived her diploma, and was pronounced ca
pable of taking high rank as public school
teacher, he Rugged himself with great salts
faction.
Though always thoughtful and consider
ate of his young wife, he was never known
to acknowledge her superiority by word of
mouth. Manlike, he refused TO give her
her due, and the only praise she ever re
ceived for her trial and care was from the
lips of her son Arthur the day he was adj
mitted to the bar.
Il tell you, Tomlinson," he said to that in
terested brother-in-aw. "all am owe to
my plucky little step-mother. My father
probably meant well, but / should never
hop ahod ha Mo fnd n.