Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-06-18

night, Mrs. Burnaby fixed her wistful
eyes on Ida, and mildly murmurcd:
Say, honey, what makes you act so
with Mr.. WIllardr 1t amt your way
at all, and told him as much when z
said he thought you were pretty, but he
really felt sorry for you, you seem so
dreadfully hashful.'
Thus had the GOODNESS of her VirtuouS
indignation been misunderstood!
Lida's soft cheeks burned and her
wrath rose higher Sti ].
On her way TO school next morning,
she Glanced To encounter Mr.. Willard,
leaning heavily on the bars that broke
the monotony OF = tall orange hedge,
and regarding the prairie beyond.
golden sea of Suu1lowers rolling away
to meet the sapphire sky, with artistic
adm iratIon.
Naturally he let down the bars for
her to pass, while she waited, appar-
emily unaware of what charming
picture she made, her slender figure in
ats light-blue gingham gown outlined
against the hedge, and her white rose
face and fair bl Dude lovelocks framed
IN a red Gretchen sun n-bOnnet, rs she
stood with her gray eyes uplIfted to
thank her tall ASST tait.
lie began 4 conversation, aud, to his
surprise, was encouraged with we'll
bred ease.
Presently he waS carrying her books
and luncli-basket, and they were stroll
ing together along the fOot-path, where
the 'BOb-WhiteS' whiTred up before
them now and then, while their chat
rippled on Us brightly and carelessly as
the notes that danced III the sunny air.
1t was his turn TO surprise her the
day after that. This WAS Saturday, and
sh- had risen very early with the inten-
ton of helping Mrs. Burnaby with the
work on her own holiday; had met her
on the stairs and sent her back u try
TO sleep off one OF her chronic head
aches, and had entered the kitchen to
get breakfast, Only to find the outer
door already open and to behold ap-
preaching from the distant well, a
brimming pail of water i'll each hand,
the athletic form of Mr.. Willard.
He said 'Good-moruingr as gravely
as if this was his usual method of TAX
ing gymnastic exercise, and came III
aud set the pals i'll their proper place.
What are you doing here at this time
OF day?' She abruptly demanded, her
aStoniShed eyes significantly fixed Oh
the water-pails.
And you?' counter questioned he.
looking as significantly at the huge
calico apron and the sleeves rolled high
up IN her round white arms.
Il came to help Mrs. BurnaDy lit
tie, she replied.
And so did |. It's a shame the way
she las 20 wo:k. The idea of "a man
leaving his wife to carry all the water
such distancel | WAS down i'll time
In In ! f,Y 1a.,t. a,.l nd l,rinfr
coal and milk, and 50 forth; but |
didn't suppose you wrre goi.g To catch
Inc ut IT,.
And didn't suppose yon would ever
have even thought that all that had to
be DONE frankly confessed Ida.
Il was brought up on a farm, and saw
enough of the way farmers wives gem
orally have 20 work. / used to think
then that I'D never let my wife do such
things. however poor 1 might be. And
l wont let any " oman do them, either,
when | can lend Il hand. Shall | make
the IRE now, Miss BOnuer?'
If you please, she replied, accepting
the service as frankly "A, 1t was offered,
and beginning to knead the bread set to
r Sc the night before.
Great Was Mr.. Bu: naby's amaZement
when he came down somewhat later to
perform his own morning tasks, with
the help of the hired man, and discov-
cred the state of affairs.
That Ida. boarder though she was
equally with Willard, should be work
Ing when his wife could not was only
natural and proper-she was a woman,
and il was her lace; but that any NAL
should not regard himself as degraded
by using a lItlle of his strength and
time 10 spare AN overt;tsked woman,
was something new TO him.
Il reckon it's all right if lie wants 10,
though lie phIloScphically remarked 10
Ida, WHO WIS burning her cheeks
s"ariet over the stove as she broIlrd
some am Tor breakfast. lie can'C be
very much off his base when he's made
so much mon-y as they say he has,
down at Raynor-'
For Mr.. Burnaby could pardon any
ecce .tricity il; man whJ hal shown
lie could make money.
Mrs. Burnaby cTept down TO break
fast, but could not eat. AS she rose u
length, and tried TO leave the room.
suddenly she totteIed and fell i'll a deal
Swoon.
Her husband stared, astounded.
Ida started up; but swifter than she,
w 4llsili Id SpIullS anu Caught Tie
falling woman i'll his arms, gathering
her close to his broad breast, as if she
weighed no more than child, kissing
her worn face as it lay on his shoulder,
murmuring frantic, half-heard words
of pity and fon1ness in her deaf ears.
Great ScottP gasped Mr. Buruaby.
Young man, are you craZy?'
Willard lifted his head and looked al
with eyes that grew starlingly like his
own in their passion.
Not So crazy as you must be, lie
coolly returned, to work your wife 10
death, and not know your own son
when you see himl
'Motherl' aud now his head Wen
down on her bosom, like chIld's Ia
grief, and his voice wos a cry of deS-
pair,-'mother minel why didn't !
know he would Kill you? Why didn't
l come back III time TO save your
'You have come in time, Mr.. Tom,
put in Ida. She has only fainted,
but am afraid she Is going TO be very
sick. You had better carry her to her
room now. And you,' to the hired
man, who had at dunbfounded, with
open mouth and eyes, through all this,
go for a doctor as quick as you can
Both nsn promptly obeyed, recogn Z
ing her generalship IN the emergency.
And for some days following, while
the sick woman's life wavered in the
balance, and trained nurse from Kan
sas City, sent for and paid by Tom.
ruled at her bedside, and a stout and
independent damSel he'd sway IN the
kitchen, and new elements and old
alike turned for orders to Ida, Mr..
Burnaby felt himself made OF small ac-
count III his OWN house. and had leisure
to reflect upon how much, after all, his