Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-20

areI What would give for such red
cheeksl'
I'm sure you used to be fresh
enough. said puzzled Emmeline.
Il never have had any health since
/ went to live In town, said Miss Ellis
worth sighing, and her pale face and
snnken eyes fully corroborated her
words. Ellsworth says it's all whims,
and has no patience with me-
No patience with aer! When could
Mrs. Lsthrop remember the time when
honest, beaming. hard handed George
had ever failed to have patience with
her.
He must be very cross, she said in-
voluntarily.
My dear, said Mrs. Ellsworth,
lowering her voice to whisper, you
haven't the least idea of it. It's scold,
scold, fret, fret, the whole time. Moth
ing ever pleases or satisfies him. He
married me for my good looks, he
says, and since I've lost my red cheeks
and bright eyes, he doesn't seem to
care for me any more.
She wiped away with a Valencien-
mes bordered pocket-handherchief the
tears that were trickling slowly down
her face.
It's very hardl' said Mrs. Lathrop,
marveling within herself at this unex-
pected view of the reverse of the
shield.
Yes, it isF groaned the poor neg
lected wife. i sometimes am almost
tempted to wish that 1 were dead -
only then he would marry Isabel
Sloane. She is in the house now, the
bold face creature. He made me ask
her down here, or he would never
come near the Grange. l am too dull
company for him, and she talks, and
laughs, and sings Italian music, and
contrives to amuse him
But your children2
Il have none
Mrs, Lathrop looked up with proud
maternal smile.
4 have three-the prettiest little
rogues you every saw.
Mrs. Eilieworth's eyes were filed
with an envious wistful look.
How happy you must be! My baby
died when he was only one month
old. Oh, I wish-I wish / had
died, too! Nobody would have missed
me.
Don't talk so, please urged Mrs.
Lathrop, sorely distressed.
But it's true, sighed the forlorn
lady of the Grange. %, Emmeline,
the girls used to envy me when I mar
ried Paul Ellsworth and went to live
in London, and l was elated enough.
But would change back cheerfully
with the poorest of them all. Tell me,
Emmeline, does your husband love
your
Love mel echoed Mrs. Lathrop,
proud and indignant in the same
second. He loves me better than him
SELF
Then you are richer far than l,
sighed poor Mrs, Ellsworth 'A~e you
going now2 1t is so pleasant to me to
have some one to talk to who does not
sneer at mel
Il will come again. said Emmeline
kindly laying her hand on the slender
palm extended to her, whose touch
seemed to burn with inward fever.
But 1 must go back to get my hus-
| bands dinner and see after my little
| ones
How infinitely these home treas
ures had risen in her estimation since
she passed the great iron gates OF
Ellsworth Grange!
Mrs. Ellsworth took out her purse
and paid for the berries.
oh, if l could only go out and pick
berries as used to do in the old
daysP
Mr.. Lathrop went home, tripping
as lightly along as if her course leath'
er shoes had been the wings of Mer'
curry.
4 wouldn't change places with
Mary Ellsworth, she thought; no,
not to walk on floor of gold and have
a kings palace over my head.
George Lathrop, in his picturesque
mowers costume, was sitting on the
doorstep, with Josie on his lap, and
Tom and Nell playing around, as Mrs
Lathrop lifted the latch in the yard
gate.
Here comes dear mo.herp he ex-
claimed jubilantly, as he lifted Josie,
Growing, In his arms, and they al
echoed the glad cry; Here comes
motherp
Emmeline ran forward, dropped
her empty basket in the grass, and
hugged and kissed every one of them
as if she had been away for month
My little woman, cried her hus
band, 4 do believe you are glad to gel
home!'
II never was SO glad in all my life!
cried Emmeline almost Historically
For during the last two hours she
had learned a lesson.