The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-02-22

could think of nothing else to do, or wish
for that night or for the rest of her life.
Leonard was coming; in a week this
would be his homeI
Uncle Ben, who was very slillful at
carving, had made dogs head wooden
knocker for the door, with "Heath" com
ing out of the mouth It was his little
joke to greet them when they came back
from church on their wedding day.
There was a scufling of feet scraping
the mud off at the door presently, and
Joe and his wife Bessy came in "iust to
see the busts set out. No, they wouldn't
stay; they wouldn't spoil Lens surprise.
But was there ever a girl as handy as
Winnyp And although they had been
in the secret all along since the day that
the Italian boy Seppy began to show
Winny how to mix Che clay, and had
both sat breathless over the oven while
pagan gods and Christian saints baked
harmoniously together, they went over
them all again, admiring even Flora's
snub nose and an unfortunate leer in the
eyes of st. Paul
"Ther's some very life like touches ther,
Winny," said Joe, critically. you've
give them the look Of people I've knowed.
It's good work."
"Its genius, is what I'd call it" eiacu-
lated Uncle Ben.
I'm sure 1 don't care for myself, ," said
Winny. 81 don't know now as Leonard
would like to marry genius. But this
is what l think of Joe"-putting her fat
hand on his shoulders. 'Itll be very
pleasant For me, when he's hammering
in the shop yonder, to have my paddle
in the cellar here, and help keep the
wolf from the door with it. OF course,
if I've got the genius, so much the bet
ter'-her dimpling face growing pink.
"But even as it is, the plasters pay three
times as much as slop work"
"Ah, now you talk to the pointT' cried
Mrs. Joe. "When you've been married
as long as have, you'll learn to count
the pennies. Genius is good in its way,
Dut it's poor stuff to make the pot boil,
or to put turnips in itr
'It's you for hard sense, BessP' Joe
nodded significantly to the others. There
was moments respectful silence, for by
dint of the daily firing of such hard,
bullety maxims among them, Mrs. Joe
had begun to be a power in the family.
and was regarded as holding the tight
rein of common sense over the Heath
affairs in general, though there was
really as much firmness in the fair,
pudgy little woman as in bowlful of
sweet jelly
'Here's Len!' cried Joe, as a quick un-
certain step ratified on the board walk
without. Lets be off, Bess. We won't
spoil Winny's plans" -hurrying her to
the door, while she and Winny pecked
kisses at each other, and chatted about
Bess's baby's collie to the last breath,
after the manner of women. "Hillo,
Lenv'-giving him pound on the back
as he passed them in the narrow path.
Been maundering about that musty old
house till now, thinking of the glory of
the Heaths, eh? Be early at the shop in
the morning, mind"
"Joer" after they had gone on a rod or
two.
Eyes"
"Good-by," holding out his hand.
"Good-by. Why, what ails you;
Your hands as dry and hot as punk.
Not a touch of your chills back, heyg'
dragging him to the light, anxiously.
Nothing ails me" peevishly. Good
by, Elizabeth. You've been good and
kind to me since you were Joe's wife, I'll
not forget it. Your bread shall return
to you from the waters. The Heaths
were never ungrateful."
"Tm sure of that, Lenny. But don't
want my bread back"
He stood still, pressing both their
hands. 81 wish-I feel terribly alone, s.
he said. "No matter The old knights
went out alone, and came back victors.
you'd better go in and eat Winny's
muffins," said Joe, shortly.
Goodnight, joe Some day you will
better understand me-"
"Poor Winnyl What with the ague
and laziness, Lens tempers is CROWN
more than flesh and blood can stand,
said Mrs. Joe, as they walked on.
you're generally just to him, Bess
He's a real genius, Leonard is; he can't
be Judged by our rules. And there's a
sort of spell about that house, there's nc
denyin' it. II the shop turns out we'll
we'll move into town ourselves in few
| years, and go live near it. We Heathi
hev a right to that much"
The will-o'-the wisp, which was lead
ing Len into the swamp, had 60 mucf
delusive glitter, even in the solid black
smiths eyes.
"Its nothing but the ague worlin
with him, doubt" said Bess, going
back to Len.
Leonard was inside of the kitchen by
this time; the grand tableau had beeI
presented: the Flora and Bacchus, ant
the virgins with the mellowing scorch
and the tallow candles burning away a
either end. Uncle Ben had been hurry
ing out, hearing him coming, but Winn.
had stopped him. ''Tn be in the way
little gal"
"You worked as hard as l. You mus
see his very first look" So the old fellow
gathered himself into corner with
chuckle of enjoyment.
She forgot to speak to Len-stoo,
breathless, watching his face, her palm
pressed hard together.
Now Len, coming from the city ia tn
train and plodding along the board wal
outside, had built and furnished th
solidest OF all his castles in the air ]
was for Winny. There were onyx stone
and gopher wood in it, for aught
know. There were delicate perfumes
the mir moved in music, tho sunshin
came to it stained with gold and royi
purple. In a little while this would b
their home.
Here, there was a smell of sausage'
the candles sputtered; the dresser wa
crammed with dirty-looking plaster fs
ures, such as that greasy Seppy peddle
about the roads.
Len drew a long breath, what
this trumpery?" he said, in a savag
growl, NThrow a cloth over them, fC
Gods sake, Winny, and open the wiz
dow. 1t is terrible for human being
to be forced to cook and live in ii
! same ROOM" Then he remembered
draw her to his side and kiss her.