Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-12-02
TOO LATE.

the window, and q new carpet for the
best room floor, sighed Laura Dymond.
A soft voiced, fragile looking little
creature, with big, troubled eyes, like a
fawn's, and long lashes that almost
touched her cheek when she looked down.
ward, there was something about the deli
cate woman that reminded one OF hot
house blossom. She should have been
tenderly nurtured and sheltered, as it
were, from the rude winds Of heaven !;
but we do not all settle into our proper
inches in this world. In the next, heaven
grant that it may be different with some
of us.
@Flowersl echoed Hugh Dymond con-
temptously. And a new carpet Fid-
dle-de-dee Lolly, what can you possibly
be thinking Of, when we need wing TO
the barn and a new yoke OF steers so
much But women are always going of
on tangent after the ornamental !"
Mrs. Dymond looked round the bare
walled room, with worn rag carpet, its
stiff backed chairs, and its pine table, and
sighed. Mr.. Dymond went on with his
occupation-that Of whiting out a
wooden pin for the dooryard gate.
We'll" he said nonchalantly, what
are you groaning about?"
Il wasn't groaning; only, Hugh"
"Well."
IL should 50 like to have some few
pretty things about mel"
"Fu-u-udgei grumbled the husband.
As il this was world of outside showi"
"Oh, don't mean that; but after all,
you know, we none of us have but few
years to live, and"
Now, come, come I" interrupted the
husband, don't let's have any of this
nonsenseln
Il don't think you quite understand
me, Hugh, dear. What mean is"
yes, do too; what you mean is,
that you'd like to sit with your hands
folded, bouquet opposite, and fine vel
vet carpet under your feet. Pity you
hadn't married rich man."
Little Laura Dymond WINGED slightly !;
but she was used TO these sharp words
and stinging retorts on her husbands
part. It was the diamond mated with
the rough fint-the slender stemmed
anemone springing up beneath the
shadow of the rude Canada thistle. She
told herself, many times day, that she
did not mind Hugh's way-she was used
to it but the falsehood was fresh every
time; she did mind his rough way, and
she never could get used to some of those
sharp sudden words and looks.
She had been district school teacher
when Hugh Dymond married her, and
all the idea she had of the existence of a
farmers wife was roses clustered round
a picturesque porch, Strawberries and
cream, a cool dairy with green light
coming through the vine leaves at the
easement. and whippoorwills singing on
the edge of the woods at night Poor
Laural it might have been silly delu.
sion, but il was brief one. To use Mr..
Dymond's own emphatic expression,
there wasn't any nonsense about him.
Good pork and potatoes, and plenty OF
'em; a shingled roof overhead. and fur
niture that was good enough for his
mother before him; il woman wanted
more than these she must 90 some.
where else than to the Dymond farm
housed"
Yes, it was all very solid and sub
stantial, but Laura could no more thrive
on it than hunlming bird on diet Of
beef teal
II could draw my own $50 out of the
savings bank, said she doubtfulIy, @and
get fresh, pretty carpet. And oh.
Hugh, I'm so tired of the worn spots in
the striped rag carpet, and we really do
need it in the sitting room.
"Botheri" responded the unceremon-
ious husband. Keep your $50 for some
thing that's going to be really useful A
clean board floor, and plenty Of soap and
sand; that was all the carpet my mother
ever asked for.
1t is such hard work to scrub it twice
a week, Hugh" pleaded the poor little
wife.
~Oh, If you're afraid OF work, that's
all have to say" said Mr.. Dymond,
Struggling his shoulders.
Unnecessary work. Hugh.
he made no answer, but Laura knew
from the set look about his lips that her
innocent appeal had been made in vain.
~The flowers would cost nothing, she
went on. sfrs. Jenkins would give mo
the slips, and Lizzie CIouney has somo
old pots which,"
-Pshawt" broke out Hugh. IF you
want to garden, GO out and weed the on
ions and cabbages: I'm sure they need
it badly enough; but as for having the
window silIs cluttered up with lot OF
green trash. it's what won't stands so
now you've got my opinion, and hope
you feel better.
And he rose 70 his feet and quilted
the rooEn.r taking care to shut the door
with bang that set Laura's nerves all in
d CULVER
She sat down and cried. the poor litflo
solitary creature, when he was gone. She
had thought 90 much or the carpet and
the flowers; she had got Il al planned out
in her mind, and now Hugh forbade it.
Well. there was no help for it; she must
50 back TO the beaten track. Perhaps