Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-05-15
AS he rode round and round the field

uOuSc, Oeulnu WuOSo SPIuCo SAeou
blinds his wife was busy preparing
dinner.
1 II used to think how happy should
be if I ever persuaded her to come
here" he thought. ut is two years
why, 1 declare! it Is two years this very
day that we were married! wonder il
she remembers it? But it isn't very
likely, when she says she is afraid she
hates me-"
Did she remember? All, in that re-
membrance lay the sting!
All that morning. while she got
breakfast at 5 o'clock, and washed the
dishes, swept the rooms, made the beds,
churned butter and prepared lunch fol
six men, her heart turned back to that
other morning twenty-four months ago,
when the bright-eyed country maiden
rose at o'clock to complete her prepa-
rations for her wedding day.
How good, how kind, how handsome
her George was then. How his eyes
followed her; how his love blessed her.
Was it all her fault that the bloom
and beauty Of life had departed in those
two short years.
Looking back she could see no day
in which she had not at least tried to
do her duty.
And looking in the glass she saw how
the light and glow Of youth had passed
from her face, while accomplishing the
task uncheered by the approval OF him
she loved.
George has kept his color and his
good looks because his work lies out of
doors, she mused, "but / have worked
in this old kitchen until I look old
enough to be his mother. His mother"
she paused with bitter laugh-"I
almost wish I was his mother, then he
would be suited with what did"
Noon came. The IL o'clock whistle
sounded sharp and clear from the fac
tory in the village mile away; and be-
fore the whistle ceased q little figure
stepped out on the porch of the Brew
ster house and blew horn.
"Theres woman for you" said Solo
mon Wyse, admiringly. Dinner to the
minute-and won't it be good one?"
The dinner was indeed success,
every dainty of the season and the farm
was there, skillfully cooked and neatly
served on table in the cool dining
room-a table covered with snowy cloth
fresh from its fold, and glass and china.
| In the center Of the table stood
great china bowl full of red roses that
perfumed the room. Her cheeks were
red, her words and smiles were ready
for every one save George.
AS she sat grave and silent at the
foot of the table, he looked at her won
deringly.
She wore dress of silver-gray al
pacca that had been her travelling dress
when they were married.
| A large white apron, with bib,
shielded the glories of the costume.
But why did she putt on? Surely she
could not think of "going visiting" that
afternoon, with six haymakers to get
tea for and the milk of eight COWS to at
tend to afterward.
But he finally went out without ask
ing it. The wife, who was afraid she
hated him, seemed almost like q stran-
ger, although she looked so much on
this occasion like the girl he had mar
ried two years ago.
AS George neared the door of the
wood-shed where the men were loung-
ing away the rest Of their incoming, he
heard his own name, uttered by Solo
mon Wyse in tones of anger.
Involuntarily he stayed his steps.
Yes, knew George from baby up,
and 1 always said he'd make o likely
man. VOW it is shame to see how he
treats that pretty little creature! Such
lunch this morning and such dinner
this noon, in such nice cool room with
the red roses and all the rest Of it; and
she just as pretty as picture, with her
red cheeks and bril- ht eyes and her
wavy hair, and dressed as neat as a
pink, too. And he sitting there as
glum as an old man of ninety. I was
ashamed of him."
I've heard he does nothing but find
fault with her all day long," said Sec
ond voice. "My wife says if I threw
my mother into her teeth, as George
does his in Letty's, she'd run away from
me before she was day older"
And serve you right" chimes in q
third. I'll tell you what my wife says.
She says it is confounded mean and
small of George not to keep a woman
here to help his wife. And when I saw
the dinner, to-day, the pretty little
thing had to get for us all alone,
thought SO, too. Hang me, if I hadn'
half u mind to stop here this Afternoon
and help her wash up that great pile O
dishes. and let the haying go to thun
der. It's enough to kill the woman tx
have all that work to do. Ard Georg,
, is rich. What on earth is he thinking
} about? But he'll be sorry for this in
year or two hence, when we have t,
) come here Oh q different Grand"
ITO carry out in coffin? ?" said Sol
ONION Wyse. "Yes. I suppose it viii
come to that if some Of us don't tall
seriously to George. She don't look a
V all strong now, and her hands tremble,
2 when she changed my plate. It's
burning shame-and ii none of yo7
men will talk to George about it
q will"
: But when George Brewster joine
: them Solomon Wyse deemed it pru
dent to defer the proposed talking to,
l for his brow was as black as night, an
8 he had no more to say to his neighbor
now than to his wife at the Dime
Q table.
9 This, then was the way in which the
q smoke of him hahind his hacl, tho.